Marty's Matchbox Makeovers

February 2, 2019 7:06 AM

Marty restores various vintage Matchbox vehicles in a series of gently-paced and informative maker-style videos.

If you start with the earlier videos, it's nice to see his skills and process develop over time. The final products are beautiful and nostalgic.

posted by carter (10 comments total)

Mesmerizing! I admire his ability to find things meant for other purposes than he can change up to suit his needs. Also, a tiny bit envious of his color-matching skills.

Personally, I find the damaged originals more charming, with evidence of the hands of children and the passage of time. But I also get the motivation, a real labor of love. We have similar restorations within the pinball community (although generally not so teeny tiny!). The like-new machines are a pleasure to play. But I miss the evidence of their years.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 7:42 AM on February 2, 2019

These are fun. BaremetalHW is another that's worth checking out for those that enjoy this. In addition to restoration, he does some fun customization as well.
posted by calamari kid at 9:22 AM on February 2, 2019 [5 favorites]

These kinds of videos are always so much more hypnotic than I expect. Watching the Ecto-1 video and it's lovely. The man sounds like an aging Winnie the Pooh...like one who spent a decade or 3 working at the bar in Achewood and is finally enjoying his retirement.

on review at 12:14 of this video: man is a genius
posted by es_de_bah at 11:31 AM on February 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

Oh my, I had a full Proustian flashback over the Alvis Stalwart...
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:02 PM on February 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

One of these days when I visit the old home again I must track down what Matchbook cars survived the niece and nephews and other random tots. I was a car snob and they're all Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Panatera, Lotus, Jaguar, etc. I think I may have found an old-man retirement hobby. The lesser cars got painted and Frankenstein'd and then probably blown up or crushed.
posted by zengargoyle at 1:58 PM on February 2, 2019

Those are so familiar, down to the smallest detail. I think I had 8 out 10 of what's on that page.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 3:19 PM on February 2, 2019

I watched the No 62b Commer Rentaset Van. I intended to take a look at the beginning then fast forward, but then I watched the whole thing. Bonus: Mild British swearing blooper at the very end!
posted by Glinn at 4:22 PM on February 2, 2019

Excellent!

Although if he hand-holds a metal object while modifying it with a drill press, he will surely have another hospital visit in his future.

Ask me how I know.
posted by skyscraper at 4:42 PM on February 2, 2019 [1 favorite]

I'm kinda flummoxed that matchbox cars can get so beat up (yeah, even by kids)! But I think there is some kinda Toy Story connection here: well-used toys are well-loved. Anyway, the restorations are amazing.
posted by sjswitzer at 4:45 PM on February 2, 2019

I get these in my recommendations all the time. I see now I should have heeded the all-mighty YouTube algorithm and watched them.
posted by Harald74 at 12:22 AM on February 4, 2019