Hot Wheels 1970 Dodge Challenger Delran Fire Department

This long lean Hot Wheels car is a 1970 Dodge Challenger with markings for the Delran Fire Department.  It also sports a nice flame job.  This car was sold in the 2011 HW Main Street collection with the moniker "Dixie Challenger" on the package.

In the sunlight, the front bumper and grill chrome really shines, too!

This car looks like something that would run in a late model sportsman race on a track somewhere in the South.  Ironically, the only Delran Fire Department that I could find is in New Jersey.

 
There are lots of die-cast 1970 Dodge Challengers on Amazon.com.  I think the lines of this Hot Wheels car seem a little elongated compared to the real car, but the effect makes the car look leaner and more aggressive than many other casters.

Johnny Lightning Ford Mustang II Cobra

The mid-1970s was a rather uninspiring time for the auto industry.  Gas crises in the Middle East forced a shift towards more economical cars and ended the race to build furiously powerful muscle cars.  One of the resulting cars was the Ford Mustang II.  Introduced in 1974, it didn't even offer a V-8 engine as an option.  However, it was a car for the times and the Ford Mustang II was a great seller for Ford.

By 1975, a 5.0-liter V-8 was introduced as an optional powerplant.  In 1976, an option package called the Cobra II brought a high performance look to the V-8 powered Mustang IIs.  According to Wikipedia, the Ford Mustang Cobra II could managed 0-to-60 in 10.5 seconds with a top speed of 106 miles per hour.

While the Ford Mustang II doesn't get much respect today, it did keep the Mustang alive so that it could return to glory.

 

You can read about the Ford Mustang II in this article Remembering the Mustang II King Cobra.

Johnny Lightning Racing Mustangs

The Ford Mustang comes in many flavors and varieties including some full blown race cars.  Here are a couple of my Johnny Lightning Mustangs in full race regalia and ready to rumble.

Hot Wheels Hollowback

This is an interesting Hot Wheels design.  It's called the Hollowback because you can see an additional engine in the rear of the car.

Hot Wheels Hollowback (profile)

Unfortunately, this car has a plastic body and it looks...well...like plastic. 

Hot Wheels Hollowback (top)

Hot Wheels Corvette Grand Sport Roadster Takes On A Ferrari

Here's a photo of my Hot Wheels Grand Sport Roadster leaving a Ferrari behind like it was standing still.  Okay, the Ferrari was standing still.  But, a guy can dream!

My Hot Wheels Corvette Grand Sport Roadster Takes the Lead!

I love to find something interesting for the background of a Hot Wheels photo.  In this case, someone was kind enough to leave a real Ferrari in a parking lot!

Johnny Lightning Z8 James Bond Car

This is my Johnny Lightning BMW Z8 convertible from the James Bond collection.  This commemorates the Bond car from the movie "The World is Not Enough."

Corgi Juniors Cadillac-Gage Commando V100 Armored Personnel Carrier

In these times of terror and uncertainty, we have to salute the men and women of law enforcement and the military who stand guard on our behalf.  We do appreciate you.

Corgi Juniors - Commando V100 (front)

This Corgi Juniors Cadillac-Gage Commando V100 armored personnel carrier has been in my toy box ever since I was a little kid.  In the military, it has long been used to provide base security around the world.  Now, many surplus versions of this venerable armored car are lending muscle to police SWAT teams around the United States.  Here is my Commando V100 pulling guard duty at the front gate to my community.

Corgi Juniors - Commando V100 (side)

I customized this die-cast model with decals long, long, long ago when I was in elementary school.  About 40 years later, they are still holding on strong. 

Corgi Juniors - Commando V100 (rear)

Amazingly, you can still find a few vintage Corgi Juniors on Amazon.  However, they don't have any with this kind of fighting spirit.

M2 Machines - 1957 Chrysler 300C

Today, the Chrysler 300C is a beautiful elegant car.  In 1957, it had beauty and brawn.  A 396-cubic inch Hemi racing engine powered a fast beautiful car with fins that were "functional" at high speeds. 

Johnny Lightning Little Red Wagon

This is my Johnny Lightning Little Red Wagon.  In 1965, the Little Red Wagon was the world's fastest truck and was a sensation on the drag racing circuit.  According to Wikipedia, it could do a mid-11 second quarter mile with a 120 mile per hour end speed.

Here is some vintage video of the Little Red Wagon doing some wheelstanding!

To read more, check out this Hot Rod Network article on the Little Red Wagon.

Hot Wheels Chevy Nova

Here is a my rather bad ass looking Hot Wheels Chevy Nova.  It's a premium model car for sure.  I made this photo using a small chalk board as a surface and trying to scale the car to the real street in the background.

Hot Wheels Street Beasts 1965 Pontiac GTO

This Hot Wheels 1965 Pontiac GTO is part of the Street Beasts series from 2011.  That's why it is ready to go head-to-head with this modern Corvette.  It might stand a good chance.  According to Wikipedia, the 1965 Pontiac GTO was capable of a 5.8 second 0 to 60 miles per hour time and a 14.5 second quarter mile time with a terminal velocity above 100 miles per hour.

Hot Wheels Street Beasts 1965 Pontiac GTO

Hot Wheels has produced many variants of the 1965 Pontiac GTO over the years.  There are many different versions and color combinations.  To keep track of them or look for a specific car, the this article out on Hot Wheels Wikia.

