A non-Tomica that I will be reviewing today? Yep.
I will be featuring Mattel Hot Wheels and Mazda diecast metal cars on this page. And so today, I will be reviewing the Matchbox 70th Anniversary “’95 Nissan Hardbody (D21)” and the “MBX Cycle Trailer”. Both were made to work together and be used together as they share the same red, white and blue color scheme.
But before we begin, let’s take a look at the ’95 Nissan Hardbody (D21), a small-sized pickup based on a 4×4 system and is a JDM vehicle featuring four full-sized doors and for something well-loved in Japan, and for a truck that is sought-after, but was retired in 1997 due to Nissan unable to pass current emission regulations with its V6 engine. But Nissan would then focus on the Nissan Frontier.
The ’95 Nissan D21 featured a double-walled truck bed and one of the best known D21’s was the “Desert Runner”. Originally released back in 1988, the offroad truck was designed of driving through sand or mud which people could order bigger tires, skid plates, a front bumper guard, rollcage with lights, tailgate net and so much more!
To be perfectly honest, I thought the Desert Runner vehicle was only sold in 1988 and not in 1995. But I guess to be called “Cycle Runner”, it was released in 1995, but I see no information of it being released as such.
To be honest, I wish this was a “Desert Runner” rather than the “Cycle Runner” and I wonder if they changed the name, because the MBX Cycle Trailer would be used in conjunction with the truck release.
One of my favorite @CarsAndBids listings yet: 1988 Nissan “Desert Runner” 4×4 with some of the finest graphics known to man. I want this. Badly. https://t.co/RMwywBTNbh pic.twitter.com/8SrwJ7DrxN
— Doug DeMuro (@DougDeMuro) December 1, 2020
So, the Cycle Runner is literally the Desert Runner but without the lights on top, which is still freakin’ cool vehicle from Matchbox that I had to pick one up! This is like an ultimate truck release for the 70th anniversary of Matchbox and the color and overall look was well-captured in die-cast form. The red, white and blue paint looks great!
The pickup features a white body but you just have to love those dark colored tinted windows and the red bonnet. The red, white and blue livery is quite attractive and you can find the NISSAN logo on the front and rear. I also love the six-spoke hubcaps and the chunky offroad tires.
As you can see the photo, a tire is put on the rear truck bed. The text is well replicated and one thing I love about Matchbox cars, you get the side mirrors included! Tomica and Hot Wheels do not include side mirrors on their vehicles.
The truck also features a sunroof and but what drew me to this truck are the colors and overall look.
To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t going to get the MBX Cycle Trailer. The motorbike was plain black, with no added detail and while the trailer was white with some of the red and blue design like the D27 truck, my main reason for also nearly passing this set was because I felt a a bit more pizzaz.
But again, I got it because it was an excellent companion to the D21 truck. And since the truck had a hitch, you can literally have the D21 truck for pulling the cycle trailer. And to be perfectly honest, I don’t think I can ever recall seeing a motorbike trailer via diecast metal before.
But considering getting these two vehicles will be under $3, it’s not doubt a steal.
The Matchbox 70th Anniversary: ‘95 Nissan Hardbody (D21) and MBX Cycle Trailer is definitely recommended!
