Car Lamley Group: First Look: 2013 Matchbox Classic Seagrave Fire Engine in yellow...

When something works, don't stop.

A lot of collectors will argue that Matchbox did just that. The brand that for the last decade or so has been producing wonderfully realistic models in the $1 range moved away from that to create exaggerated off-road and utility models in order to attract the kiddos. Is it working? I have no idea. That isn't the purpose of that post, and there are plenty of places where you can argue those points.

But there is a model that worked, and the collectors went nuts. It is called the Classic Seagrave, and it's purty. Heavily detailed, all chromy, and right down Matchbox collector's preverbal alley.

So Matchbox is doing it again. From the Matchbox Ambassador's report from July, just following the Gathering:

Yeah, that looks like the Seagrave, but it's not. It is the '63 Mack Pumper Model B, and it is coming in 2014. And it is heavily detailed, maybe chromy, and surely will occupy more space in that alley.

But back to the Seagrave. The second basic range version, and fifth in general (after three special editions) is now out, and it looks great in yellow. That alley is getting crowded.

We will probably always give this model its own post, whenever it is released. Plus, it's four previous versions are always deserving of a little photographic attention, don't you think?

(Get the Seagrave here