Even during their early focus on 50's car they were doing customs.

As I recall they had some "stretch limousines" that were not something I remember seeing in stores, like 49 Mercury, 57 Chevy, and 59 Caddy (probably closest to "real"). I have a Father's Day special edition hauler with one of the limos on it, first I got to see up close, and realized it was actually a dragster with a race engine in the back seat. But those would be the first M2s I remember ever seeing, even before the 1950s "stock" models.

I like M2, I look through whatever is in the store when I'm there, but I don't grab everything I see. I'm picky at the price, and careful of broken or incorrectly assembled models, which is an occupational hazard with opening parts and so many sub assemblies. I can't speak for the company, I don't know their strategy. I'm glad to see some of the oldies make the rounds still from time to time - those tend to be the ones I pick up. I haven't seen a hauler lately (coming up on a year now) that got my attention. I love the car carriers, picked up all I could afford, but I haven't seen a car carrier lately. The Pez and Turtle Wax and Moon Pie and other advertising stuff I leave. I don't recall if I picked up the Pan Am Ford Van, at least that was a real airline long ago, but generally the corporate logo stuff doesn't do a whole lot for me.

Yes I was aware of that, and the customs were fine as there is obviously a market for them, but now there is virtually nothing stock. I'm trying to get a sense of where they are focused (or if indeed they are focused.)

Juan, I have seen the Pan Am models, but didn't spring for any of them. It's the kind of vehicle I would have jumped at before, but now M2 has just left me cold. I see that Greenlight is going to be doing a Pan Am VW T1 Type 2 in an upcoming "Club V-Dub" release, so that will satisfy me, especially if they start using that defunct airline in a livery on various models.

I am satisfied, and like the direction M2 is going. The Driver series and the racing liveries and product endorsements get my interest. It was also nice when they were into the 50's stock machines. However, they always looked awkward to me with the huge door gaps and ill-fitting panels. It would frustrate me to no end. I would end up disassembling the car and glueing and sometimes filling the gaps. In turn would require paining and finishing. I was extremely happy to see the Drivers series.

Of course I like the Coca-Cola issues. I have them all ---- the Fords that is.

I am just baffled where they are actually going. JDM? Squarebodies? That seems a broad focus with few models. Maybe its such a drastic marketing change in such a short period.

I think the 50's vehicles are losing their appeal and the marketing is more focused on people who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s. It's really more an observational curiosity than a complaint. I vote with my dollars just as you do, and if they don't have anything appealing, I go elsewhere. Let me tell you, I have no shortage of choices these days!!!

That being said, I really would like to see more stock autohaulers....I really like the tractor trailers. Perhaps I really should be looking towards Greenlight to satisfy that need. They seem unstoppable in providing me with what I want.

My only qualm with Greenlight is availability. The tiny handful (3 or 4 models) that I have found retail were in Pep Boys Tire and Auto or TrU (now defunct). All of the rest of my GLs have come from third party sales, mostly through Swiftys. I like them well enough, especially the former High Speed models, but I can't buy if I can't find.

AW has been my go to of late when I find them, I probably get 1:1 AW vs M2, but when there are more M2 to sort through than AW, that's where my money ends up going. Just today I finally saw Tomica in my local Wally. I didn't see anything to interest me, but they were there - I think its been close to 9 months or so since the news that Tomica was coming to Wally and folks started reporting finding them...that should provide a clue how backwater my town seems to be. I've been a fan of JL since around 1997 or so, RC is hit and miss but is good to see them both still around...but I passed today in favor of two AW Buick wagons, which were cheaper by a buck apiece. Better quality and consistent scale of AW at a lower price, vs JL and / or RC at a buck more - no brainer in my book. Two days ago in Ollies I found a few JLs and a RC at a substantial discount that made them worth picking up - even if they were two years old by now.

Excellent points, Juan! I rely on Hobby Lobby for my GL in person fixes, and they seem to do well at that. I do sometimes order online, but I am usually set with Hobby Lobby, although frequent trips where they know me by name ....

Pep Boys hasn't seemed to carry GL, at least in my area.

