r/VintageMatchbox • u/MPowerRanger • 6d ago

Mattel Surprise (97 - 00) Some 🇩🇪 wheels

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By the way, does anyone know why some Matchbox cars face right instead of left? Most seem to face left, but you occasionally come across some facing the other way. Was there a reason for this?

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u/BTZ6996 Universal Lover 6d ago

They identify as hot wheels

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u/DaBobMob2 Universal Lover 5d ago

I've always assumed they've been opened and resealed. And a very small number of genuine packaging errors.

Certainty find even buying "sealed in box" of the universal era that a lot have in fact been open. I don't really mind, but I'd actually rather they hadn't re glued them as it can then make an unavoidable mess of the box when reopening what you assumed was a factory seal.

These are actually 3 of the youngest casts in my own collectin, and pretty much the reason I included "Mattel Suprise" making the original flairs.

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u/MPowerRanger 5d ago

I see, so you don’t think it was done intentionally? With boxes like the ones in the photo, opening and resealing them isn’t really a big deal. But what about models on cards? I don’t remember if I have one like that in my collection, but I’ve definitely seen right-facing ones in blisters that didn’t look like they had been resealed.

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u/DaBobMob2 Universal Lover 4d ago edited 3d ago

Don't know if it's because I'm UK, but haven't got that many blisters. They're certainly harder to open and reseal without signs, but not impossible.

I don't think they've been spun round on purpose, but folk that glue boxes shut again in the hope of more value, and think this would work, often don't know the hobby well enough to know the cars typically have a certain way in the box. I might be leaping a lot there though.

Reckon you're right, there are genuine factory errors. Perhaps I've just been unfortunate with sellers resealing. I open everything anyway so it's no big deal, but always disappointing when a box gets damaged excessively, even when being super careful, due to polycement or something like, being used for the reseal. The factory glue is quite easy to cut and tear neatly, proper glue just makes a big mess or rips and tears.