Fans of miniature cars are split into two distinct camps. One group loves the accurate representations of the Matchbox crew and the other favors the wild style of the Hot Wheels designers. Which camp do you support? Let us know in comments.
[…] Fans of miniature cars are split into two distinct camps. One group loves the accurate representations of the Matchbox crew and the other favors the wild style of the Hot Wheels designers. Which camp do you support? Let us know in comments. […]
As much as my Hot Wheels-wielding childhood cries out when I say it, “Matchbox.”
The photo above isn’t a fair representation of my point, but in the last decade or so, Hot Wheels have veered toward cartoonish caricatures of their former glory, taking a few too many design cues from the MTV Cribs set. It’s still possible to pick up Matchbox cars that look like they rolled off of the showroom floor, but most Hot Wheels take too many liberties for my tastes. In fact, I just snapped up a trio of particularly pretty Matchbox cars for desk baubles: A pair of Audis (RS6 Avant and R8) and a Porsche GT3. Had they been Hot Wheels, I’m reasonably sure they would’ve been molested with 30” gold wheels and some bizarre graphics scheme. Call me a traditionalist snob, but that’s fine for some… just not me.
With there larger scale and extreme accuracy, Corgi was always the best, with Matchbox second.
Don’t forget Dinky!
Having grown up with a collection which consisted mainly of cars that actually made production, I hate that it is so difficult to find actual production cars in Hot Wheels’ retail offerings. My vote, and my suggestion to those looking for children’s gifts, goes to Matchbox.
Well, since I’m biased towards collecting all manner of Toyota, my first choice is … TOMICA. Followed by Matchbox and lastly Hot Wheels. If you’ve ever seen the Tomica Vintage Limited series, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
I never gave it any thought. From the sounds of it, I had all Matchbox cars because I never had any wild concept cars.
I’d rather have Ertl or American Muscle, if at all possible. Matchbox and Hot Wheels are too small. I don’t want anything smaller than 1/24 scale in my collection.
Matchbox or Hot Wheels? How about Majorette?
I’m a Hotwheels man.
Hard to choose but since matchbox cars seem more accurate
than hotwheels I choose MB’S
I always thought Matchbox cars felt really cheap and plasticky. Hot Wheels all the way, honey.
Matchbox, but luckily Mattel doesn’t need to worry about which one we choose.
MBs 1st, add a few HWs
Even though I had both, I preferred the Hot Wheels. They were higher quality and stood up better against the abuse of a young car enthusiast.
Always Matchbox. The Hot Wheels cars were all too fake.
And I was a big fan of the opening door. More Matchboxes had that
Hot Wheels. Hot Wheels may offer a lot of junk and ghetto crap, but it still rolls out some nice cars. I just find it unbelievable how some collectors try to sell fifteen-year-old 2 in. metal cars for a hundred bucks.
Of course, they never sell them.
My preference for Hot Wheels is due to the company’s recent 1:18 diecast models. The models are well-made, properly detailed, and affordable at $30. I’m still having trouble swallowing Hot Wheels losing out on the Camaro concept to Dubbs. GM is going too far in targeting the hip-hop crowd.
I recall when Hot Wheels hit the market when I was in first grade. My first one was a Mustang fastback and the hood opened on it. The redline “tires” were cool, and the casting was reasonably accurate. It wasn’t quite as good as Matchbox, but most of those were cars we rarely saw here in the States, such as the Morris Minor with the dog in the backseat.
Then there was Johnny Lightning. The accuracy was poor, and they didn’t seem to hold up to the abuse that a seven-year-old could dish out in a vacant lot, next to the Tonkas.
Anyway, I’ll be the first one to admit that yes, when I’m in Target, I still swing through the toy car aisle. The Volvo C30 I saw the other day looked pretty good, so it went into the cart.
Probably more Hot Wheels, although I do like the fact that Matchbox makes more accurate models. But like several others have said, the quality of the Hot Wheels was much better than that of the Matchbox cars.
Matchbox had better cars….
Hot Wheels were more easily attainable…
Hot Wheels hands down. I had the ‘Wheel’ carrying case circa 1969 with the Jack Rabbit Special, the Don Prudhomme “Snake” Funny Car and the Peeping Bomb tucked safely inside … wow … great memories.
Matchbox for sure.
I like the fact that M-B cars have the scale molded into the bottom. The DTM Alfa and Opel from 10 years ago are the same scale and the DTM Mercedes was almost the same. Since they are to scale you can display them together.
