#tranquilcollecting
What is it about pickups? Maybe I should be a little more clear. What is it about old pickups? New trucks have about as much character as a mattress showroom, and don't deserve the term "pickup", nor do I think they want it. Let them be "trucks". But pickups, those old utilitarian carrying - not …
Continue reading "The latest pickup-populated batch of Hot Wheels Retro Entertainment…"
A good case is a good case. This is a good case.The L cases are at Walmart, so a lot of you have found - or not found - what you were looking for. Hopefully in everyone's frenzy to find a Super they left you the gem of this case, the Cadillac Elmiraj. There is …
Continue reading "Case Report: Opening a 2015 Hot Wheels US L Case…"
Ambassador’s Report June 26th, 2015By: Larry ScadutoINTRODUCTIONI’ve dedicated this report to our friend Michael Heralda… Michael HeraldaAs some of us know, Michael Heralda is retiring from Mattel after 28 years of loyal service on June 30th. I’ve been staying up late to get this report done before he leaves the design studio for the last time. …
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If the first batch wasn't enough for those of us attending the Matchbox Collectors Gathering of Friends next month, Mattel has given us more.Preproduction models are a little like variations. Not every collector is interested, but among those that are there is a ton of passion. I personally love to look at, and occasionally pursue …
Ah, no more blurred out wheels...The 180SX has created quite the buzz since it was announced at Hot Wheels Nationals, and pics a couple of weeks ago only increased it. Time for phase 3. We now have pics of the model in all its glory, with its proper PR5 wheels.Phase 4 will be once we …
Continue reading "Just Unveiled: 2015 Hot Wheels ’96 Nissan 180SX Type X with its proper wheels…"
If you live in the US, there is little chance you are not familiar with the discussion, or controversy, surrounding the Confederate Flag.Following the horrific, racist shooting at a South Carolina church last week, national dialogue has revolved around whether or not it is appropriate for the Confederate Flag to not only fly at the …
These photos have been sitting in my queue for awhile now, and it is about time I show them.Almost everyone that wants the Porsche set has been able to get it, and it is now starting to vanish from stores. We got our set, and as the pictures attest, this was a real winner. These …
It is SO NICE to have the Tomica Limited Vintage back. They were boxed up far too long for the move, and I enjoyed finally breaking them out this weekend. I was happily lost in a salad of Toyota Crowns, Nissan Cedrics, Mitsubishi Galants, and a whole lot more. Of course not all these models …
Continue reading "First Look: Tomica Limited Vintage Neo Toyota Supra 2.0 GT Twin Turbo…"
Another heads up for everyone. Wheel Collectors spent yesterday sifting through a massive delivery of pallets yesterday, and now have listed a bunch of highly anticipated Hot Wheels.First up is the much ballyhooed Heritage line. If you remember, each batch will alternate between Real Riders and Redlines, and the first Real Rider batch is now …
Hey look its a Japanese Super Treasure Hunt in red!What is the streak at now? Datsun 240Z, Toyota 2000GT, Toyota Tundra, Datsun 510 Wagon, Toyota AE86 Corolla, Toyota Supra, and now the Toyota Baja Truck. Only the Mitsubishi Evo breaks the mold.That is a lot of red, and a lot of Toyotas, but there is …
Continue reading "Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels Toyota Baja Truck Super Treasure Hunt…"
A few days ago, we got another report of a very cool error/variation that is being found with the latest Hot Wheels L Case.After seeing reports on Instagram and Facebook, reader Jason Thien from Malaysia sent us pics of his in-store find:All is normal. The basic and Super TH Mustang share the same tampo, save …
Continue reading "Variation Alert: Hot Wheels ’65 Mustang 2+2 Fastback Basic with TH tampo…"
(Repost from June 24th, 2015)Who doesn't want to own a replica of a car that jumped a river?Once again, we should repeat our Lamley rule that we like entertainment-related cars more for the cars themselves than for the nostalgic kick of the shows or movies they came from. That rule has applied mainly to Hot …
