Like the punk bands of the early '90's, Mattel seems to be screaming 'Less Metal'! While more plastic/less metal is a recurring theme that pains us diehard diecast collectors, it's an unfortunate reality at Mattel. Between the constants of inflation and profit margin pressures put on traditional toys by electronic gadgets, Mattel is forced to reduce metal and increase plastic in order to keep its Matchbox and Hot Wheels models at a $1 price point.
One of my favorite Matchbox castings, the 1963 Cadillac Ambulance was the victim of cost cutting last year when the solid metal roof was given a large, clear plastic insert. I'm not going to complain too much about it though. The clear top allows you to see some more of the detail in the casting's interior and I'm happy Mattel hasn't scrapped the casting altogether as it's done with other heavy castings over the years.
The photos below show the two most recent 1963 Cadillac Ambulance releases: The 2015 multipack exclusive in neon yellow/green and the 2013 mainline in orange. The casting is a classic and the ambulance theme fits the Matchbox modus operandi of creating utility/work/construction/emergency/rescue vehicles. I'll continue to buy every release, regardless of the added plastic on the roof. Enjoy!
Happy Collecting!
via : http://thewesterndiecastreview.blogspot.com/
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