When at Target today I picked up the R8 and 911 GT3. Of course they are actually they’re for my uh….grandson. But we…er, he likes Hotwheels as well.
Neither. Johnny Lighting. Oh man…the hours,I would spend playing with those cards,as a child;then,putting those same cars,on My Johnny Lighting Race Track.
(Jeeszzz…I miss those days…)
…and as for the,”Minor”,person. Lighten up with the,anti-Hip-Hop. One,its’ this generation’s answer,to rock and roll. Two,these companies,through research,understand that the Hip-Hop Culture are not only setting the trends in various forms of tricking out a car;but,they spent billions yearly,as well. And three,your belly-aching,is a sign that you,and your generation are now old,and out of the loop,in regards to setting the new trends.
Uh,oh…”cards”=”cars”…
Other than my set of 1960’s Hotwheels, all that I collected was Matchbox with a few Johnny Lightning thrown in for good measure.
Matchbox all the way. Hot wheels are built well, but I am all for production cars, not dreamed up concept designs that don’t look anything like what is on the roads.
-> I have a collection of my own too, not just from Hot Wheels or Matchbox but also from Majorette, Corgi, Maisto, the low quality ones from China, and so many more.
-> But between the two, I’d take Matchbox. Because based on my experience; Matchboxes have a higher standard ratio compared to Hot Wheels.
-> A lot of Hot Wheels I’ve encountered was their axles always falls apart and tends the wheels to stick out like one of those Lowriders and those mud-slinging big trucks.
-> And somestimes their build quality always falls short. I think Majorette and Maisto comes second after Matchbox in my book.
I really liked Tomica, aka “Pocket Cars”. Very detailed and accurate with good quality. I still have several in pristine condition and they’re my faves. Matchbox was my second favorite, Hot Wheels a distant third.
Gotta go for the real-life details. The super miniatures from Schuco (look them up) are even better because not only are the cars accurately rendered, they’re 40 percent smaller than a regular matchbox and each comes with the real wheels the cars have.
Check out this guy’s incredible collection of Tomica: http://hellototomica.com/index_e.html
Matchbox, Yes. Matchbox were my first toy cars in 1973, and I still have all nine of them, plus several thousand more. I collect all brands, but Matchbox make up the majority. Much as I hate to say it, but Hot Wheels just can’t hold up to Matchbox for accuracy.
P.S., I hope Winding Road does an article on Matchbox, Lledo (created by Mr. Matchbox himself, Jack O’Dell), and Majorette.
Hot Wheels. Matchbox was a bit before my time. I loved those Hot Wheels tracks that’d launch your cars around in endless races with jumps and loops and spirals, and amazing awesomeness.
I have a collection of both, but have to admit, looking at some of my older treasured Matchbox cars that have “suspension”, opening doors and other details; both companies have fallen a long way in terms of quality, it’s such a shame. My children have a collection of new cars and they realy don’t seem to take the punishment of everyday play, paint almost comes off in your hands.
Neither,
Since November 16, 1996 when Mattel bought Tyco Toys which owned Matchbox Toys International, Ltd. both have been under the same banner so this question really is nill.
Both play in to two distinct segments of the marketplace. Both selling points as of November 2005 are as follows:
Matchbox
Real (Road going cars)
Action (Emergency Vehicles)
Adventure (4×4, Off roading)
Hot Wheels
Speed (Supercars)
Power (High Brake Horsepower cars, tuners)
Performance (Tuners, modrods)
Jack O’Dell founded Lesney Products & Co. in 1947 along w Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith. The Smiths were the driving force for the range when the first MB car hit in 1953. 1A Bradford Aveling Road Roller. The earliest known Lesney model is an elephant named Jumbo which was released in 1949. The first legitamate MB model was the Large Coronation Coach which was made to commemerate the coronation of UK HRH Queen Elizabeth, II in 1952. O’Dell left Lesney in 1973 to find Lledo Models! Lesney went bankrupt in 1982 and sold MB to the Moonachie, NJ based Universal Toys which sold MB to Tyco in 1993.
Hot Wheels was the brainchild of Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler in 1968. Mattel itself was founded in 1946 when the first ever Barbie dolls hit the market.
Both now have been modified to work w one another instead of against one another as both had one of the most fiercest rivalries ever seen in modern business.
Darrin Dudding, I
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