You've wanted to know, and it has now been unveiled.
Keeping up with tradition, this year's Matchbox Gathering Dinner Exclusive is a stunner, and the story behind it is definitely a bonus for you racing fans.
The Dinner model this year is the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Already a popular new 2016 model in red, this one takes things a step further. Those that are familiar with 24 hours of Le Mans, or Mazda history in general already know what I am referring to.
While not the exact livery of the legendary racer, this year's Dinner Model shares the same colors and pays homage to the 787B here on the 25th Anniversary of the win in 1991 - the first and only win for a Japanese car. The win in 1991 was as significant a moment as any for Japanese carmakers, and with the newest generation MX-5 debuting on the anniversary of that event, it seemed appropriate to pay homage.
So that is exactly what Gathering organizer Jim Gallegos and the Matchbox Team did. Create a special model for Gathering Dinner attendees to take home, beautifully packaged in a plexiglass case:
There are not a lot of these. Just enough for attendees, plus the very limited 75-only run of "Early Registrant" variants. As has been done each year, the first 75 people to register qualify for the early variant.
What is the variant? It is subtle this year. Just a little more text on the rear.
It doesn't change the look of the car, but for those who like variants, it is a must-have. But I don't think those getting the standard Dinner Model will be complaining too much.
So pair the Dinner Miata with the Dealer Dodge A100, and you have quite a duo. To me, reason enough to head out to the desert in July and attend. Those that do come know there is much more to it, and far better reasons to come. They are definitely a lucky bunch this year.
It had to happen, right? I had to put these together.
Hot Wheels Batch M marks the debut of their 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, just a few weeks after the debut of Matchbox's MX-5 Miata. Both are red, both reek of their respective styles, and to me, both are wonderfully done.
I will keep my take very simple. You can only compare them on style, because execution is spot on with both. And even then, style becomes a matter of personal preference. If you are really into drift, or like your cars modified, you would lean towards the Hot Wheels. If stock is your game, the Matchbox would be your choice.
But you can't say the Hot Wheels sucks because they didn't do a nice job. Because they did a really nice job. If your goal is a drift-inspired MX-5, then you would create the Hot Wheels. If your goal is stock, you cannot do better than the Matchbox. (And yes, I know you Tomica fans are in the back raising your hands high, ready to remind me of their MX-5. I will let Lamley's RTE jump in on that comparison. It is a nice model indeed.)
I never have a problem with Hot Wheels and Matchbox doing replicas of the same car. Of course, since I collect both brands, them producing different cars is probably better, but occasionally I like pairs like this. Especially when they are this different. The same applies for the Hakosuka Skyline that Hot Wheels released in 2011, and what is coming from Matchbox later this year. The cars are the same, but the take is very different, and they pair perfectly together. I even wonder if they used the same windshield. They look very similar.
(Of course the most interesting example of a pair like this is the Hot Wheels and Matchbox Tesla Models S models. Matchbox stock, Hot Wheels modded in a race style. Some were really critical of the Hot Wheels - I didn't like the chin - and some went as far to say Hot Wheels didn't know how to design cars. The funny thing? Both Teslas were designed by the SAME person - Ryu Asada. Ryu went "Hot Wheels" for one and "Matchbox" for the other. How cool is that? Incidentally Ryu is the main designer behind the HW MX-5.)
So is there one I like better? Yeah, the Matchbox, but only because I am more of a stock guy. But the Hot Wheels joins the collection too, because it is a great replica done in a very cool style, and I LOVE the deco on this one, especially since they were able to add front tampos. And on another note, no upsloped chin spoiler - on a race car. Hmmmm, maybe we are moving away from that?
So in diecast nerd conversations everywhere, this question is bound to come up:
"What JDM casting is next from Hot Wheels?"
There is bound to be a slew of answers. There will inevitably be that one guy who "liked JDM before everyone else" who will give the answers intended to impress like "it makes NO SENSE that they haven't done a Sunny" while everyone else rolls their eyes. (Japanese friends, this only applies to we diecast nerds here in the US.)
But everyone else will have a variety of answers, some less likely and some more. My guess is the members of the Hot Wheels Design Team have a wide array of ideas up on their board, but ultimately the models chosen have to have at least some universal appeal. Many of the no-brainers have been done - Datsun 240Z, the Hakosuka and Kenmeri Skylines, the R32 and R34, some Celicas, the EF Civic, and even a couple of 510's that no one seems to care about.
But there are a lot more that could, and most likely will, join the fray. The DR30 seems a logical choice, the Datsun Roadster another (yes, I know), and maybe another classic Honda or two. The list is large.
But maybe the most logical is one that pairs beautifully with the beautiful replica of the Toyota 2000GT. The Mazda Cosmo is a complete no-brainer. It shows up time and time again on the car show circuit, it has penetrated the car collector crowd, and its unique silhouette and rich history make it one of the most recognizable classic Japanese cars around.
So why has Hot Wheels made a Cosmo? Maybe because they already have.
In the early 2000's, Hot Wheels created a special line exclusively for Japan called Charawheels. As far as I know all the castings were original to the series, and all the models were from popular TV shows and movies. Some Japanese shows, others from elsewhere like the US. Before there was Hot Wheels Retro Entertainment, and all the mainline models like the Batmobile and The Homer, there was Charawheels. Models like the Back to the Future DeLorean, Airwolf Helicopter, and Speed Racer. And there was a ton of cars from Japanese series, most of which I have no clue about. I hope someone can help fill me in. You can see many of the models on eBay:
One of the models was from the Japanese kids series Ultraman. I don't know much about Ultraman, other than he is from space, protects humans, and fought Godzilla when Godzilla was in his upright collar phase.
Outside of that, I know Ultraman's allies at the Monster Attack Team (MAT) at one point drove a Mazda Cosmo, only because Hot Wheels created a replica. And a damn nice replica at that.
Other than a large metal spoiler on the rear, and a stripe outline built into the casting, it is pretty accurate. The silhouette is there, as is the unique front and rear detailing. It seems to me a little tweak here and there and this is a casting that would fit right in with other Hot Wheels models.
That is, of course, if the tool still exists. I have no idea, and I wonder if anyone at Mattel knows. But it would be worth looking into. One of the Mattel brands needs to do a Cosmo, even after one of the Mattel brands already did...
