M2 Machines Chase & Super Chase
The two rare tiers hidden inside M2 releases, how they differ, and how to read the production numbers printed on the box top.
Quick version: Beyond the standard version, M2 slips two rarer variants into a release, Chase and Super Chase. Both get premium finishes and far smaller production runs; the Super Chase is the rarest and is individually numbered. The figures printed on the box top (for example 750 Chase / 250 Super Chase) tell you exactly how many of each were made.
First, what M2 Machines is
M2 Machines (made by Castline) is a premium 1:64 die-cast brand built around detail and scarcity. Compared with a standard mainline, an M2 casting typically has opening hoods, detailed engines, real rubber tires on metal wheels, and authentic paint and graphics. Just as important, every M2 release is a numbered limited edition, the total production count is printed right on the packaging, often anywhere from a few thousand up to around ten thousand pieces. That baked-in scarcity is the backdrop for the Chase system.
The three tiers of a release
Any given M2 release can exist in up to three versions, from most common to rarest:
Standard release
The normal version and the bulk of the run, what most cases are filled with.
Chase
A premium variant randomly seeded into cases, usually with gold, chrome, or raw bare-metal accents. Small run, commonly around 500 to 750 worldwide.
Super Chase
The top tier and true grail: the most premium finish, the smallest run, and an individual number on each one. Commands the biggest premium.
Reading the box top
The banner printed across the top (or side) of an M2 blister is where the production math lives. Once you know the fields, a card like 750 Chase / 250 Super Chase reads instantly. You'll usually see some combination of:
- Item / release codeIdentifies the specific casting and which release it belongs to (for example a code such as S154).
- Edition sizeThe total number of pieces made across every version of that release.
- Chase count750 Chase means only 750 cars from that release were finished as Chase.
- Super Chase count250 Super Chase means only 250 exist as Super Chase.
- Piece numberOn an actual Chase or Super Chase, an individual number (such as 0001 to 0250) showing where yours falls within the run.
So a top marked 750 Chase / 250 Super Chase means that, of that release, 750 pieces were produced as Chase and just 250 as Super Chase, everything else is a standard car. The smaller the number, the harder that variant is to land.
Telling a Chase from a standard at a glance
You rarely need the box to spot one, the car usually gives itself away:
Finish
Gold, chrome, or raw bare-metal parts where the standard car is painted, or an entirely different premium colorway.
Extra detail
Upgraded tampos, chrome trim, and premium wheels or tires.
Markings
A gold-foil "Chase" flag or a printed Chase / Super Chase callout, and, on a Super Chase, a hand-applied piece number.
The math
The small Chase / Super Chase counts printed on the box confirm it.
Why collectors chase them
It comes down to scarcity, finish, and numbering. Because Chases are randomly inserted and made in small runs, they're tough to pull at retail and tend to jump in value on the secondary market. Super Chases take that further: the most premium look, the lowest production, and an individual number on each one, which is why they're the most sought-after, and priciest, pieces in an M2 lineup.
One caveat: exact counts change from release to release and series to series, M2 has used figures like 750, 500, and 250 (and occasionally lower). Always read the specific packaging for the numbers that apply to that car rather than assuming a fixed figure.