But yes, that is DEFINITELY a problem for GL on a national level. Its relying on too many regional stores, unfortunately. Target has begun selling them, and they have sold out immediately at my nearby Target stores.

Yeah, I came to terms with AW doing a better job with quality control. I thought the GL 2020 Chevrolet Silverado was adequate, but when someone on here posted pics of the AW version, I took a closer look and thought, wow, for the same money, I get opening hood with detailed engine, very finely-crafted wheels, and an opening tailgate. AW wins that one hands down to the point I am not too interested in GL's version now.

AW seem to be building up the numbers released for each variation. Remember when it was 1,200 at the beginning, but now it seems to be in the 10,000+ range. A good sign!!! I just hope they get it to the point where it is limited to keep interest and demand up, but enough left on the pegs to actually find the one you have your heart set on. They better have about 15,000 of those '75 Eldorados out in EACH color!

Back in the day M2 was an interesting company with some nice out-of-the-box-thinking castings and series. But now it's just a 13 in a dozen company who jumps on every bandwagon there is. (eg. Volkswagens, JDM, Gassers, Squarebodies,...)

I know every company's goal is to make money, but is it so hard to be a little creative these days?

Yeah, that's it in a nutshell! It's like there is no real focus, except maybe just customs / hot rods.

Thanks for posting the picture of the new Camaro casting. I'd want it if it was something boring, like a Berlinetta!

Surprisingly, yes, it is. And has been all along.

How many times were we told AW would not do race cars or goofy promos (M2 didn't start that fad, I blame JL - and AW is glorified JL). Guess what?, AW has race cars now. I can only hope they keep their word regarding the goofy stuff.

Every company out there has good and bad (except maybe INGAP). Hoss and others don't like the door gaps...I don't mind, I like the opening features. I would appreciate if they were better engineered (fit better), but I'm not losing sleep and tearing apart my cars.

GL is good, I think of them as picking up where JL left off at the top of their game.

It is good to see JL and RC back in the mix, but the new retail price due to the TOMY licensing makes them prohibitive - I am extremely selective with them now. Back when they were $3 a pop I grabbed pretty much one of every JL I found, and when they did the $2 red cards, I grabbed pretty much all I found, extras included. When I can get an AW for $5 retail, and now JL and RC are $6 retail on the next peg over...no contest, the AW will come home with me and the JL will sit. When I find the JLs and RCs marked down ($4 at Ollies), then I buy.

HW has been my mainstay for as long as I can remember, but the past few years I don't see a lot that interests me. Used to be I could stomach at least some of the in-house fantasy designs, but lately almost all of those are *what on Earth were they thinking?* bad...I mean, REALLY bad.

To Mbx credit, most of what I see lately are "tame," realistic or at least believable models that I can appreciate...so they come home with me.

So, there is plenty out there for all tastes and levels of affordability. Personally I find myself more into vintage over the past few years anyway. Hard to beat Konami, Revell, Ertl American Muscle, Hubley, Lone Star...there are just so many great models out there if one is willing to look.

I'm just so happy that i can find some M2 releases in WM, along with some exclusives....but...
I never thought I'd see the day when several times they'd become peg warmers (or "shelf" warmers). The PanAm series is a good example of this. All the WM;s here have them. I thought of getting a few for customs, normally not a thought for me to strip M2's, but at their price range, I leave them behind. I have enough customs in my long queue of custom ideas, anyway.

Wes, I totally agree with you.

I want more fifties cars and a course that Ford Econoline Pick-up. Here in my part of the woods finding new M2s is rare. I have hardly ever seen anything new. Sometimes they will get a butt load of stuff that sits there for months on end. Those new Chevrolet pick-ups the square bodies are scarce or I should say don't exist. I do believe the vendors at the flea market have scouts and they buy up the good stuff. M2 I thought would make some new castings from the fifties or early sixties but I like what's not in command I assume. I have hundreds of 49 Mercurys, 57 Fairlanes and they screw up the 55 Chevies with real dirt cheap doors that I label a car of bolts. Like Leroy says it takes two cars to make one. Ain't that right Dick?