Mercy, Mercy Me. The Lamborghini Murcielago, in 1/18, by AUTOart

The Lamborghini Murcielago is a staple in any car collection. This is the exotic machine that every enthusiast my age dreamed about as a kid, much like the Countach was the much-heralded "poster" car for the generation before that. When you look at it, it's pretty obvious why. Low-slung body, sharp angles, flamboyant colors, and of course, those signature Lamborghini scissor doors. I've always had a thing for the big V12 'ghinis because they best reflect what Lamborghini is all about: crazy designs, extreme dimensions, and massive power.

This is the original Murcielago, before the LP640, before the Superveloce, and before all those other special editions that released later on in its life. It's simply referred to as the Murcielago and can be distinguished, visually, from the LP640 with fewer edges in the bodywork. Also, the wheels - circular 5-spokes that resemble the face of a watch, with the bolts mimicking the numbers on the dial. It's like a work of art in itself, a futuristic design with mechanical complexity and timeless beauty.

Grilles are actually clear plastic with printed mesh pattern.

The model shown here is yet another old AUTOart 1/18 model. But saying this model is "old" is very misleading. The details are so fabulous, you could put it in a manufacturer's catalog today and no one would complain. Comparing the Murcielago with some of the older Kyosho models in my collection, this is head and shoulders above those. It's not just better detail; it's also more life-like in its proportions and stance.

I was also taken by surprise with some of the added features on this model. Obviously, the scissor doors, but also the air inlets behind the doors. I've been told the rear spoiler can be deployed, but it wouldn't budge on mine.

Perhaps the one indication that this model isn't quite the modern masterpiece you're hoping for shows itself when you hold it in your hands. It feels overly plastic-y. Examining further, I noticed that the entire side sill is made of plastic when it really has no reason to be. I guess you could joke that AUTOart's transition to "composites" started about fifteen years ago. The metal feels super thin on the opening compartments. If they are metal at all, that is. As is consistent with older models, they don't stay open either.

At the end of the day, the visuals are what matter most, and the Murcielago still impresses. It still has incredible shelf (or table) presence. And wow, did this model bring me back to those days as a boy when I was flipping through Car & Driver, starting at photos of this exact car in this exact color.

The Best of the Best: Series Two of Matchbox's "Best of World" Line

Can I just say that this is the bestest series ever?

The premium lines always bring out the best in diecast. Hot Wheels has always had a premium range for those who want weightier cars with nicer wheels and more realistic designs. Occasionally, Matchbox will do something similar, but done more so in a different style. There's usually more of an emphasis on emergency, off-road, and what I call "service" vehicles. The problem is that those models attract only a certain, very niche market, one which I am not a part of.

For the second coming of the "Best of World" series, Matchbox changed its philosophy and went with personal vehicles only. There's a police car in here, but it's an M5, and no one should be complaining about getting another release of the M5. This series is highlighted by the return of the Mercedes-Benz CLS and, in a way, the Lamborghini Miura as well.

And perhaps the most notable feature is the use of Real Riders on most of these models, taken straight from the Hot Wheels parts bin. It's a decision I'm against, in principle. It tells me Matchbox isn't proud of its own work. It's one company borrowing the ideas of another because deep down they know they can't compete. It's acknowledging inferiority. Auto World wouldn't take wheels from Johnny Lightning.

To me, this is waving the white flag.

Perhaps they just need time to design and develop new wheels, and I would hope that this is simply a one-and-done scenario. Wherever you stand, you can't argue that the wheels look great here.

I found these models back in December, before they were supposed to be released, and I haven't seen them again since. My local store had one case (two sets) and a nutty Vee-Dub collector likely took both of the buses, which is why you don't see it here. In an act of supreme selfishness, I followed suit and grabbed everything else for myself, leaving only a single Range Rover for the next poor bloke.

Obviously, the CLS and the Miura are to die for, but the 911 GT3 was the most surprising of the batch. Easily one of the greatest Matchbox castings ever, this one sparkles with its orange, bordering on gold, paint job. On all the models, the designs are simple, allowing the castings to do the talking. That's how we like our Matchboxes anyways.

If You Don't Succeed, Try Again: Matchbox's Best-Of-World Series, Part 1

Matchbox is one of those brands that gets kind of neglected nowadays. It doesn't have the sheer firepower that Hot Wheels has, and distribution and availability has been frustratingly spotty. As of the past few years, the releases have been largely generic castings, the kinds that hang on the pegs for months and only get spontaneously picked up by desperate parents who need a toy for their crying child. As a result, collectors have almost completely forgotten about the orange brand. I, myself, rarely check the Matchbox pegs now, under the assumption that I'll end up finding the same insignificant models that I saw on my last trip to the store. And the trip before that. And the trip before the trip before that.

Well, Matchbox is listening. They are slowly phasing out more generic castings in favor of licensed ones. How many of you have seen Target stores completely rid themselves of Matchbox pegs altogether? Fortunately, they're coming back. Matchbox has announced that singles will be making their way back to Target within the year. That's something I'm definitely looking forward to.

But the biggest buzz regarding Matchbox has been this. The so-called "Best Of World" series. It's essentially a direct heir to the Supreme Heroes line from last year, with a few important changes. By the way, remember the Supreme Heroes line? Maybe you don't, and I wouldn't blame you for it anyway. Talk about short-lived; the series was canceled after just two waves (of four models each). In summary, a complete failure. And when you fail, you go back to the drawing board. You rethink, restrategize, and redesign. This is the end result, and it's a heck of a series.

Ten models, total, in the series, eight of which I've acquired. The other two, a golden fire engine and a BMW motorcycle, can stay on the pegs for all I care. Each of these models comes with extra details and, most importantly, molded wheels with rubber tires. The modern version of the Matchbox Premiere series that I so loved during my childhood. More on that in the coming days, but let's focus on these models first.

The series is a melting pot of castings, from emergency to service vehicles, modern to classic cars, sports cars to sport bikes, spanning numerous countries of origin, hence the "Best Of World" moniker. It's almost a shame that there's only ten models altogether; there's so much potential with all the great castings that Matchbox has in its arsenal. Hopefully we'll see more in the future. I'd like to think that this initial wave is a "test run" or sorts for Matchbox.

The four I'll be showing today are the BMW 1-Series M, '93 Ford Mustang LX SSP, Lamborghini LM002, and '69 Cadillac Sedan DeVille. I'm gonna go ahead and say that the 1-Series M is the best car in the set. Obviously, that's a biased point of view as it's both my favorite BMW and my favorite Matchbox casting, but the rest of these are fantastic in their own rights. See for yourself! Which model is the one for you?