this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2025
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When I was a lad, I had a special edition Halley’s Comet Matchbox Car. No idea why.
It's last pass was in 1986.
Right, but why a Matchbox car? I must have gotten it as a present, but who would buy such a thing and why was it made?
Why it was made: "Commemorative." They apparently stamped that decal on three different models of otherwise ordinary mainline matchbox cars. They paint matchbox cars at all to make them special; "I got a red one." "I'll trade you my blue corvette and my yellow and purple flames chevelle for your Halley's comet firebird."
Who would buy it: Collectors, because "commemorative." And apparently parents/loved ones of children, because it's a toy car. I take it you had fun playing with it as a kid? If so, I'd say it did its job. Those little comet decals seem to have helped form strong memories of it.