Great on any Friday:Anker 535 Fast Car Charger – 67W, 2x USB-C + 1x USB-A, PowerIQ 3.0, 3ft Cable Included
5 Matchbox Collectibles That Are Affordable Tiny Homes
64 photosPhoto: eBay/User kglo88
There was a time when I used to keep track of how many Hot Wheels I had in my collection. It was still an early-stage thing. I know I must have been close to having about 1,000 of them earlier this year, but I don’t have the exact number. One thing’s for sure, half of them have found new homes by now.
And I’ll probably have 50 or less by the time I’m done with the process. Chances are that I might own more Matchbox models than Hot Wheels at that time, and not for the reason you think.
Most people in my area aren’t even curious to see what MBX collectibles are all about. It’s a shame they feel that way as many of Mattel’s secondary line-up of tiny cars are quite impressive.
I’m always happy to find a new Moving Parts release, but stores in my area will rarely bring these in. As for older MBX cars, that’s even more complicated for me without turning to eBay.
After exploring a few Hot Wheels tiny homes last week, I wanted to see if Matchbox had nicer options by comparison.
I looked at 14 different castings for this story, ultimately choosing five of them for a closer look. The Berkeley Cavalier is a bit too old for my taste, as it was available in the late ‘50s.
The Camping Cruiser was seemingly the same throughout the ‘70s. You’ll also find at least two different Volkswagen Campers, plus a pickup truck camper that was a one time deal in 1981.
I wasn’t sure if the ‘16 Toyota Tacoma was a prime candidate for today’s story, given it just has a removable tent in the back. You could also look for the modern-day Mercedes-Benz Sprinter casting, but it has only had two variations so far so it’ll be a short hunt. Then there’s also the Jurassic World-themed RV (Fleetwood), but I’d rather stick to “civilian” models here.
Mobile Home
It’s no wonder it had a metal base, as that seemed to be standard at the time. Not only that, but it also had an opening side door, yet another 1/64th-scale feature that has succumbed to cost-cutting measures over time. Matchbox made three variations between 1980 and 1981, with minor differences between them (windows and interior colors).
I spotted one of these on eBay listed for $638, which seems a bit ambitious if you ask me especially since some carded options seem to cost less than $50. The casting’s journey didn’t stop there, but it evolved into something slightly different. The addition of a radar dish on the roof helped “transform” it into a NASA tracking vehicle for 1982 and 1983.
It then became a fire truck in 1984, with further NASA, military and police variations coming out of the factory until 1999. As you’d expect, the door was molded shut by 1984, and the plastic base was the standard option by the late ‘80s.
Truck Camper
Plastic was once again the go-to option for the MBX team here, but it looks like the opening door wasn’t out of the question. “34 States and Still Going” written next to a map of the United States of America is one of the coolest things about the First Edition release, as it embodies the adventurous spirit that drives people out of heir homes on to the great outdoors (I keep hearing the dryad’s voice from Warcraft III and whenever using those two words together).
I’ve only visited five different states so far, but I imagine camping beats sleeping in a hotel, at least for “immersion” purposes. There are over a dozen iterations of this casting on the market, and not all of them are white. The 2001 version that appeared in a Nickleodeon 5-pack used a mix of lavender and yellow, while orange was next for the 2002 Across America release.
If you’ve ever enjoyed the Hitch’n Haul series, that could be your next point of exploration as there are several Truck Campers there. The most recent one showed up in 2022 and 2023 as a Dino Digger Rig hauling the MBX Flat Trailer carrying a tiny excavator.
Travel Trailer
Back in 2007, it was part of the same Vacation Day package as the ‘99 Chevrolet Silverado alongside two figurines, a sun bed and a type of deer I can’t identify right now. The next two iterations were part of the same series, with some color differences between them.
In between 2011 and 2014, we had four more options to choose from and they were all part of 5-Packs. The 2011 Camping Adventure set included a Volkswagen T2 Bus with “World Camping Tours” decals, while the final version of the Travel Trailer showed up inside the same set as the last collectible on today’s list.
You can also chase for the more compact version of this casting, aptly called Travel Trailer II. It’s not as long and only a single axle, but it might be easily accessible since it was part of the 2021 and 2022 Hitch & Haul series.
MBX Motor Home
I think it’s the most exciting “tiny home” on today’s list, as it’s just the kind of setup I’d go for if I decided to explore the world around me this way. There are 15 variations to look for, and all of them look perfect to me.
The opening rear trailer door is just a bonus at this point. Six of the Motor Homes out there were part of either 5-Packs or 10-Packs, including a SpongeBob SquarePants version in 2011.
I’m not even a fan of that TV Show and I still think the set looked epic, at least if you ignore the Dodge Magnum for a moment. I suddenly feel the urge to start looking for the Superfast 40th Anniversary model!
Road Tripper
I’d say this pickup truck is a good definition for what overlanding is all about, and it reminds me of something I read recently that sounded like “the best road trip doesn’t even need roads”. Does that make sense?
Anyway, after two Desert Endurance variations, the Road Tripper also showed up in a 10-pack that same year. You should look for the 2014 Outdoor Sights 5-Pack if you’re a fan of the National Parks theme.
There’s even a Jurassic World version if you plan on hoarding as many collectibles related to that movie as possible. Today’s “journey” further made me realize how much more of the Matchbox universe I still need to explore. I might just find a way to do so in the near future.
Liked the article?Follow us to see more articles from autoevolution in your Google feeds.
matchboxRVCamperWEEKENDToyotaVolkswagentiny homejurassic world
UP NEXT:2008 Audi RS 4 Sits In a Garage for More Than 18 Years, Sells for More Than Its Original Price
About the author: Dragos Chitulescu
The things Dragos enjoys the most in life are, in no particular order: cars, motorcycles, diecast cars, and drifting. He’s seen (and driven) many vehicles since he started his writing career back in 2009, but his garage currently houses a 1991 Mazda RX-7 FC3S Turbo II and a 1999 Suzuki SV650-S.
Full profile
