Matchbox 2000 Time Capsule of the Day

This is one of those castings that should’ve been a cool car, but ended up as a bland model thanks to the Tyco-era when this casting arrived in 1994.  Based on the sharp modern hot rod show car that Chrysler introduced in 1993 and ended up being a production model for Plymouth in 1997, the Prowler looks the best in this 2000 deco with black and red exterior and interior with detailed taillights and headlights, the latter an important feature as the casting lacks any headlight detailing whatsoever.  The front has separate front fenders, split front bumpers, split rear bumpers, and a V-shaped front-end that leads to a hot rod roadster style rear design.  The casting does not have a working suspension and the ground clearance tends to be a bit high on this model.  The red interior has the faint detail of slim seats and center stack of gauges just above the shifter, and the trunk room in the real car was a joke though it did cleverly hide the convertible top. ...

Next up is the competitor to the Camaro, introduced in 1999, the Mustang GT convertible.  There will be a second version showing up later in the line, but for now the convertible reappears with the same side graphic, but this time yellow with black interior.  For 1999 the Mustang gained sharper exterior styling that is well-executed on this casting despite the thick paint; everything from the headlights, grille, taillights, rear spoiler, and hood scoop are visible in the bodywork.  The chassis has more details than the Camaro with dual exhausts and visible drivetrain, though saddled with the 4-speed auto instead of the 5-speed manual.  The interior is unchanged from the previous-gen Mustang with the familiar dual-pod dashboard, bucket seats, and floor shifter, and note the tonneau cover is flat with the trunk hinting at an upcoming coupe version.  As for performance the Mustang does quite well with no body roll, though the working suspension is a waste as...

Despite the plethora of model lines with different setups for world markets (at least four different ROW lines), there were some hiccups along the line.  After the #96-99 fiasco in 1999 (where the three original Sound Flasher castings were replaced with regular models and the #99 Chevy Tahoe was hard-to-find) the 2000 1-100 would be in much better shape, but not after finishing off some kinks first.  This Camaro is one of them: originally planned for a 1999 release it was delayed due to the Kenworth T2000, originally a 1998 release, being delayed to the 1999 line.  Evidence of this delay would be found in the list located in the back of the 1998 Premiere First Shots line box).  Still, it was worth the wait for the third Camaro in the Matchbox line decked out in red with the SS trim package, silver flush headlights, black center grille with CAMARO letters, and hood scoop.  The exterior mirrors flow with the hoodline, the rear spoiler is taller and joins ro...

The lineup starts off with this Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet, introduced in the Rest of World line, or ROW for short, in 1999 before coming to the U.S.A. line in 2000 (it even says First Edition on the package).  This car was a big deal for Mercedes at the time because this would be the first four-seat convertible for the brand in decades and would be affordable compared to the two-seat SL and SLK models.  The green simple paint is complimented by front and rear lighting details, a separate chrome grille, and 5-star wheels with working suspension.  The exterior mirrors are grafted on the doors and the windshield even has a painted frame, though it tends to stand much upright.  The interior has plush seats front and rear, thick 4-spoke steering wheel, and a large tonneau cover to store the top behind the rear seats.  Even the base and dashboard has some nice details; on the performance front the car tends to be a soft grand tourer than a track beast with sm...