Matchbox Toyota RAV4 die-cast car

Matchbox is one of the most recognizable toy car brands in the world, originally established in the United Kingdom in 1953 by Jack Odell and Leslie Smith through their company Lesney Products. The brand earned its name because the original model cars were sold in boxes similar in size and appearance to matchboxes. Today, Matchbox is known for producing realistic, 1:64 scale die-cast vehicles that are popular among both children and adult collectors.

Over the decades, ownership of the brand has transitioned. Following the bankruptcy of Lesney Products in 1982, the brand was acquired by Universal Holdings/David Yeh. It was later sold to Tyco Toys in 1992, and finally, Mattel, Inc. acquired Tyco in 1997. Since then, Mattel has integrated Matchbox alongside its other major die-cast brand, Hot Wheels. While the brand has British roots, contemporary manufacturing primarily takes place in Thailand and occasionally China to serve global retail markets.