Matchbox Die-Cast Models

MatchBox

What’s in a name? For this company it’s quite obvious. When Lesney created their die-cast vehicles as miniature models it was decided to sell them in match box sized boxes, hence the name Matchbox. The name may still exist, but the method of marketing has been modernised, no longer in boxes, but blister packs.

They were founded by Leslie and Rodney Smith (hence the name Lesney and assisted greatly by co-founder Jack Odell (of Lledo). After 15 years of business, they were the biggest selling brand of die-cast miniature cars (1968) and things were going well. Unfortunately, by 1969 trouble was looming with the arrival of die-cast racing cars by Johnny Lightning. They were known to be the fastest cars on the market. Matchbox responded with low friction wheels. Things were doing well by the mid 70’s and they were back on top. By the end of the 70’s the business was facing financially difficulties and in 1982 they were bankrupt. The name and some equipment was sold to Universal Toys, with some Matchbox assets going to Jack Odell, who continued to market Matchbox as Yesteryear at Lledo. Matchbox now became Matchbox International Ltd. In the mid 80’s the new company obtained Dinky, uniting two of the most successful die-cast miniature car brands. Manufacture was pulled from Britain and began in Hong Kong then China.

It was time for another sale in 1992, with Mattel buying out Universal. A few releases were made up until 2005, then stopped. Both Dinky and Matchbox have been left alone with no new releases since then.

Matchbox YGB03 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1918 Atkinson Steam Wagon Swan Brewery Company

£7.99

In Stock

MatchBox

Matchbox YGB12 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1917 Yorkshire Steam Wagon Lowenbrau

Matchbox YGB03 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1918 Atkinson Steam Wagon Swan Brewery Company

Matchbox Y-18 Die Cast 1918 Atkinson Model D Steam Wagon Portland Cement (I)

Matchbox Y-22 1930 Model ‘A’ Ford Van Spratt’s (T)

Matchbox Y-13 Die Cast Model 1918 Crossley Gonzales Byass (T)

Matchbox Y-5 Die Cast Model Talbot Van Wright’s Original Coal Tar Soap (T1)

Matchbox Y-3 Die Cast Model 1912 Model ‘T’ Ford Tanker Mobiloil (T1)

Matchbox Y-5 Die Cast Model 1927 Talbot Van Nestle’s Milk (T1)

Matchbox Y-30 Die Cast 1920 Model AC Mack Consolidated Motor Transport (T2)

Matchbox Y-21 Die Cast Model 1930 Ford ‘A’ A & J Box General Stores (T2)

Matchbox Y-30 Die Cast Model 1920 Model AC Mack, Acorn Storage Co (T2)

Matchbox Y-18 Die Cast Model 1918 Atkinson Model D Steam Wagon Bass & Co (T)

Matchbox Y-25 Die Cast Model 1910 Renault Type AG, Perrier (T2)

Matchbox Y-3 Die Cast 1912-1916 Ford Model ‘T’ Tanker Red Crown Gasoline (T)

Matchbox Y-12 Die Cast Model T Ford Low Sided Truck G Imbarh (T2)

Matchbox Y-13 Die Cast Model 1918 Crossley Van, W & G (T2)

Matchbox YGB15 Great Beers of the World Die Cast 1925 Garrett Steam Wagon Flowers

Matchbox YGB09 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1920 Mack AC Moosehead

Matchbox YGB23 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1920 AC Mack TsingTao

Matchbox YGB22-M Great Beers of the World Die Cast 1918 Atkinson Steam Wagon Beamish

Matchbox YGB10 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1927 Talbot South Pacific

Matchbox YGB05 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1932 Model Ford AA Carlsberg

Matchbox YGB21 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1932 Mercedes Benz L5 Dab

Matchbox YGB19 Great Beers of the World Die Cast 1912 T Model Ford Van Yuengling

Matchbox Die-Cast Toys

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MatchBox

Matchbox YGB12 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1917 Yorkshire Steam Wagon Lowenbrau

Matchbox YGB03 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1918 Atkinson Steam Wagon Swan Brewery Company

Matchbox Y-18 Die Cast 1918 Atkinson Model D Steam Wagon Portland Cement (I)

Matchbox Y-22 1930 Model ‘A’ Ford Van Spratt’s (T)

Matchbox Y-13 Die Cast Model 1918 Crossley Gonzales Byass (T)

Matchbox Y-5 Die Cast Model Talbot Van Wright’s Original Coal Tar Soap (T1)

Matchbox Y-3 Die Cast Model 1912 Model ‘T’ Ford Tanker Mobiloil (T1)

Matchbox Y-5 Die Cast Model 1927 Talbot Van Nestle’s Milk (T1)

Matchbox Y-30 Die Cast 1920 Model AC Mack Consolidated Motor Transport (T2)

Matchbox Y-21 Die Cast Model 1930 Ford ‘A’ A & J Box General Stores (T2)

Matchbox Y-30 Die Cast Model 1920 Model AC Mack, Acorn Storage Co (T2)

Matchbox Y-18 Die Cast Model 1918 Atkinson Model D Steam Wagon Bass & Co (T)

Matchbox Y-25 Die Cast Model 1910 Renault Type AG, Perrier (T2)

Matchbox Y-3 Die Cast 1912-1916 Ford Model ‘T’ Tanker Red Crown Gasoline (T)

Matchbox Y-12 Die Cast Model T Ford Low Sided Truck G Imbarh (T2)

Matchbox Y-13 Die Cast Model 1918 Crossley Van, W & G (T2)

Matchbox YGB15 Great Beers of the World Die Cast 1925 Garrett Steam Wagon Flowers

Matchbox YGB09 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1920 Mack AC Moosehead

Matchbox YGB23 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1920 AC Mack TsingTao

Matchbox YGB22-M Great Beers of the World Die Cast 1918 Atkinson Steam Wagon Beamish

Matchbox YGB10 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1927 Talbot South Pacific

Matchbox YGB05 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1932 Model Ford AA Carlsberg

Matchbox YGB21 Great Beers of the World Die Cast Model 1932 Mercedes Benz L5 Dab

Matchbox YGB19 Great Beers of the World Die Cast 1912 T Model Ford Van Yuengling

Matchbox Die-Cast Toys

What are our customers saying?

Shop with confidence

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