New vs. Old Comparison Test - Lifted Off-Road Jeep Grand Wagoneers.... Vintage Majorette vs. New "Premium" Hot Wheels!

Well readers...   ...its been a while!  Over a year, in fact, since my last post. 

However a recent crop of premium models from Hot Wheels and Matchbox have inspired me to blog again.  Today's post is motivated by the recently introduced premium Hot Wheels series called "Desert Rally", a 5-car line that includes a beautiful 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, all jacked-up with huge off-road wheels.  Being as its part of the premium line, the entire casting is metal, giving it a nice weighty feel, and the paint and trim work is excellent.  So excellent in fact, that I started wondering how it would compare with one of my favorite models from my childhood - the Majorette Jeep Cherokee Chief, itself all jacked-up with huge off-road tires. 

While the vintage Majorette model is a 2 door late '70's Jeep and the Hot Wheels is a 4 door Grand Wagoneer from 1988, in fact the 10-year apart vehicles were based on the same platform - just slightly (ever so slightly!) - updated to try to keep the Grand Wagoneer relevant in the late '80s. 

Which means that its time for a "Matchbox Frenzy" comparison test... Who modeled it better - Majorette or Hot Wheels - and can a premium model from 2019 upstage a stalwart mainstay of the 1980's Majorette line?

But to be candid, as soon as I dug out the vintage Majorette casting, I knew that it was going to be the winner of the comparison test.  The Hot Wheels may be newer, and glitzier, with fresh paint, but the Majorette just has more heft and presence.  Although the Hot Wheels casting is nicely sized, the Majorette is still larger than the Hot Wheels, and feels more authentic in its square-jaw'd ruggedness.  Nowhere is the size difference more visible than from above - looking down at the roofs of both vehicles - with the Majorette's roof clearly dwarfing the narrow white roof of the Hot Wheels. 

As a kid who grew up in the era when these Jeep wagons were one of the few options for a luxury family SUV, I liked the looks of the Grand Wagoneer's grill, and remember it better than the earlier Cherokee grill.  The Hot Wheels grill is modeled well in all metal, with nice detail - including a winch.  But modeled in 1/64 scale, the Cherokee grill on the Majorette comes across simpler and more authentic than that of the Hot Wheels - which (only in comparison) seems too polished up - and just maybe slightly gaudy. 

The wheels of the Hot Wheels model are nicer than the standard big wheels of the Majorette.  Plus the tires are rubber rather than plastic.  Advantage Hot Wheels. 

Paint-wise - the Hot Wheels paint is terrific - a beautiful teal color - with lots and lots and LOTS of detail.  In comparison - the Majorette's paint is a horribly out of date shade of light orange...  But then again, the faded and chipped paint feels more authentic for an off-road truck.  Advantage?  Tie!

But this isn't going to be a comparison test where I add up points across categories, giving extra points for a working tailgate (Majorette!) or a beautifully modeled interior.  As I stated earlier - as soon as I picked up the vintage Majorette - I knew it was going to be the winner.  The Hot Wheels is a beautifully done piece - a steal at your local Wal-Mart/Target for just $5.50.  But the Majorette wins on size and scale alone - even before considering its authentic vintage nature.  If the Hot Wheels is a steal at $5.50, then the Majorette is an absolute steal on E-Bay - its common status meaning that its easy to find - and prices for even mint models (before factoring in shipping charges) aren't much more than that of the Hot Wheels at Wal-Mart. 

Check back to Matchbox Frenzy soon for hopefully another comparison post - and this time - perhaps the winner won't be pre-determined!