My nephew enjoys playing video games on a $4,000 computer. People who couldn't care less about eSports think it's outrageous that his dad paid that much for the setup. But it's all a matter of perspective.
Some of my family members have told me that I could buy a modern BMW or Audi with the money I spent on my old Japanese sports car. That fits their lifestyle and way of doing things, but it’s not what I wanted. I’ve interviewed people who have diecast collections worth more than their homes; non-enthusiasts might not get the excitement.
So it’s hard to say if the Matchbox 1970 Datsun 510 Rally is worth $25. Before I get into that discussion, let’s look at how this little collectible came to be. Mattel didn’t just release it via Mattel Creations earlier this month; it’s been a thing since 2017.
Abe Lugo designed the model and you may remember some of his Hot Wheels vehicles, such as the '75 Kenworth W900, the '64 Chevy Nova Wagon, the '55 Lincoln Futura Concept, and the Baja Bone Shaker. The Datsun 510 had been part of the Mattel portfolio through Hot Wheels for several years when this Matchbox version arrived in MBX Explorers.
Maybe I'm too young to understand this car, but it has never lit a fire in me so far. The casting had a special moment in 2018, appearing as a Promotional: Diecast Convention model in a blue and gold finish. There's one on eBay with an asking price of $140. The next two iterations were part of the MBX Off-Road series, and then it became a 9-Pack Exclusive model.
And that’s not exactly a breakthrough. The diecast manufacturer revealed last year that it plans to continue promoting the Datsun by using it in the Collectors series. It was quite an appearance, and today you can still pick one up for less than $10. So the question arises: why is the company trying to sell a Matchbox Collectors variant for $25?
Sure, it comes in an acrylic case with a decorative outer box (reminds me of the Star Wars Naboo Royal Starship packaging), but that’s not enough. The Spectraflame Orange paint job is awesome, and the True Grip wheels are on the same page. But where are the moving/opening parts? What about a limited production run?
We've had this discussion before when we reviewed the McLaren 720S. Most people I've seen online have had a similar reaction. And I'm starting to think that maybe only hardcore Datsun fans will go ahead and buy one of these collectibles. I'd much rather buy more Moving Parts models, but that's just my opinion. Let's not forget the two little “anecdotes” I mentioned at the beginning of this story.