MAC 19 1911 Crossley Truck 'White Star Line'.

[charliep]

MAC-19 1911 Crossley 'White Star Line'. Released Nov 2011. Made in England or Macau.
(owners of RMS Titanic).
1. 1911 Crossley Truck - Two tone blue body/lt.blue base/lt.blue 12 spoke wheels/England. 1 of 40.
2. 1911 Crossley Truck - Yellow body/white hood & base/white 12spoke wheels/England. 1 of 7.
3. 1926 Ford Model TT - Two tone blue body/lt.blue base/lt.blue 12 spoke wheels/Macau. 1 of 2 (donor model).

[francipe]

I really like the colour schemes in this set Charlie. I have the blue Crossley and was easily outbid on the yellow 1/7 back in 2019. I've never seen the other two that complete the set - the Ford Model TT looks great.

[Tinman]

What was the date Mattel stopped allowing Code 2s? I remember the announcement, just don't remember the date.

[francipe]

What was the date Mattel stopped allowing Code 2s? I remember the announcement, just don't remember the date.

These models were produced by the Matchbox Club after the Matchbox International Collector's Club ceased in 2007. The Club effectively died in 2016 so it may have been Mattel pulling the plug that was the final nail in that coffin or maybe they ran out of donor models or interest in these Code 2 models from the members. Given that the Limited Edition models went to the chosen few the latter is hardly surprising.

The MAC commercial vehicles series reached #41 and the MBC cars #44 (or more).

I'm not sure when Mattel stopped or if they did. I know Dirk Schleuer in Germany had good contacts with Mattel Germany and still produces Code 2 models for the Leipzig Toy Show (and others) having bought the contents of models from a warehouse full.

[charliep]

Francipe is correct - Code 2s are still being produced by Dirk and the team in Germany "MCCD.MoyShop.de".
In fact the last flyer they released 2102 (Feb21) shows pictures of YGL46 Ford AA Truck.

This is the information I have regarding the previous series of code 2s (certainly the end of an era):
MBC series - 44 models. Last model was MBC44 1909 Thomas Flyabout released August 2014.
MAC series - 42 models. Last model was MAC42 1927 Talbot Van 'Poissonniere Rouge Pelican' released April 2015.
DKY series - 22 models. Last model was DKY22 1957 Citroen 2CV 'Flower Power' release date ?

[Tinman]

To be a code 2, the models have to have a certificate from Mattel. So are the models they are cranking out really Code 2's or just models made from a bunch of left over "blanks" that were once destined for code 2 use? Mattel did announce that they were ending the authorization of Code 2's and that was a while back now.

[francipe]

Francipe is correct - Code 2s are still being produced by Dirk and the team in Germany "MCCD.MoyShop.de".
In fact the last flyer they released 2102 (Feb21) shows pictures of YGL46 Ford AA Truck.

This is the information I have regarding the previous series of code 2s (certainly the end of an era):
MBC series - 44 models. Last model was MBC44 1909 Thomas Flyabout released August 2014.
MAC series - 42 models. Last model was MAC42 1927 Talbot Van 'Poissonniere Rouge Pelican' released April 2015.
DKY series - 22 models. Last model was DKY22 1957 Citroen 2CV 'Flower Power' release date ?

Charlie is right and I should have written the numbers down rather than rely on my brain. I have two versions of the standard MAC-42 1927 Talbot Van 'Poissonniere Rouge Pelican' and remember seeing the model advertised on the Matchbox Club website when I joined (which must have been around 2015/2016).
With 86 new creations of which each was produced in at least 4 versions there's at least 350 models in a complete set. I know that I have a unique model for
MAC-40U and I've seen a different unique model on eBay (probably with different wheels, as shown on the box). Here's mine in a lot including the MAC-42 Talbot, which I actually bought for the Ford Model A van issued for the 26th MICA Convention that was never held. My other Poissonniere Talbot has the Pelican on the bonnet in a different position, rather like the Johnnie Walker man on the old Yesteryear Yorkshire steam wagon.

To be a code 2, the models have to have a certificate from Mattel. So are the models they are cranking out really Code 2's or just models made from a bunch of left over "blanks" that were once destined for code 2 use? Mattel did announce that they were ending the authorization of Code 2's and that was a while back now.

I don't know the history or details of Dirk's purchase of a warehouse full of Matchbox models but I know he runs a successful shop in Germany selling Matchbox toys and Yesteryears and there's not many of those in the world. I can't imagine he'd jeopardise his business by getting stuck with a load of models he couldn't sell, so having some sort of arrangement allowing him to produce Code 2 models from that stock would make the deal work.
This is obviously speculation on my part but it makes sense. Plus he was dealing with people he knew in the European operation of Mattel.