Information on Matchbox Toy Cars

Matchbox Toy Cars are die-cast toys originally created by the British toy company Lesney Products. As of 2009, Matchbox was owned by Mattel. A 1948 version of the road roller was the first toy car created by Lesney Products.

A matchbox car.

Size

The most popular versions of the Matchbox toy car that can be found in stores measure between 2.5 and 3 inches in length.

Types

Lesney Products created a model number system of 1 to 75, only creating 75 models at once. When one new model appeared an old model was discontinued. This practiced has continued.

Significance

Although Matchbox toy cars were created mainly for children, the cars developed into a collector's item beginning in the 1960s.

Expert Insight

Since the toys have become collectors' items, organizations have been created to catalog models and to estimate the value of models. These organizations include the Matchbox International Collectors Association and Matchbox USA.

Fun Fact

The name "Matchbox toy cars" was chosen because the cars were packed in boxes similar to that of a matchbox.

References

• Matchbox website
• Matchbox models of yesteryear
• BBC News: Matchbox co-founder dies