Cool is Cool is Cool: Matchbox Land Rover Ninety & Toyota Land Cruiser in light blue...

I spend a couple of days in the Four Corners area of Utah every month.  If you are not familiar with that area, go look at a map of the US, and look for the only place in the country that four states meet.  Those states are Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah.

Now focus on the Utah part of the Four Corners, and look slightly north.  You will see towns called Blanding, Monticello, and Moab.  You will see areas called Canyonlands and Arches, both cut by the Colorado River.  If you want to know what that area looks like, this will help:

Those photos were taken by me a couple of days ago at Dead Horse Point as the sun went down.  It makes returning home and writing about little cars a bit difficult. 

So to keep my head in Moab, why not focus on some Moab-esque vehicles?  Of course Moab might be the Jeep capitol of the world, so that is too obvious.  Instead, in keeping with the theme of our Cool is Cool is Cool series, I am showcasing a couple of off-roading classics that truly are driven by the cool folks of Moab and the surrounding towns.

The Land Rover Ninety and Toyota Land Cruiser don't need much by way of introduction.  The Ninety was introduced in 1983, and Matchbox followed with its version in 1987.  The Land Cruiser spans a longer time period.  The 40 Series debuted in 1960, and Matchbox created its version in 2009.

Nonetheless, both vehicles are iconic off-roaders, taking several shapes in areas like Moab.  We happen to like seeing them in interesting colors, none more than baby blue.  

And thankfully, Matchbox has baby blue versions of both castings.  The Land Rover in the 2006 All-Terrain 5-pack, and the Land Cruiser as a recolor on the 2009 New Model.

So, we will pay tribute to one of the most stunning places on earth by showcasing mini versions of two of the most iconic off-roaders around.  Superlative city, yes, but all deserving.

(Find the Land Rover and Land Cruiser on ebay...)

Matchbox Land Rover 90 (2006 5-pack) & Toyota Land Cruiser (2009 New Models):

First Look: Matchbox 60th Anniversary International Scout & Ford Explorer...

A general rule of thumb: Don't peak too early.

These two castings may have done just that.  But let's just be glad they peaked at all.

The latest batch of Matchbox 60th Anniversary just arrived at dealer shops, and we got these from our friends at Wheel Collectors this weekend.  Five models.  Two British classics, two US off-roaders, and a German bike.  It makes for easy categorizing, and here are the off-roaders.



There is another reason you can put these two together.  Both castings were eagerly anticipated when they were announced, but didn't deliver the way most collectors had hoped.  Of course, that matters little in the whole scheme of things, as long as they are popular on the pegs, and it appears they are.

Nonetheless, both debuts were less than stellar from a collector perspective, but now we have the Scout and Explorer in 60th duds, which means full tampo treatment and eye-popping deco.  And going back to the original point, I don't think we will ever see these two look better.  Sad thought on one hand, happy thought on the other because at least there was a means this year in 60th to look this way.

Let's start with the International Scout.  You can look at it two ways.  One, the strange proportions are still there, and of course they aren't going anywhere.  I think we all agree that if the body were a tad larger this would be a great model, but then again that could mean it goes full plastic.  So pick your poison.  So if you overlook the proportions, the white with front, side, and rear deco looks great.  As do the white hubs.  For what is worth, I like it.

(Find the latest batch of Matchbox 60th at Wheel Collectors, and take advantage of their Back-to-School Sale...)

Matchbox '76 International Scout 4x4 (2013 60th Anniversary):

Now the Ford Explorer.  Proportions weren't the problem when this was released.  It was the all the bells and whistles.  Ford granted Mattel permission to customize the model a bit, making it an off-road police vehicle.  Collectors were hoping for a street police car, and were disappointed with this one.  I personally was fine either way, as this is not a casting I would get excited about either way.

But...

How great does this model look?  This "construction security" model is darn near perfect.  Full tampo treatment, including the front grill, and the colors, highlighted by Matchbox orange, really pop.  Now the big grill cover, bolted fenders, and roof rack look great.  While this is not a favorite casting of mine, I would say this is one of the best models in the 60th Anniversary line.

What do you think?

Matchbox 2012 Ford Explorer (2013 60th Anniversary):

Model of the Day: Tomica Limited Vintage Toyota Land Cruiser FJ56V...

Yeah, it is probably not fair to follow up a post this morning on two Toyota Trucks from Hot Wheels by showing a Toyota Truck by Tomica Limited Vintage.  I maintain that comparing the brands is not fair to either, as the models could not be more different.  But they are both 1:64, and occasionally they might sit next to each other.

So without comparing, let me tell you what I think about the TLV 55 Series Land Cruiser.  No, I won't tell you.  If you have read this blog for at least a decent period of time, I have no doubt you know what I think about this model.



When we featured the TLV LC in Japanese Police livery a few weeks ago, I mentioned that the 55 and 60 Series were my favorite Land Cruisers because of the station wagon look.  Wagons rule, and so do Land Cruiser wagons.  Wagons rule so much that Tomica Limited Vintage had to make an extra long box to house this model.

There is a lot you can write about Land Cruisers, like how popular they are becoming in the car collecting world, about many are still around, about how classic Cruisers will never lose their cool factor, and just how iconic they have become.

There is a lot you can write about the TLV version, like how well it is done, how TLV obsess with scale, how perfect the stance is, and how great it is that they did a 55 as opposed to other options (but I still would love to see the 60 series in the Neo line).

But I am not going to write about those things.  I am going to let you see the photos.

(And you might want to grab a version or two of the Land Cruiser.  You can find them here, but be prepared to pay.  The TLV LC is already HIGHLY collectible.)


Tomica Limited Vintage Toyota Land Cruiser FJ56V:

With the Japanese Police:

And in case you were wondering if Tomica cares about scale: