Hot Wheels Custom '77 Dodge Van Takes a Break

This Hot Wheels van looks good.  It's a 1977 Dodge Custom Van.  You've got to respect the van.  After all, the A-Team had a van.  This one looks like it should have a killer stereo playing Freedom Rock. 

Hot Wheels '77 Dodge Custom Van

I'm playing with forced perspective a bit here in this photo.  Perhaps, it looks like this one might have made a stop at a roadside picnic area.  You try to create an optical illusion that leads you to think that the model car is part of a larger scene.  In the world of die-cast cars, one photographer Michael Paul Smith is a master of this technique.  Check out this article on his work at Petapixel.com.

Hot Wheels Cadillac LM01 Race Car

It's time for the Rolex 24. It is the 24 Hours of Daytona--a grueling test of reliability for men and machines!   To celebrate, I decided to make a splash with a sports car of my own.  This is Hot Wheels version of the famed Cadillac Northstar LMP.  These cars raced in the 2000 24 Hours of Daytona.  They went on to campaign for a few years in the world of sports car racing.

Hot Wheels Cadillac Northstar LMP

The Cadillac Northstar LMP program was a good program for GM.  It helped them prove the longevity and performance of Cadillac's vaunted Northstar V-8 engine.  It also helped for a more youthful, vigorous, image for the Cadillac brand which was transitioning to smaller more sporty cars.

You can still find these Hot Wheels cars on Amazon.com.  However, supplies are limited.



It's a great looking silver car and it embodies the soul of the new Cadillac brand.

If you'd like a bigger version for display, Hot Wheels also makes a larger model.

The Hot Wheels Cruise Bruiser Review

I recently added the Hot Wheels Cruise Bruiser to my collection.  When I picked it up, I didn't give it much thought.  However, as I look at this car, I'm finding it to be one of the coolest new cars in my collection.   What makes this car special?  It's got personality.

Hot Wheels Bruiser Cruiser

Hot Wheels Car Features

The Cruise Bruiser has lots of interesting details.  First of all, when you peer through the windows, you can see details like a floor grate and a roll cage.  Since it is a demolition derby car, all of the window glass has been removed.  The car is simply full of surprises.  For example, what appears to be a boat anchor is visible when you peer down through the sun roof.  The package notes that the anchor is to keep the car from being "rocked by the competition." 

Hot Wheels Bruiser Cruiser Details

Of course, the engine is simply awesome with a visible supercharger and pipes sticking up through the hood.  It simply wicked! 

I also love the graphics on the car.  The Number 13 and "I Heart Demolition" painted on the door just add to the attitude of this might little wagon.  "Cruise bruiser" is painted on the rear quarter panels and it looks like someone might have painted it there by hand as they would with a real demolition derby car.

Series Details

The Hot Wheels Cruise Bruiser is 5/10 in the new HW Daredevils series and it is a new car for 2016.  With the details and personality of Cruise Bruiser, the Hot Wheels Daredevil series is off to a good start.

Hot Wheels 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

This little Hot Wheels car posed a bit of a mystery to me.  I wasn't sure what it was and there wasn't a car name etched on the bottom plate.  At first, I thought it was a Buick Grand National and then I remembered the Monte Carlo.  I started searching for images on the web and then I found this excellent blog:

Two Lane Desktop.

They identified this car as a Chevy Monte Carlo SS and showed the many varieties of Hot Wheels Monte Carlo SS that were available.  From the paint, this car appears to be in drag racer or late model sportsman.  Here it is pulled out of the garage.

Hot Wheels 1986 Chevy Monte Carlo

This car is neat because it has at least 20 pieces of flare in the form of decals and sponsors.  It's a very authentic looking car that could be at a race track you on any given Saturday.

If you can find it, this is a great car to add to your collection!

Hot Wheels Ferrari FF

Here are a couple of photos of my Hot Wheels Ferrari FF.  It's a nice little car, but it styling pales a bit in comparison with all the other flashy Ferrari models out there.  This model seems to be quite simply the businessman's Ferrari.

The Ferrari FF has a front engine and room for four!

However, according to this Car & Driver review, my little Ferrari grocery getter has a 651-horsepower, 382 cubic inch (6.2 liter), V-12 and can go 0 to 60 in a mere 3.5 seconds.  It also has all wheel drive to stay sure footed!

This Squirrel's Eye view of the Ferrari FF shows it's menace!

Of course, statistics don't make the car.  You have to see it for yourself.  Here's a video of a Ferrari FF going through it's paces at a snow-covered test track in Northern Sweden.  It's an awesome ride . . .

If this Hot Wheels is too small for you, check out the Hot Wheels 1:18 version:

The Gardener's Johnny Lightning 1959 Chevrolet El Camino

This Johnny Lightning rendition of the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino.  It's a great looking model and it has a real rustic feel.  It looks like an old gardening implement.

Johnny Lightning 1959 Chevrolet El Camino (profile)

The Chevy El Camino was introduced in 1959.  It was made from 1959 to 1960 and then from 1964 through 1987.  President Bill Clinton even confessed to owning one and lining the pickup bed with astroturf for ...um... sowing oats, gardening, and that sort of thing.



This 1959 El Camino comes from a more innocent time and was introduced as GM's answer to the Ford Ranchero.

Johnny Lightning 1959 Chevrolet El Camino (rear quarter)

Here's a real 1959 Chevrolet El Camino in a Chevrolet publicity photo.  Guess what they have it being used for?  Gardening!

A Real 1959 Chevy El Camino

Matchbox Taxi at the Airport

Matchbox City Action Ford Transit Connect Taxi

I recently took a cab to the airport.  The cab I chose was my Matchbox City Action Ford Transit Connect Taxi.  If I was a teeny-tiny person with teeny-tiny luggage, it would have been the perfect choice.

Matchbox City Action Ford Transit Connect Taxi at Orlando International Airport

This 1:64 scale car is from a 2010 set and was car 59 out of 100.  I actually did take the shot above from the taxi stand at Orlando International Airport.  I set the car on a garbage can and was able to force the perspective to look just right with the control tower in the background.

Matchbox City Action Ford Transit Connect Taxi at Orlando International Airport

I also took a couple of shots of the taxi from inside the departure area before checking my bag.  The vast expanse of counter area provided a nice smooth surface for some photography.

Matchbox City Action Ford Transit Connect Taxi at Orlando International Airport

If  you'd like your own Matchbox cab to the airport, I found this one on Amazon!

Hot Wheels in the Cold - 1947 Chevy Fleetline Struggles in Heavy Snow

Sometimes when the weather is bad, it's best to leave the driving to professionals.  But, the heavy snow really has this Hot Wheels 1947 Chevy Fleetline cab struggling.  In such cases, it's probably better to play with your Hot Wheels collection indoors.  Here's a picture I took during the recent Winter Snow Storm Jonas.  In Atlanta, we just got a dusting of snow, but it looks insurmountable for a Hot Wheels car.

Hot Wheels '47 Fleetline Cab Struggles in the Snow

If you've ever wondered what a real 1947 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan looks like, here is one pictures on the streets of sunny Canada and another on display in a museum.

Chevy Aerosedan - photo by By dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada (1947 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Chevy Aerosedan photo I, Lglswe [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you'd like to read more about 1947 Chevrolet's, the sales brochure is available on Amazon as 1947 CHEVROLET Sales Brochure Literature Book Piece

A Matchbox Porsche 935 goes shopping!

I recently spotted this Matchbox Porsche 935 in a Target parking lot.  It's a cool looking little car and it definitely looks race ready.

This one was actually a thrift store find and has some honest wear and tear on it.  It was probably trading paint with other little sports cars in a miniature Road Atlanta somewhere in the Atlanta suburbs.  I'm sure it was less than a $1.


If you are wondering what the real car looks like, I found this one on Wikimedia.  Suffice it to say, this Porsche 935 is considerably more expensive.

Porsche 935 - photo by Curt Smith from Bellevue, WA, USA (Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV  Uploaded by FAEP) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Here is another 935 from a front angle.  The Porsche 935 was a bona fide, full out , race car.  It was powered by a turbo-charged Porsche flat-6 engine.

Porsche 935 - photo by Lothar Spurzem (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you'd like a Porsche 935 for considerably less than $200,000, you might check out this EBRO 1/43 scale die-cast model.

A Pocket Car Show in January!

One great thing about die-cast cars is that you don't have to wait until summer time to wander around at a Car Show.  You can just stick a car show in your pocket and see it any time.  Moving from left to right, this pocket car show consists of a Hot Wheels, a Racing Champions, and a Johnny Lightning.

This pocket car show showcases from real hot rods, but the spectacular star of the show has to be the Johnny Lightning with exposed side pipes.

Johnny Lightning MG-A Unpainted

This is an interesting Johnny Lightning car.  It was part of a bare metal series of cars that was either unpainted or just had some basic kind of coating over the base metal bodies.

Johnny Lightning MG-A Unpainted

 Regardless of the finish or lack thereof, these make for some interesting collectible die-cast cars.  I'm wondering if these might be easier to customize as well.

Johnny Lightning MG-A Unpainted

If you do plan to customize your own die-cast cars, you are going to need a Dremel tool.

Poolside with the Hot Wheels Super Blitzen

The Hot Wheels Super Blitzen is a tiny take on a world-class rally car.   Here is mine posing poolside.  The Super Blitzen was introduced in 2011 and it's an aggressively-styled little racer.

Hot Wheels Super Blitzen

According to google translate, Blitzen is German for flash.  It's no wonder this car looks fast.

Johnny Lightning Monopoly VW Bus

The Johnny Lightning brand of 1/64 scale toy cars was pretty cool.  They had nice wheels, great paint jobs, and all metal construction.  This VW bus was created to commemorate the famous board game -  Monopoly.  Here it is parked outside a fast food restaurant in the Atlanta suburbs.

Johnny Lightning VW Bus - Monopoly Edition

The Johnny Lightning brand changed hands several times and was finally discontinued by Tomy in 2013.  However, the cars remain excellent and quite collectible.

Hot Wheels 1969 Dodge Charger Police Car

This Hot Wheels 1969 Dodge Charger Police Car is from the 2011 Main Street collection.  It really captures the aggressive lines and stance of the original cars.  I put it through it's paces in a post office parking lot and was rewarded with some nice photos of the car in bright, natural, sunlight.

Hot Wheels 1969 Dodge Charger Police Car

With the church in the background, you can really see this Charger on patrol in a sleepy southern town.

Hot Wheels Ocala Police Car

An Inexpensive 1937 Cord from China

I saw this inexpensive diecast toy car in a tourist gift shop.  It is bright and interesting.  But, this colorful coupe is definitely a child's toy.  It looks like a 1937 Cord to me!  I like the way it appears to hover over the Dodge truck on the shelf below.

Chinese-made Diecast 1937 Cord

Hot Wheels VW Caddy

This Hot Wheels VW Caddy looks like a perfect runabout for delivering auto parts and other light errands.  In fact, it is a commercial truck produced in various configurations since late 1979.  According to Wikipedia, this is a first generation VW Caddy based on the venerable VW Rabbit.

In this quick shot below, I'm trying to blend it into this parking lot.

Hot Wheels Pontiac GTO Judge

A brief respite from rain in the area allowed me to pull my 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge out in the drive way and take it for a spin.  This Hot Wheels is from the 2011 Premiere Editions and makes a great addition to any collections.

Hot Wheels 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge

Matchbox Bentley Continental GT

Here is my Bentley Continental GT parked behind an exclusive Italian restaurant in Atlanta.  It's a fantastic car offering the perfect balance of luxury and sporting performance.  If only our Olive Garden had a valet . . .

Matchbox Bentley Continental GT

This Matchbox car certainly does the great marque proud.  If I had $198,000 more dollars, I might be able to pull up in a real one.

Hot Wheels Sting Rod II - Ready for Battle

The Hot Wheels Sting Rod II is ready for battle.  It has missiles on the top, guns, missiles on the side, and a saw blade slung under the rear!

Here my Hot Wheels Sting Rod II shows that it has the traction of a mountain goat as it clings to a rocky mountain side!

Let the ascent begin and check out the saw blade beneath the back bumper.  That's a cool detail!

Hot Wheels Photography Tip:  If you want your car to look big, don't include anything in the photo that will give away the size of your car.   I used a couple of big granite rocks for these pictures, but made sure not to show any surrounding plants.
 

Hot Wheels 2009 Corvette Stingray Concept Car Goes to Starbucks?

Typically, you only see Concept Cars at big Auto Shows in Detroit or exotic European locales.  But, I recently saw this Corvette Stingray Concept car at a local Starbucks.

Hot Wheels 2009 Corvette Stingray Concept

Concept Car at Starbucks?

Hot Wheels Corvette Stingray Concept takes an aggressive stance!

The Baddest Hot Wheels Roll at Night - Purple Passion!

You think hot rodding is about old guys in lawn chairs in hot parking lots?  Au contraire!  The baddest of the bad and the fastest of the fast roll late at night.  While we sleep, they cruise.

This Hot Wheels hot rod is called Purple Passion.  It has a low mean stance.  It's roof line has been chopped.  It's grill is perfectly chromed.  I captured it out on the streets late at night.  It was idling along on my neighborhood streets with a V-8 engine burbling as quiet as a big V-8 can burble. 

 According to the Hot Wheels Wikia, the Purple Passion is based on a customized 1949 Mercury.  The Purple Passion is one very cool Hot Wheels car!