Matchbox unveils two more 2016 models on Instagram, and they look good...

Matchbox has been rolling out the sneaks on their Instagram feed, and two more dropped this week:

First, orange is the new black on the F-Type:

Let's hear from the #ftype fans out there? #mb975

A photo posted by @matchboxworld on May 4, 2016 at 6:30pm PDT

And a very sharp blue on the CTS Coupe:

This beauty dropped by my desk today. #cadillaccts #mb815

A photo posted by @matchboxworld on May 5, 2016 at 5:50pm PDT

It is nice to see the realistic models rolling out, especially in realistic colors.  I loved the F-Type in black, but it is even better in orange.  And while nothing will top the black 10-pack CTS Coupe with orange rims a few years ago, this blue is sharp.  It does make me long for the CTS Wagon casting, which I hope we see again soon.

For now, I will happily add both to the collection.  More sneaks are bound to come, so follow the Matchbox IG feed if you haven't already...

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Variation Alert: Hot Wheels Cadillac Elmiraj with grey interior...

We don't report all variations, but we do like to report significant finds, especially those that are hard to explain.

The last couple of weeks we started hearing about Cadillac Elmiraj models found with grey interior, instead of the standard tan interior.  The first inclination was that maybe folks were finding models with the brown slightly off-color, but after seeing pics, there was no doubt the interior was totally different.

Of course that meant the hunt was on.  And alas, a dump bin dive in a small town yielded not one, but four:

The interesting thing?  Of the four cases in the bin, each had one tan interior and one grey interior.  How that happens I have no idea, and whether or not the grey will be in small numbers I have no idea as well.

So why the grey interior?  No idea as well.  The two most likely answers are that either the factory created the grey erroneously and corrected the mistake, or grey was the planned interior and either the designer or licensor asked for it to be changed.

Either way, it is definitely different, and it is cool to have.  Keep your eyes open...

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Just Unveiled: The fantastic new Hot Wheels Cadillac Elmiraj, sitting alongside the 2004 Maserati Quattroporte....

Yesterday in my less than stellar review of the new Hot Wheels Tesla Model S, I mentioned that its New Model counterpart in this batch could very well take the title of Model of the Year.

Most of you guessed that I was referring to the Cadillac Elmiraj, and you were right.  Now that we have the Elmiraj in hand, we can honestly say that it is an astounding casting.  It is strange to look at both the Tesla and the Cadillac knowing that both came from the same studio in the same company:

The Elmiraj is everything the Tesla is not.  It has crisp lines, it sits with a perfect stance, it is well proportioned, and we don't need to comment about its front grill area.  All you have to do is look at the photos, or better, buy one and open it.  Whether or not you like the actual Elmiraj Concept, this model is about as good as it gets technically speaking.  It is darn near perfect.

So I guess we can safely say it was not meant for the track.

Is it the best new model of the year?  Probably not.  Technically sure, but there are models, like the Escort, that pack a little more punch and significance.  One way or the other it is one of the best of 2015:

How nice is that?

Which leads to the Maserati Quattroporte.  There is absolutely no link between these two other than the fact that when I look at the Elmiraj I think of the Quattroporte.  I can't tell you why.  Maybe the wheels, maybe the realistic proportions, maybe the long hood.  Whatever it is, it seems to make sense to put them together.

The Maserati is one of the more famous one-and-dones in the Hot Wheels lineup.  It appeared as a New Model in 2004, and hasn't been seen since.  At the time Hot Wheels was obsessed with tooned cars, and almost everything licensed was a muscle car.  The Maserati seemed to be drastically out of place, with its same-size wheels, deco-devoid paint, and front and rear tampos.  And it didn't interest most collectors either.  That model hung and hung and hung.  I was still finding them in stores as late as 2008.

Yeah, it would be popular today, and if it went the route of the Elmiraj as opposed to the Tesla, it would be a much more crisp model than the one it ended up being.  One way or the other, I am very happy to have an example, and it looks great net to the Cadillac.

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Hot Wheels 2015 Batch L, including the Zamacs, has been released...

A Sunday heads up for our Lamley Readers...

It looks like Hot Wheels 2015 Batch L has been released.  Our favorite Texas seller has listed all of them, including the Cadillac Elmiraj, Tesla Model S, Honda S2K, '65 Mustang Super TH, and a Regular TH that will get the masses talking.  We also get to see the Zamacs for Batch L.  You can see it all here:

Hot Wheels 2015 Batch L

Lots to like here, but we are sure the Regular TH will get the attention.  Some highlights for us:

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Just Unveiled: 2015 Hot Wheels Cadillac Elmiraj...

No up-sloped chin.  No large rear wheels.  And from what we can tell, a beauty.

Photos have surfaced of the brand new Hot Wheels Cadillac Elmiraj, and we really like what we see. And we knew we would, provided Hot Wheels kept true to the actual Elmiraj Concept.  Cadillac seems to like seeing there stuff as true to their proper dimensions as possible, so it isn't a surprise.

So we are in on this one.  Sure, rear tampos would be nice, but a blank back is expected these days.  Ultimately, a great casting, and a welcome one after a few disappointments in the New Model lineup this year...

What do you think?

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