Matchbox started to use the base code method in 2008 to define a model's production date. Base codes consist of a single letter followed by two digits. The letter indicates the year of production, and the digits indicate the production week.
Letter key[]
| Letter | Year of Manufacture |
| A | 2008 |
| B | 2009 |
| C | 2010 |
| D | 2011 |
| E | 2012 |
| F | 2013 |
| G | 2014 |
| H | 2015 |
| J | 2016 |
| K | 2017 |
| L | 2018 |
| M | 2019 |
| N | 2020 |
| P | 2021 |
| R | 2022 |
| S | 2023 |
| T | 2024 |
We don't know what will happen in 2031, 23 years (letters I, O and Q were omitted to avoid confusion with numbers 1 and 0) from 2008, when Base Codes get to the 'Z' s.
Example[]
D05 indicates a model that was made in the 5th week of 2011 (late January / early February 2011).
E07 indicates a model that was made in the 7th week of 2012. (February 2012).