Continue reading "First Look: Tomica Limited Neo Vintage Seibu Keisatsu Nissan Fairlady 260Z 2×2…"
(Reposted from September 10, 2014)Recently, as reported by Japanese Nostalgic Car, Hachimaru Hero, a Japanese Magazine dedicated to cars of the 80's, asked it readers to select the 20 best Japanese cars of the 1980's. We have enjoyed reviewing what the readers chose.This survey is interesting for a lot of reasons, but for the sake …
Yeah, I am showcasing a booklet today. Not a book, but a booklet.Showcasing a book would be a first by itself, but I went one better with a booklet. But I promise, you will be happy you saw it. Let me explain.As I have said numerous times here, we moved a couple of months ago. …
Continue reading "The Last Golden Age of Matchbox: The 2007 Best of British promotional booklet…"
It is Sunday, so that means more amazing customs are now being featured over at the Lamley Customs Blog. Follow the link:As is the Custom on Lamley CustomsAnother great week, to say the least. Be sure you submit your customs to lamleycustoms@gmail.com for consideration, and if you know of someone who might be a good …
Continue reading "As is the Custom for June 21st is now up on the Lamley Customs Blog…"
Our favorite Texas seller strikes again.Batch N has hit the market and we now know what is coming. As expected, the Super Treasure Hunt is the Toyota Supra, and the Corkscrew Buggy is the Regular. We dig the Super, and look forward to pairing it with the AE86 Super released earlier this year.But we knew …
Continue reading "Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels 2015 Batch N and the next round of Zamacs…"
It's been the year of the up-sloped chin. Yes, we have been pretty vocal about it, but to be honest, we aren't jumping off any cliffs in anguish. It is what it is, and Hot Wheels on the track is about as signature as it gets. But there is also no doubt that the licensed …
It hasn't even been 10 years, but the further we get from it, the stranger it seems.It is an era of cost control at Mattel. Plastic is replacing metal in many cases, moving parts are removed, and the 4-part rule (chassis, interior, body, windows) is adhered to in almost all cases.It has also kept many …
Here is the thing I hate about that Lamley Blog: (Or is it Lamely?)They are all about JDM, and they hype that sh*t out of it. No one liked Japanese cars until the Lamley Group started hyping them. It is all their damn fault. Datsun 510's hung on the pegs until Lamley started blabbering on …
Continue reading "First Look: Hot Wheels Road Trippin’ Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X…"
The countdown is on.The Matchbox Collectors Gathering of Friends in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is now only a month away, and for the 8th time in a row, I will be there.The Gathering is the signature Matchbox event, and for those of you who have read the blog the last few years know, we like to …
Ambassador’s Report June 15th, 2015By: Larry ScadutoINTRODUCTIONThis week’s report jumps right out of the starting block with a trio of fantastic new releases. I’m starting out with a new casting for 2015. I’ve had several inquiries about the Jeep Willys Pick-Up and I am pleased to present it here for the first time. This is …
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No, it isn't Sunday. Hopefully it doesn't throw your calendar off too much.As is the Custom for this week posted late Sunday, and this edition is so epic we wanted to make sure everyone saw it. So we are posting the link today.You can find it here:As is the Custom at Lamley CustomsWe wish we …
Continue reading "As is the Custom is now up on the Lamley Customs Blog…"
Yep. Yep Yep Yep Yep Yep Yep Yep.This is that tasty treat we have been waiting for. 2015 has been an interesting year for Hot Wheels New Models, at least from a collector perspective. There have been some models that have disappointed, some that have surprised, and some that have hit the mark that everyone …
Continue reading "Just Unveiled: 2015 Hot Wheels ’96 Nissan 180SX Type X…"
We have been excited about this one for months. Actually, if you read the blog you already know this. We have dedicated numerous post already to the upcoming Tomica Limited Vintage A70 Toyota Supra, and we are stoked to finally say it is available for purchase, in three colors. Japan Booster let us know early …