Going back to their days under the Lesney name, Matchbox is one of the longest-running diecast brands in the business. They are also one of the best documented, with the company and collectors making extraordinary efforts to keep track of every model they have ever made. Charlie Mack is one of the current custodians of that history, and for his efforts, he is the Model Car Hall of Fame Historian of 2024.
Mack began playing with and then collecting Matchbox vehicles as a kid, as many of us in the hobby did. He used sticks and rocks to create cities for his small construction equipment to maintain and for the cars and trucks to drive around. Those childhood memories continued nonstop, as his collection grew to contain not only the latest offerings but all of the historic models. At the latest count, he has over 42,000 Matchbox items in his collection.
That is likely larger than the model stash owned by Mattel, the current owner of the brand. In fact, it’s often collectors of the brand who have the over-the-top passion to document such production in ways the company itself never does. A video tour of his house is jaw-dropping as you move from room to room of models (connected by hallways full of models too)!
Along the way, he has documented various eras and areas of the world of Matchbox in numerous collector guides. His books are so valuable to Matchbox collectors worldwide that many have been updated with new models or even unearthed history,
As someone who has collected a tangible database of models and shared them in permanent form, Charlie Mack has ensured that the history of Matchbox will never be lost to well, history. For his passion and hard work, Charlie Mack is the Model Car Hall of Fame Inductee as Model Car Historian of the Year for 2024.
The Model Car Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany, on January 30, 2025. Thanks to everyone at Spielwarenmesse for having us as a part of their event.
