Hot Wheels Jeep CJ-7, Toyota MR2 Rally, and 1979 Toyota Celica XX

Here's a few pickups from last year's secondary market finds and all of them have their sort of fans whether Jeep or JDM fans.

Hot Wheels Jeep CJ-7

One of the most iconic off-road vehicles in the U.S. is the Jeep and this Hot Wheels CJ-7 is one of the best Jeep's that Hot Wheels has produced.  Even with some other variations of the Jeep (including the most recent 1942 military mud bogger from 2009) never compared to this CJ-7 that was introduced in 1983.  The version shown here is a color changer though it does not show much of a color change (the chipped paint does show the warm yellow color below the olive green).  The truck has a metal body and metal base wearing basic wheels with tall sidewall tires (some had the real rider wheels that looked even better on this Jeep).  The front has round headlights, signal lights, seven-slot grille, and a winch attached to the front bumper.  On the sides I highlighted  the side rocker and wheelwell trim area's to give greater contrast to the fenders, while the open top and lack of doors give it the true Jeep nature.

At the rear are square taillights, split bumper, and a plastic spare tire where the inner wheel's 5-spoke design is a tribute to earlier Hot Wheels models.  The windshield is a clear piece and joins the rollbar for structural support in the event of a rollover.  The interior is strictly for two people with dual shifters for the 4-speed manual and transfer case on the floor.  While the steering wheel is part of the floor trim the gauges are part of the windshield trim.  The back seat is removed and camping gear and fishing poles take the place.  The top of supposed fuel tanks covers the latch where the plastic trim attaches to the body.  The metal base shows off the front and live rear axles with leaf springs and rear wheel drive.  Power is from a 5.0L AMC V8 motor that produces 125 horsepower.  This is a fun truck to toss around and go off-roading in and it still looks great even today.  Sadly Mattel wanted a new look so in 1991 the Roll Patrol was introduced with a modified grille that featured square headlights and a vertical grille that looks nothing even to the square-headlight Wrangler's.  In 2012 for the Hot Ones series they reverted back to the original formula and it still works.

Toyota MR2 Rally

The MR2 was Toyota's answer to the Pontiac Fiero and Fiat X-19 when it was introduced in 1986.  While it had the recepie for sporty handling and reliability it lacks in styling department looking more like a wedge shape.  In 1991 Toyota released the second-generation MR2 that now is bigger, more stylish (looking more like a Ferrari this time), and offering targa top and turbo options.  Unfortunately high prices of Japan vehicles back in the 1990's caused the MR2 to leave the U.S. in 1995, then return in 2001 as the MR2 spyder.  For Hot Wheels they decided to go a different route with the new MR-2 in 1991 with the rally car.  While many will remember the Celica All-Trac rally cars of the early 1990's there was a few MR2 models.  This silver one shown here is the most clean version and came from a haulers set.

The silver look is clean with lace wheels on all four that look appropriate.  It looks stock until you get up front and see the four round driving light specifically for rally duty.  The front-end is more rounded with concealed headlights and continues to the rear where a taillight bar spans across the rear.  I added some trim and lighting details to help break up the all-silver look.  Even with the rally car trim the MR2 still looks stock from the side scoops to the rear spoiler, though the lower diffuser with dual exhaust is rally-car specific.  The base shows off a bit of the rear-engine details with most details coming from the rivet bonds to the undercarraige covering of a typical rally car.  The blue interior offers seating for two with a rally-car look that includes a dashboard loaded with toggle switches, 3-spoke steering wheel, and shifter on the console.  The engine is likely a turbocharged 2.0L DOHC I-4 just behind the front seats through a 5-speed manual transmission.  Unlike the U.S. version the Japan version continued until 1999 with a few minor changes, and Hot Wheels has gotten lots of use out of this casting, but none are as clean as this silver example.

Matchbox 1979 Toyota Celica XX

Now to a look into Matchbox's venture in JDM vehicles in the 1970's.  Sure Matchbox has made quite a few Japan-based vehicles over the years, but in the 1970's it was a beginning for the England brand and these vehicles were mostly standard, sporty Japanese vehicles with not much style.  The vehicles offered metal bases, variation of wheels, opening doors, and lots of great detailing.  One of them was this 1979 Toyota Celica XX, or better known as the Toyota Celica Supra.  In 1979 Toyota wanted to make a Celica with more power and to do that they slipped in an I-6 to a Celica with a longer nose to create the Supra and relive the glory days of the 2000GT.  The similarity of both was problematic, so over the years and generations the Celica and Supra started with different styling and then eventually to different platforms.  The Celica was known as the Japanese Mustang with the long hood, short rear deck, and rear-wheel drive power.  Even a few Celica models bear resembalance to the 1960's Ford Mustang's.  This sleek Celica was one of the better lookers and the Supra model amped up the performance with a 2.0L SOHC I-6 that produced 123 horsepower through a 5-speed manual transmission.

There are a few pristine examples of this Matchbox casting yet I ended up with the red Sun Burner model.  The front has quad headlights with chrome trim, small grille in center, and lower bumper in black.  The Celica badge is nicely detailed on the hood, as is the Celica XX badges on the B-pillar.  To highlight the door dip I added black trim to the pillars and window surround.  5-spoke wheels look good from some angles and then do not at others, but at least it has a working suspension.  At the rear the taillight bar and plate area are nicely done if only they were not part of the black metal base (A common issue on these Matchbox-era JDM vehicles in the 1970's).  The base shows off the drivetrain and exhaust system, and also note the Superfast logo on the base.  The doors open to an interior with seating for four with detailed shifter and dash board shape.  Kinda wish for more detailing, but otherwise it looks good; the gauges and central controls are angled toward the driver typical of cars in this era.  Might not be a sporty tuner car like today's JDM cars are but at least it has a history to tell of the early days of JDM cars.