The earliest motor cars were basically horse-drawn carriages, without the horse. These were followed by box-like vehicles at the beginning of the 20th Century. The first modern looking vehicles were those of the 1930s.
In recent years Matchbox have included a number of 1930s vehicles in their basic range - a mix of cars and pick-up trucks. An example is this 1936 Ford Coupe.
It is a three-window model, with a rear window, and one side window in each door. Oddly, in the world of cars, the windscreen does not count as a window - even though it is made of glass, and you can see through it. Ford also made a five-window Coupe, with an extra, small window behind the doors.
This model first appeared in 2022, in Metalflake black. The 2023 version is Maroon, with a gunmetal-grey interior and running boards.
The base, including the front and rear bumpers, is chromed. Black and silver tampo printing covers the grille, and the front lights. The windscreen and rear window are clear plastic.
The model comes on either a card; or in a small cardboard box. Unfortunately, the modern boxes do not have end flaps that tuck in, but are glued down.
The inscription on the underside says 1936 Ford Coupe, copyright date 2021, and Made in Thailand, along with the usual small elephant symbol. A very nice little model, of a stock 1930s Ford.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
I've got a mate with a number of vintage american motors and has a Ford 32 sports coupe, all original apart from the "modern" engine (1937) top speed of 66mph on Pendine Sands in Wales, there's a ton of videos on the tube of the hot rod racing at Pendine
ReplyDelete1930s automobiles are some of the coolest designs, imho. The influence of "streamlining" is strictly evident, as you note. I have a couple of Pyro models of 30s vehicles in my kit stash - hope to build them one day.
ReplyDeleteI'd noticed the contemporary Matchbox toys have a cardboard box, as well as a blister pack. If the box end flaps are glued down, that would reduce play value to zero and annoy the heck out of collectors who would have to damage the packaging!
ReplyDeleteAn odd production choice!
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