#1026 MATCHBOX 2000 – ROCKET (1990)

I often talk about Matchbox lines which are not the superfast or the ordinary 1-75 series. I would like to review also those series, maybe I will do that more often in the future, as there are still hundreds of cars in my collection waiting for their turn to have their blog entry.
 

Matchbox 2000 was a short lived series of small cars equipped with a magnet on the rear half that could be steered (well, more or less) by placing an additional piece nearby. This key-piece also had a magnet, so when it came close to the car, the magnets would repel each other, as they were built with the same polarity.  Simple and nice. Mostly considering that the models chosen were all futuristic prototypes, dream cars with names such as Streak, Rocket, Gamma or Spark. Unfortunately, they are not based on real models, I would say they are all invented.

Magnetism is nothing new, but it something that attracts people (and especially children), as it has something magic in it. You can steer a toy car without touching it, using no batteries. Cool. And there is no better name than “Matchbox 2000” for a product made in 1990. This was how we expected the year 2000 to be.

I got this blisterpack from Steven (from the Motorcade). It was already partially opened, so I carefully removed the contents and tested it myself. It is fun to play with. The “key” piece can also hold the car and can be clipped to the pocket of your shirt for carrying it, although, I would say, if you do that, there is a 99% chance of losing the car within the next 2 minutes. It does not hold very well.

The line included all these 12 vehicles in the picture plus two playsets with plenty of magnets to fit, hold and move your 2000´s cars. The first one was called R.P.M. (Robotic Positioning Module) and the second one V.S.C. (Vertical Service Center)

There was a second series comprising the same 12 cars in alternate colours, but these were sold in 3-packs without magnetic key.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: MATCHBOX 2000 ROCKET
• Scale: Approx 1:72
• Year: 1990
• Company: Matchbox (United Kingdom)
• Size: 7 cms

#1025 M.A.S.K. – THUNDERHAWK with MATT TRAKKER/ SPECTRUM (1985)

The most popular reference from this toyline has to be the Thunderhawk, the red Camaro from Matt Trakker that can fly in its alternate mode. It was the vehicle that featured most of the comic stories and cartoon chapters, and included the main character of the M.A.S.K. organization, so it was 100% the favorite toy of children, when they had to choose one of the boxes in a toystore.

 

The car in which is based is one of the most iconic American cars of the 80s, and the toy is an accurate reproduction: the Chevrolet Camaro Z28. The transformation, however, is not so great, it just opens the doors, as if they were wings, and the spoiler takes a different position to reveal two afterburners. The wheels do not move to the inside to be hidden, as in other models of the toyline but the interior is well done with two seats, security belts and a nice steering wheel. The security belts are common in this toyline, which I find nice, and, in this case, they are necessary, as the figures may fall down, when the car is flying with opened doors.

Another action feature of the model is that it can drop two bombs. The bombs are fitted in two small compartments in the chassis, and they are activated from behind.

The figure included in the pack is the most iconic representation of Matt Trakker, the main character in the whole toyline. The hero that saves the day in every single chapter of the TV series and the leader of the M.A.S.K. He is also the father of Scott Trakker, the child that usually gets into trouble and has to be rescued. The mask is Spectrum, and it pretends to create radio interference. There are two versions of it. The one in the pictures and another smaller one that fits over the head of the figure but not over the shoulders, chest or back.

Another interesting fact to comment is that the toy is over 35 years old (soon it will be 40) and the rubber tyres are usually in bad shape. If played with it again, sometimes they break into pieces (literally). I hope somebody can create repros for those who would like to play with this toy again. Other fragile parts are the exhaust pipes below the doors and the bomb, which is really small and can be easily lost.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name:  THUNDERHAWK with MATT TRAKKER/ SPECTRUM (Ref. 37370)
• Toy Line: M.A.S.K. (Wave 1)
• Year: 1985
• Company: Kenner (U.S.A.)
• Size of the vehicle: Around 8’’ or 20 cm
• Size of the figures: 2½’’ or 6,5 cm