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(More customer reviews)Matchbox Star Cars series never closely resemble the vehicles used in the films/TV shows they are from but this Untouchables one, takes that rule to the extreme with a completely different car (although still an old fashioned looking one). Matchbox basically just reused their Ford Model A-Coupe which has appeared numerous times, giving it a grey paint job and attaching stickers which resemble bullet holes (and do look pretty cool) and the name of the movie on the boot (trunk). It is actually quite a cool looking car, the problem is it's not the same type of car as the one in the movie.
Now Matchbox Star Cars are often criticised for not resembling the ones in the film, the way I describe them is that they are like a little kid playing dress up, or a cartoon series pretending to reenact a film scene where they've got to keep some of the original character's look. It makes the series kind of fun like with the M*A*S*H jeep, Jaws boat with plastic shark etc, and keeps them with the primary look of kids' toys. I mean a little kid isn't going to care if this resembles the film, they probably haven't even seen it, they are just going to like the fact the car has been riddled with bullets. Unlike brands like Johnny Lightning whose primary market is the adult collector, Matchbox's is the kids toy market so you don't mind so much the fact that they are not exact replicas. However surely Matchbox could have made an old fashioned (I don't know the model) Jaguar with a spare tyre on the side (this Ford doesn't have that) and picked a car that has back seats and an extra side windows (this car doesn't). I mean obviously whoever designed the car had no idea what the packaging was going to be, I mean they've put a picture of the actual car in the film behind it.
Packaging wise, it's very good. A lot better than your typical Matchbox 1/64 sized car (which is why you don't find many Matchbox cars still in their blister packs). Like with what Johnny Lightning do, Matchbox have designed these things so the cardboard on the back enhances the display of the vehicle if kept in the pack. And since the car like all Matchbox cars is a lot more durable than Hot Wheels, Johnny Lightning etc, if you want to take it out you've got the best of both worlds. As I mentioned before the card above and behind the clear blister has an image of jaguar used in the film, with the driver and even has a guy with an tommy gun pointing out the back window (which is why it's a bit stupid the actual matchbox car doesn't have this window), old style film borders the image and The Untouchables logo. Above that you've got a yellow star with special edition and the number of the vehicle in the series (16), the words Ages 8 and Up and the Matchbox and Star Car Collection logos. I know a few collectors who cut the top part off and it's designed pretty well to do that and just keep the film photos part. On the back of the star cars there's also three trivia questions from the shows/movie in this series, including the answers.
Also inside the blister you get a little cardboard box with The Untouchables and Matchbox Star Car logos to put the Ford in or to sit it on top for display if you have chosen to open the blister.
Amazon doesn't seem to sell all the Star Car Collection but the others in the series are Grease, Taxi, The Brady Bunch, Happy Days, M*A*S*H, Mission Impossible, Magnum P I, Miami Vice, Jaws (this is the most expensive one to track down), Animal house, Adam-12, Smokey and the Bandit (also fairly pricey), Mork & Mindy, Laverne and Shirley, Top Gun (I've reviewed that too) and American Graffiti.
Unlike most other Matchbox cars there is a big difference in price of these vehicles loose to inside their blister packs. Since they appeal to a lot of movie car collectors there are a lot still available in their packaging.
You shouldn't be paying more than $8 - 10 with postage for this still in packaging car, in fact you'll often find it a lot cheaper. Any fan of the movie or die-cast vehicle movie collector will be pleased with this. It is a cool little car though and if you can accept the fact it isn't the same one as in the film I think you'll really enjoy it.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Matchbox Star Car Collection(1998) Limited Edition The Untouchables Ford Model A Coupe(#16 in Series)
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