If you weren’t able to attend the Hot Wheels Nationals in Chicago last weekend, you can still get your hands on some of the great diecast made for the event by Liberty Promotions. Liberty created two Chicago-themed buses called “Chicago Fire” and Chicago Ganster.”

Collectors attending the Nationals as well as Liberty Legion members at the Titanus and Prominus levels have been able to get both of the special Drag Buses since the April 23rd. Collectors at the Commendus level have been able to purchase the buses since Wednesday April 30th, and those at the Discoverus level can begin purchasing on Friday, May 2nd.

Here are the details on each from the official Liberty Promotions site:

Chicago Fire:

The city is burning! Introducing the Chicago Fire VW Drag Bus commemorating 40 years of Hot Wheels® and the Hot Wheels® Collectors Nationals in Chicago! This bus features graphics of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The city is silhouetted with different buildings and Lake Michigan on each side with the inferno blazing in the background. With glossy black paint and vivid orange flames, this bus is sure to be hot!

The Rebel Run features Mrs. O’Leary’s cow hiding on the rear of the bus. Rumor has it that this cow started the fire when she kicked over an oil lantern. (Rebel Runs are by random chance only.)

- Regular Run: Only 1,300 produced!
- Rebel Run: “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow” Edition - only 400 produced!

Chicago Gangster:

Gangsters are out in force! Introducing the Chicago Ganster VW Drag Bus commemorating 40 years of Hot Wheels® and the Hot Wheels® Collectors Nationals in Chicago! With a “hit” about to go down in the darkened city, this “Asphalt Black” bus will be an intimidating addition to your collection!

The Rebel Run features Al Capone taking aim at you!

- Regular Run: Only 1,300 produced!
- Rebel Run: “Al Capone” Edtion - only 400 produced! (Rebel Runs are by random chance only.)

If you’re not already a member of The Liberty Legion, then you’ll need to join prior to ordering. Be sure to take advantage of purchasing these buses as soon as your Legion level permits as these small quantities won’t last forever!

[via libertypromotions.com]

This week David Chang managed to get a quick sneak peek of the new Drag Team Series GT and SS EVOs in the Kustomcity Newsletter just prior to jetting off to Chicago for the Hot Wheels Nationals! Once again, David is coming through with some amazing pieces that are sure to sell out as quickly as ones in the past. Expect information about the sale of these pieces coming in the near future. Click the image to to see the full version.

[via kustomcitydesigns.com]

There comes a time when someone has to take a stand; a time when one man has to fight for what he believes in and show that he is not afraid to shake up the establishment…that mans is POPEMAN! POPEMAN’s cause is to rid the world of the blind acceptance of mundane diecastdesigns that have shrouded the Hot Wheels community for some time.

His tools are his keen sense of originality in his designs, his innovative use of color, and a steady finger on the fast pulse of the collecting community. And now; POPEMAN wants to share one of his most secret tools he uses to accomplish his mission: the VW POPEMAN BUS!

Partnering with Pope Designs; POPEMAN has allowed the recreation of his VW POPEMAN BUS to come to life. Decked out in POPEMAN’s traditional colors and emblazoned with his battle cry: “AND JUSTICE FOR ART!”…Pope Designs’ faithful recreation of the VW POPEMAN BUS is sure to generate quite a stir in the Hot Wheels Community.

Only 15 versions of this previously unknown vehicle will be produced. However, POPEMAN also commissioned Pope Designs to create 5 additional Pope DIAMOND versions of his beloved bus. The Pope Diamond version will feature extra special Spectraflame Red paint and Real Rider Redline tires to give it an extra special touch of class. Only 13 of 15 regular versions and 3 of 5 DIAMOND versions will be made available for sale; POPEMAN wanted to hold back a few versions for his most trusted comrades. All versions will be on a colorful and original blister card and will include a Protecto-Pak.

Here are the details on the sale:

WHEN: Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 9PM EST, 6PM PST
WHERE: eBay: Seller name: pope-designs Sale name: VW POPEMAN BUS
WHAT: 16 POPEMAN Buses (includes 3 Diamond Versions)
HOW MUCH: $115.00 + $8 S&H

Please note that the blisters will not be attached. This allows for loose display and a much cleaner look. All buyers must assume they are purchasing a regular version of the POPEMAN bus. NO buyer is guaranteed a DIAMOND version. All DIAMOND versions are substituted at random.

So if you want to stand up against the trivial and uninspired designs put forth by the diecast masses and want to believe in someone who can shake the custom art world up; believe in POPEMAN, believe in his cause. He has his enemies; those who are bent on thwarting his efforts and planning his demise; POPEMAN needs your support to fight his fight against dull customs here and around the world!

[via popedesigns.net]

With the 2008 International Diecast X Collectors Expo just around the corner (April 19th & 20th!), we are beginning to see shots from some of the cool pieces that will be available at the show. Greg from WWW.DIEHARD-DIECAST.COM has posted shots of this year’s Pink Drag Bus convention piece and is inviting collectors to visit his site to leave comments about it.

Additional details about the show and pics of more great custom pieces should be available soon! Here are a few shots to get your brain stimulated!

[via diehard-diecast.com]

The folks at WWW.DIECASTLIVE.COM have release the first images of the tentative card design for their 2008 club car. Their White Hot Dodge Daytona Charger is going to look even hotter in this great packaging which will include a 2008 DCL membership card. Final tweaks are still being made to the design including the addition of the sponsor’s names on the back of the card. Here’s a peak at what they’ll look like. Be sure to click any of the images to see them up close!

[via diecastlive.com]

The folks at DIECASTLIVE.COM are getting ready to launch the pre-sale of their new 2008 Club Car. This year they have teamed up with GreenLight again to put together the “White Hot Charger!” There will be a total of 2016 pieces in the run. That breaks down to 1824 of the regular edition and 192 Green Machines.

Each car will come in the same plastic clamshell style packaging that you are used to seeing on the pegs at your local brick and mortar. As an added bonus, each car will come with a “shop accessory” to use in your displays.

The pre-sale starts on Saturday, February 23rd at 1pm EST. The regular version of the Charger will be $9.99 + shipping and handling. Orders for the regular version will be randomly substituted with Green Machines. If you would like to guarantee a Green Machine version, you can purchase a Regular version/Green Machine set for $49.99 + shipping and handling. Both of these offers are only available to DIECASTLIVE.COM members, so if you are interested in purchasing, be sure to register asap.

A note from the DCL Team:

Final Design Template of White Hot Charger Car & Card to be posted shortly. They will be similar (but not exactly) to our first GL Club Car White to red, White to green style. The GreenMachine’s will have a green body, tires, interior, and bottom. Cars will be in hand and shipped out in approximately 120 days around the June-July timeframe.

As soon as the updated pictures are available, you can be sure we’ll be posting them up here on diecastAUDIO.

[via diecastlive.com]

Collector Dale Brussee from Ohio sent in this picture of a custom Muscle Machine with the DCX logo on the roof and is looking to find out more about it. If any of the faithful diecastAUDIO readers and listeners happen to know any background information on this on this car, we’d love to know. Knowing when and where this piece became available, as well has how many were produced would be helpful. Dale is looking to obtain one, so please leave a comment if you have one available and I’ll make the connection. Click the image for the full size version.