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  • #1

    Matchbox Hot Chocolate

    From the "Roman Numeral" sub-series Matchbox comes this fantasy Funny Car

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    I know enough about the Roman Numeral series to get into trouble, maybe I can coax one of our Matchbox aficionados into explaining a little about what that series was about.

    My old and somewhat blurry pics notwithstanding, this is a pretty cool model in its own right, and I'm glad to have it in my collection.
    The image file limits have been reset. Upper limits now are 100,000 when we have some images that exceed 5,000,000. I've set the pixels for no more than 1000 across the longest side, so if you resize to that all should be well. (The limits are larger than what I typically use, and my images turn out just fine, so I know it shouldn't be a problem)

    Thank you for your understanding.
    Tags: None
    • Likes 4
  • #2
    Hot Chocolate, with that metallic two-tone, looks so much better than the original Dragon Wheels version.

    I have the Piston Popper from the series, and this is what I had listed in my notes/remarks.

    I hadn't seen this one before. BAMCA says it is exclusive to a US-only set issued in 1980. The MBX Wiki (which I no longer use--Fandom is a PITA on my phone; and it makes my ad blocker go nuts) says it was a part of the "Roman Numerals" series.
    • Likes 1

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    • #3
      Originally posted by jt3 View Post
      From the "Roman Numeral" sub-series Matchbox comes this fantasy Funny Car

      Click image for larger version Name: DSCN9921.JPG Views: 1326 Size: 35.8 KB ID: 359103

      Click image for larger version Name: DSCN9923.JPG Views: 127 Size: 38.4 KB ID: 359105

      Click image for larger version Name: DSCN9922.JPG Views: 119 Size: 35.9 KB ID: 359104

      I know enough about the Roman Numeral series to get into trouble, maybe I can coax one of our Matchbox aficionados into explaining a little about what that series was about.

      My old and somewhat blurry pics notwithstanding, this is a pretty cool model in its own right, and I'm glad to have it in my collection.
      10-4 time to go ask Tilley on instagram! (meh i hate insta but i can see new releases from GL and the works)
      • Likes 2

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      • #4
        Nice model Wes. According to my Matchbox collectors guide, this one was not a Roman Numeral issue, Hot Chocolate was #46 in the basic range in 1981. My guide only notes 2 variations, one with and one without roof stripes, both made in Hong Kong.

        The only VW Beetle listed in the Roman Numeral series was the Lady Bug, which was a different casting than this. Correction, there was also one called Flying Beetle, yet another different casting.
        Doug
        • Likes 2

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        • #5
          Missed that one, wish I could find one, even in different color would be ok.
          • Likes 1

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Douglas View Post
            Nice model Wes. According to my Matchbox collectors guide, this one was not a Roman Numeral issue, Hot Chocolate was #46 in the basic range in 1981. My guide only notes 2 variations, one with and one without roof stripes, both made in Hong Kong.

            The only VW Beetle listed in the Roman Numeral series was the Lady Bug, which was a different casting than this. Correction, there was also one called Flying Beetle, yet another different casting.
            OK, I guess that shows how little I know of Matchbox.
            The image file limits have been reset. Upper limits now are 100,000 when we have some images that exceed 5,000,000. I've set the pixels for no more than 1000 across the longest side, so if you resize to that all should be well. (The limits are larger than what I typically use, and my images turn out just fine, so I know it shouldn't be a problem)

            Thank you for your understanding.
            • Likes 1

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by jt3 View Post

              OK, I guess that shows how little I know of Matchbox.
              You're not alone Wes, some of the issues can get confusing, that's why I still need to check my guides, especially since it appears some of the Roman Numeral issues did appear in the regular 1-75 series as well, or vice versa , and just had a different baseplate name and number.

              By the way, I have never found the Roman Numeral issues to be anything extraordinary, It would almost seem to me the series itself was just something on the pegs to attract collectors in its day, late 70s, possibly like you would find with HWs or Matchbox today with the themed Walmart exclusives series, only the RN series appears it had 10 models in it, and probably similar priced as the basic range issues then, I'm not sure about that, because I wasn't buying cars then
              Doug
              • Likes 1

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Douglas View Post
                You're not alone Wes, some of the issues can get confusing, that's why I still need to check my guides, especially since it appears some of the Roman Numeral issues did appear in the regular 1-75 series as well, or vice versa , and just had a different baseplate name and number.

                By the way, I have never found the Roman Numeral issues to be anything extraordinary,
                Agreed, but they are unique variants of the given models, and if there were only ten and each was doubled, then only 5 particular castings would have been used.

                The RN series came to my attention because of the Cosmic Blues casting, which had two variants in the RN series, one called Brown Sugar and one called Flame Out. To complicate matters, I've seen online multiple variants of Brown Sugar alone... But most of the RN series were models that didn't interest me, so I haven't put a lot of effort into sorting out the details. I want to say this was late in the period of Lesney, and they had just established a US office in New York I think it was. Within a couple years they would go bust and be bought out by Universal.

                The image file limits have been reset. Upper limits now are 100,000 when we have some images that exceed 5,000,000. I've set the pixels for no more than 1000 across the longest side, so if you resize to that all should be well. (The limits are larger than what I typically use, and my images turn out just fine, so I know it shouldn't be a problem)

                Thank you for your understanding.
                • Likes 1

                Comment

                • #9
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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by jt3 View Post
                    Agreed, but they are unique variants of the given models, and if there were only ten and each was doubled, then only 5 particular castings would have been used.

                    The RN series came to my attention because of the Cosmic Blues casting, which had two variants in the RN series, one called Brown Sugar and one called Flame Out. To complicate matters, I've seen online multiple variants of Brown Sugar alone... But most of the RN series were models that didn't interest me, so I haven't put a lot of effort into sorting out the details. I want to say this was late in the period of Lesney, and they had just established a US office in New York I think it was. Within a couple years they would go bust and be bought out by Universal.
                    The Cosmic blues car was a variation on the original Big Banger (Blown engine with short exhaust pipes). Roman numeral cars of this type were variations on the Pi-Eyed Piper (long throttle inlet pipes and long upward angled side exhaust pipes. The two similar cars in the series were, as you say the 'Brown Sugar' and the other the 'White Lightening' (numeral III).

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                    The 'Flame Out' was not a roman numeral car but was a variation on the 'Red Rider' car and most (if not all, actually have a Red Rider base)

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                    Apols if this went a bit off topic but i have all variants of the Big Banger and Pi-Eyed Piper and felt the need to avoid any misconceptions.

                    Pete.
                    Attached Files
                    Pete
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                    • #11
                      I must have confused Flame Out with White Lightning - both are names also associated with Johnny Lightning.

                      I don't have *all* of the variants yet, but I do have several key variants

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                      I have more, but I don't have a group shot, may have to fix that soon...
                      The image file limits have been reset. Upper limits now are 100,000 when we have some images that exceed 5,000,000. I've set the pixels for no more than 1000 across the longest side, so if you resize to that all should be well. (The limits are larger than what I typically use, and my images turn out just fine, so I know it shouldn't be a problem)

                      Thank you for your understanding.
                      • Likes 3

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by lil' '86 View Post
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                        That is WAY kewl!!!
                        The image file limits have been reset. Upper limits now are 100,000 when we have some images that exceed 5,000,000. I've set the pixels for no more than 1000 across the longest side, so if you resize to that all should be well. (The limits are larger than what I typically use, and my images turn out just fine, so I know it shouldn't be a problem)

                        Thank you for your understanding.
                        • Likes 2

                        Comment

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