My Matchbox Toyota Prius

Here is my shiny black Matchbox Toyota Prius.  This car only makes my blood race when its ahead of me in traffic with the driving texting.  But, the Matchbox paint job does look great. 

The Prius is a historically significant car.  In the future, more cars will be electric or electric hybrids and you have to respect the Prius from starting it all.

Matchbox Volkswagen Kharmann Ghia Type 14 Convertible

Maisto 1970 Chevrolet Corvette T-Top

Maisto 1970 Corvette T-Top

This 1:24 scale Maisto Chevy Corvette looks great for a drug store toy bin find.  Unlike many toy bin cars, this Maisto die-cast Corvette had all its mirrors, bumpers, and trim.

Hot Wheels VW Brasilia & Gearing Up to Take Die-cast Car Photos!

I usually take my die-cast car photos outside.  I like using the sidewalk, or a picnic table, and natural light.  However, many people like to take up close photos inside.  Sometimes it is too blazing hot or too darn cold to be messing around with a camera and little cars outside.  I took these photos of three Hot Wheels Brasilia cars.  The one with the flame job looks really cool.

If you want to up your Die-cast Car photography game, you may need to gear up!  You'll want to have some professional quality photography products at your disposal. 

Photography Tents and Backdrops

When I want a nice clean surface to shoot on, I'll sometimes opt for a clean white table top, a cutting board, poster board, or a piece of construction paper.  However, professionals often use a dedicated photography tent when taking pictures of products.  A Photography Tent can be really helpful when you want to isolate your small die-cast car, light it well, take great close-up pictures, and remove any distracting elements.

Photography Tripods

A stable platform for photography helps eliminate blurry photographs and gives you the freedom to minutely adjust your camera and focus to capture the perfect photo.  A tripod is a great accessory to have.  When it comes to taking pictures of Hot Wheels, Matchbox, and other small die-cast cars, I find that a Mini-Tripod will work just fine.  You can set it on a table top or picnic table and get some great photos.  I have this tripod myself for when I use a real camera.



Did you know that they even make mini-tripods now for cell phone photography. Check this flexible tripod out!

Hot Wheels Shelby Cobra 427

This is my Hot Wheels Shelby Cobra 427.  The Cobra is one of my favorite cars because it combines beautiful European bodywork with American muscle.  It's an iconic American car.  Here is a Car & Driver road test of a 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra.  This 1965 model had an improved handling package to allow it to keep the horsepower of a 427 cubic inch V-8 on the road.

Hot Wheels Shelby Cobra 427

Matchbox Cadillac Escalade

Thanks to Matchbox, you don't have to get a big NFL contract to roll with a Cadillac Escalade.  This Cadillac Escalade fits in a jacket pocket!  As you can see from these photos.  The Pocket Escalade is just perfect for taking the gang over to P.F. Chang's or our place by the lake.

A Matchbox Cadillac Escalade goes to P.F. Chang's

Diecast Photography Tip

It's fun to try and take a pictures of Matchbox cars with something interesting in the background.  In this case, I was able to capture a fountain in the background.

We took our Escalade down to the lake.

Friday Night Features - Hot Wheels Commercials from 1971

Pull into the die-cast drive-in, let your friends out of the trunk.  Send someone for popcorn and hot dogs. 

By FabSubeject (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Tonight's feature is a compendium of Hot Wheels commercials from 1971!

Welly Diecast Lamborghini Models from RiteAid

Here's a battle.  Two drug store Lamborghini models are facing off.  The black car is a Lamborghini Diablo and the Green car is the more modern Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4.  Both cars are officially licensed Lamborghini and are made by Welly.  I found them in my local RiteAid drug store.

Die-cast Lamborghini Cars by Welly

These cars are cool because they are widely available, super-affordable, and easy to add to your car.

Welly Die-cast Lamborghini Huracan

M2 Machines - 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 327

This 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 327 from M2 Machines looks great.  It takes on a really dramatic look when I play around a bit with photo filters!

Die-cast Car Photography Tip

Photo filters can be added to filter out the background and render your car a  little more dramatic.  Many filter sets are available with cell phone camera phones or on easy to use photo editing software.

Johnny Lightning Monopoly Water Works Truck in the Garden

It looks like this spring has sprung and this 1:64 scale Johnny Lightning Monopoly Water Works truck has sprouted up in this flower bed.

Johnny Lightning Monopoly Water Works Truck

If you want a Monopoly truck like this, you'd better act fast and jump on this Amazon listing but quick.  There is only 1 left!  



But, there may be more with this Monopoly Truck Search !!!

Welly Alfa Romeo 4C Drugstore Find

Here is another great little die-cast car from a local drugstore.  This one is from RiteAid.  It's a 1/24 scale Alfa Romeo 4C by Welly.  This is a cool little car with opening doors.  It's also priced low enough for kids to actually play with.  Yet, the beautiful Alfa lines will always make it great for display on a desktop.

Welly Alfa Romeo 4C

The real car starts at about $55,000 and is propelled by a 237 horsepower 4-cylinder engine.  According to this Car and Driver review, it's a fast but uncompromising sports car.  It's the sports car that many old sports cars used to be. But, like old sports cars, the driving experience promises to be unforgettable.

It's exciting to have real Alfa Romeo sports cars wandering the roads of America again.  This model is a great commemoration of their return.

Finding one of these model Alfas can be tough.  Kids at the drugstore play rough with the toy cars on display.  If you can't find one in your local drugstore, here's one from Amazon.