vor the Porsche Brand Store in Stuttgart’s Dorotheenquartier, a small Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3 (Type 930) was recently seen in a showcase that was designed similar to Matchbox packaging. The presentation was a reminder of the close connection between the sports car manufacturer and the toy car brand. Both had milestone birthdays in 2023: Matchbox turned 70, Porsche even turned 75. In addition to the original classic with 300 hp, the corresponding 1:64 scale Matchbox model could be seen behind glass.
The 1980 911 Turbo, which was built as the 930 model with a 3.3-liter engine from 1978 to 1989, comes from the current Matchbox range and is labeled “Moving Parts” because of its opening doors. On this basis, one of the anniversary vehicles for the British toy brand’s 70th birthday was released in 2023. The special edition of the Type 930 in matt orange has an anniversary decor. If the model is not in stock in toy stores: The brightly painted sports car is available online for 12 to 15 euros.
The shared history of the toy car brand Matchbox and the sports car manufacturer from Zuffenhausen goes back a long way. For example, the Porsche cars 910, 928, 935, 959 and others appeared as Matchbox miniatures in the classic 1-75 series (later with the addition of “Superfast”, scale usually around 1:64) until the end of the 1980s 944 as miniatures. The Porsche Turbo, in turn, made its debut in the “Super Kings” series, which was much larger at a scale of around 1:43, in 1979. Since then, numerous other Zuffenhausen models from Matchbox have followed, including the currently offered Porsche 911 Carrera 4S from that year 2020.
The original manufacturer of the die-cast zinc miniatures, the British toy company Lesney, went bankrupt in 1982. After several changes of ownership, the brand has belonged to Mattel since 1997, including the manufacturer of the “Hot Wheels” toy cars.
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