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Our epic run through the many customs we have seen in September continues with Part 2. Click on "Read more" to see the many cool creations:@royshakosuka - Instagram. This is based on Roy's actual '72 Skyline, which we saw at JCCS, and was recently featured on Speedhunters:@alinhelga - Instagram@bjorn_ready - Instagram@minh427 - InstagramCraig Oesterling@ponkotu_rider - …
Continue reading "As is the Custom: Our faves for the month, Part 2…"
It is back, and with a vengeance. As is the Custom is bursting with fantastic works, so we are going to break it up into several parts over the next couple of days, so keep checking back. We may have taken the month off from showing them, but you guys didn't take any time off …
Continue reading "As is the Custom: Our faves of the last month, Part 1…"
Even with varying opinions on Matchbox these days, it seems that most agree that Matchbox nails its convention models. And they do. Certain limitations deco-wise are lifted, and the design team has its fun.Well its time to add another model to the list of must-have Matchbox event models. Today, at the Toy Fair in Leipzig, …
Yes, you heard that right. As reported by our friends at 829 Japan, Tomica Limited Vintage threw us all a curve ball at the Japanese Model & Hobby Show, and announced that the Nissan GT-R Nismo and Nismo N-Attack will join the Neo line in February 2015.Obviously, a very current supercar is not what comes to …
Well if searching for the Datsun Wagon Super TH wasn't enough, there is now a legit wheel variation to look for...We all know about the smooth and mesh variation on the grill of the Wagon, and from what we have seen so far, while there are more mesh than smooth, both variations are fairly common.Knowing …
Continue reading "Variation Alert: Hot Wheels Datsun 510 Wagon with OH5 wheels…"
We may have 20 models to add to the Lamley "Trick or Treat" pile later this month, but at least we now have the mail-in Jeep Wagoneer...We like these mail-in promotions that Hot Wheels does with retailers. Kmart gets three, Walmart one, and Toys R Us one. And the set of 5 all share the …
Continue reading "Model of the Day: Hot Wheels/Toys R Us Mail-in ’88 Jeep Wagoneer…"
On the way home from California yesterday, the family made a pitstop in St. George, Utah. There was a Walmart nearby, so I decided to take a break from driving and get a little walking in. While there I found a Hot Wheels dumpbin that clearly had been put out in the last 24 hours.It …
We have been wanting to do a post on the 240Z for awhile. It seems logical that the next model for collectors to be scrambling for past versions is the 240Z. Well, as soon as their 510 collections are complete.One of the most popular booths at JCCS is the diecast booth, run by Jeff Koch. …
Continue reading "First Look: 2015 Hot Wheels Datsun 240Z along with its compatriots…"
I have no idea if this is a 2014 or 2015 5-pack. I assume a 2014, but it really doesn't matter.What probably matters is many of you like a few or all of these models. Two Lambos, two Astons, and a Porsche. We definitely like packs with licensed models, but the casting choices in this …
Yes, there are four other models in this set, but you don't care if we write about them or not, do you? You don't? Ok, good, because we really have nothing to say about them. At least we took some photos of them.Actually, we have little to say about the Ecto-1 as well, but we …
We have to thank James Bond for being the reason that Hot Wheels has decided to do the Series 1 Lotus Esprit.I have said it many times before, but I don't care too much about Hot Wheels movie cars, unless said movie car is an actual cool car that HAPPENS to be featured in a …
Continue reading "First Look: 2015 Hot Wheels Lotus Esprit S1…"
Should we address this absence of As is the Custom on Lamley lately?Probably. We are very aware we haven't posted one in awhile, but we are ready to get back into the swing of things. If you have submitted some customs, we promise we have them. We are reviewing them now, and should start a …
photo courtesy of Japanese Nostalgic CarJust a quick heads up that the latest version of the Hot Wheels Datsun 240Z has just been unveiled over at Japanese Nostalgic Car. Be sure to head over there to get all the details.And those of you attending JCCS tomorrow, it will be there to see. We will see …
Continue reading "JCCS Week: Japanese Nostalgic Car unveils the 2015 Hot Wheels Datsun 240Z…"
In an earlier post this week, I explained a bit where my love for Japanese cars comes from, as well as what I like more and more the deeper I get into Japanese cars.One of the aspects of my affinity for Japanese cars centers on what they were like when they were on the roads …
Continue reading "JCCS Week: Tomica Limited Vintage police cars…"
After our look at the Matchbox Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser earlier this week, a few of you asked about other Japanese cars done by Matchbox. There are actually quite a few.The Lamley Matchbox collection is almost all Mattel-era models, and there are very few Japanese nostalgics, at least by the 25-years or older standard. From …
This was a bit convenient. As we prepare for JCCS by going all Japanese this week, Hot Wheels has released the first batch of 2015, and it is wonderfully Japan-heavy.2 Nostalgics, 2 licensed, 2 unlicensed, 1 Honda, 1 Datsun, 1 bososoku, and 1 almost-HiAce. No new models, just new decos. And guess what? They look …
Continue reading "JCCS Week: The four Japanese cars of 2015 Hot Wheels Batch A…"
We have been very excited to do this post. It has been interesting to see the various reactions among diecast collectors to the surge of popularity that classic Japanese cars have experienced. Some don't get why the Datsun 510 has gone from pegwarmer to high-priced in a short period of time, and why other collectors …
Continue reading "JCCS Week: The Matchbox Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser…"
In order to keep that JCCS vibe going, how about a look at the upcoming Toyota AE86 Corolla Super Treasure Hunt along with its mainline counterpart? Not much to say, just enjoy the hachiroku in both of its 2015 outfits:
Only a few days to go until the premiere Nostalgic Japanese car show in the US, the Japanese Classic Car Show, or JCCS. This Saturday marks the event's 10th year, and this will undoubtedly be its biggest. We will descend onto the park next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California for the third …
Goodbye 2014. It's been fun.In Hot Wheels terms, 2015 is here. Even though we haven't seen a full roll-out yet of 2014 Batch Q, Mattel has already gotten 2015 started. And it started today at Wheel Collectors as their first 2015 cases arrived.And the models are now up at the following link:Hot Wheels 2015 Batch …
Continue reading "Surprise!! Hot Wheels 2015 Batch A is now available at Wheel Collectors…"
This is what was waiting for me when I returned home from work yesterday:That is a large package from Japan, which essentially means Christmas has come again, as it seems to every month now. Another order of Tomica Limited Vintage has arrived from our good friends at Japan Booster.We have been excited to get this …
Continue reading "First Look: Tomica Limited Vintage Hino/Antico Car Transporter…"
Ambassador’s Report September 18th, 2014By: Larry ScadutoBREAKING NEWS! I have something new to announce:The Matchbox website was updated yesterday with a new look:It is with great pleasure that we announce that Matchbox has officially re-launched our website: MATCHBOX.COM The new site, which has gone LIVE as of September 17th, 2014, will represent the first comprehensive refresh …
Continue reading "September 18th Matchbox Ambassador Report, by Larry Scaduto…"
We have said this before, and we know it applies to many of you: The Hot Wheels Pop Culture line really hasn't struck our fancy. There is definitely a lot of people out there that do love it, but we aren't one of them. Many times the castings don't fall in our area of interest, …
Two case reports in two days. That means we have added 144 cars to our stash. We will keep a few, but that means Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City has a lot more cars coming...With Batch Q being part of the Kmart cases, and 2015 Batch A showing up in Australia, we figure …
Continue reading "Lamley Case Report: Opening a 2014 Hot Wheels US Q Case…"