Their Start

The year was 1953, and the British toy company Lesney Products came out with the first so-called Matchbox car. It was then that they saw one of their biggest sales - a model of the Queen's Coronation Coach. This led the company to begin producing other scaled down versions of different vehicles - cars, dump trucks, cement mixers, and more. It was always important that they meet that special size requirement - that they fit in a matchbox. Thus, the brand was born. Those early models were (quite naturally) all British vehicles, and they quite primitive - no interiors, doors didn't open, and they were generally a solid piece of metal.

Their Growth

By the late 60's, the Matchbox cars had truly entered their Golden Era. Now there were many more models, and they were becoming quite articulate - doors that opened, and so on. This is also when they expanded their lines to include the Models of Yesteryear - renditions of vehicles from long ago. Also, accessories were added - petrol/gas pumps, garages, and so on.

The Trials of Competition

Of course, success breeds imitation. The American firm Mattell came out with their Hot Wheels line, and quickly took over the U.S. market. Well, Matchbox was not about to take that lying down. They responded with the creation of their Superfast line, these were new, sleeker cars; and the addition of other lines. Soon there were Matchbox planes, trains, and ships. Their success led to still new lines - Battle Kings (military models), Sea Kings (different ships), the Adventure 2000 science fiction line, and the Two Pack series. However, these lines proved less than completely successful; only the Two Pack and Sky Busters (airplanes) continued for any length of time.

Death, and Re-Birth

The 1970s saw tough times for Matchbox, and other British toy manufacturers. Eventually, Lesney was forced to declare bankruptcy in June of 1982. The Matchbox brand then sort of drifted for a time, moving from company to company until - almost exactly ten years later - Tyco Toys bought it in May of 1992. Then, in a truly ironic twist, Mattel acquired Matchbox in 1997. To say that loyal Matchbox fans/collectors were concerned would be an understatement. After all, the Hot Wheels / Matchbox rivalry had been raging for years. Would Mattel simply kill the line, revamp it to be like the Hot Wheels or stay true to its roots?

Initially, Mattel did revamp the Matchbox cars. In 2003, they brought out the Ultra Heroes line, which was a complete disaster! They were discontinued a year later, and the company decided to try another tact. A new team, dedicated to preserving the classic style of the cars, began producing realistic looking models with a high degree of details. The one major change from the classic Matchbox cars was that these were based largely on American vehicles. Today, the line has grown to nearly one hundred models, and they show no signs of fading away. Children - both boys and girls - continue to enjoy playing with them; and there are more than a few adults who also take pleasure in collecting them.

Vintage cars can be a rather sticky subject. It's an issue that many people continue to disagree over. It can be hard to understand what it is that makes a car a vintage. This is something that can vary quite drastically in terms of definition. If you are seeking the proper definition of a vintage car, you might not want to stop at just one source. It's something that requires some research as well as asking the right people. Don't believe the first thing you are told. Always find someone who can give you a skilled second opinion.

A vintage car is a very old car. These cars can date back into the very early 1900s. Though many of those cars are not readily available today, there are many still housed in museums and in the care of serious, professional collectors. Though a car that is one hundred years old is certainly a vintage, this definition can vary depending on who you ask.

The definition of a vintage car will rarely be the same among everyone that you ask. Insurance companies often have their own specified definitions in order to better insure you. Antique dealers will have some great information for you providing you find one that has substantial experience dealing with antique cars. Insurance companies have certain guidelines regarding antique cars such as age and type among other things.

In most cases a vintage car is defined as one that was made between the years 1919 and 1930. This is a good outline to follow when it comes to the manufactured year. If you have a car that falls into this year bracket then it is pretty safe to say that it is a vintage car. Cars made before World War II tend to be in pretty high demand among collectors. There are not as many around as there once were.

Another factor that can be taken into consideration regarding vintage cars is if it is a limited model or not. Vehicles that were produced with a limited number made tend to be considered vintage or classic. If your car is not all that old but is limited in number, it may be considered a collectible with higher value than an average car. This is the type of information you need to have on your car, especially if you want to sell or display it as vintage.

Such things as celebrity can also make a car become valuable. If it was ever featured in a hit movie or TV show such as the 1969 Dodge Charger in the Dukes of Hazzard, it may very well be worth more than you think it is. Even if by year it is not yet a vintage, it still could be a very valuable collectible. If you know you have a car like this on your hands, be sure to do all that you can to insure and protect it.

Doing an online search for classic vehicle auctions can help you see what is currently out there for vintage cars. Browsing websites that feature vintage cars will also help point you in the right direction.