MINICARS: Matchbox Hakosuka Nissan Skyline

Matchbox Nissan Skyline C10 Hakosuka

Matchbox has just teased a new casting for 2016, and it’s none other than the hakosuka Nissan Skyline. Technically, it’s a 1971 Skyline 2000GT-X, complete with the surf line over the rear wheels and it’s still in prototype form (that’s what those numbers on the hood mean). Like the Hot Wheels Hakosuka, it’s a groundbreaking model for the line, which may open the doors for a new wave of collectors to discover Matchbox. 

At first glance, the model looks fantastic. The mirrors are cast very nicely and you can see the small curve inward for the stands. The wipers are also nice and thin, not heavy, which is hard to do in 1:64 scale, especially when molded into the body.

Since the car is silver, it’s hard to discern the grille and surround trim, and whether in future releases in different colors this will be picked out in silver. The trim is also very defined so together with the grille it will make a very nice (we hope) premium version when those areas are highlighted.

 The tampos for the headlights and signals are very crisp and applied perfectly, although in this case it would’ve been nice to see Matchbox’s old method of printing the reflector lens highlights. Hopefully, the final version will have a chrome base.

In recent years, Matchbox has been faltering due to a heavy reliance on trucks, construction equipment, and original designs that don’t take after any real-world models. The Hakosuka represents a drastic shift in direction to the old Matchbox we loved as kids, with realistic, detailed interpretations of real cars. The fact that it’s a 50-year-old Nissan Skyline is proof that JNCs are the hottest thing in diecast these days.

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10 Responses to MINICARS: Matchbox Hakosuka Nissan Skyline

  1. Goodshow_aa says:

    Please use your influence or hype generating abilities to pressure them to fix their distribution. Only a handful of place in so cal sell matchbox individually, and the ones that do have very low numbers in stock. It makes you wonder where do all the matchbox go? And who will be lucky enough to find this in the store with out paying some second hand market jerk 30$ or more for it. Now I know how those kids felt in the willie wonka movie about the golden ticket. Except imagine that no one sold the chocolate bars

    • Charlie says:

      Amen to that… on a related note has anyone in the real world seen the hot wheels japan historics on the shelf anywhere ! here in colorado I have yet see even one anywhere… and they have been out for quite awhile judging by the great many for sale on ebay at higher prices ..

      • Derrick says:

        I’ve seen just the toyota 2000gt in walmart in canada

      • voytko240 says:

        Haven’t seen any here in Illinois either. All of the diecast places I frequent online had sold out on back when they did the preorders long ago.

      • Greyfox says:

        So its not just me then! I have been looking for them in Australia also, Toys R Us are the only retail store that tends to stock more collectable hot wheels and they are ‘currently unavailable’…

    • Greyfox says:

      Perhaps you may recall Matchbox and Hot Wheels being bitter rivals? Much like other old battles such as the Nintendo vs Sega rivalry of the 1990’s, Nvidia vs Ati Radeon video cards, AMD vs Pentium chips etc etc… Mattel owns both Matchbox and Hot Wheels brands now, so its no wonder that Matchbox is taking a backseat to Hot Wheels. Most stores in Australia stock Hot Wheels first, if you are lucky, perhaps some Matchbox…

  2. SHC says:

    Try one of the Mattel Outlet stores. Most are in Ca., TX, WI. and one in Canada. They carry the Matchbox line and others as well.

  3. Clonedspork says:

    O’Reillys has a few in their stores. I know because I work at one.

    Usually in a 4 way in front of the counter beside the Chilton manuals. Most stores have at least six cars in the two middle bottom rows.

  4. mervins81 says:

    always liked matchbox attention to detail, but their wheels???? really why are all of their wheel designs so blah!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Rob A. says:

      Literally the best wheels in $1 diecast. Blows hot wheels, majorette, tomica, and all others out of the water.

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