Just as American collectors will be waking from their “Turkey-induced food comas,” Pope Designs will be launching this year’s Christmas Bus sale. Pope’s 2011 Santa Express VW Drag Bus will officially go on-sale this Friday, November 25th with a limited edition quantity of just 16 pieces.

Of those 16, 12 will be “Standard Editions” featuring Metallic Evergreen paint with Pro-Circuit rimmed front tires. The remaining 4 will be the coveted “Diamond Edition” featuring Metallic Gold paint job along with Redline Real Rider tires. Both editions come mounted in an acrylic case with original Pope Designs artwork on the backdrop card.

Each bus will be available for $90 (plus $6 shipping) on a first-come, first served basis via the Pope Designs eBay page. Diamond Editions will be randomly inserted into orders in place of the Standard Edition. Be sure to visit the Pope Designs Sales Page for more information and to see additional photos of the bus!

The 4th Annual Summer Smash is rolling into Warwick, Rhode Island next week and as usual, there’ll be a ton of great limited edition Code 3 customs on hand at the show for collectors to choose from. Liberty Promotions will be returning this year with another great convention car design in addition to this year’s Rhode Island Hot Wheels Club car. Additional souvenir cars have also been made by the likes of Chris Walker, Bryan Pope, Vince Mosely, Jimmy “The Boxman” Chavez, Bone Shaker and M&S Customs.

Get a sneak peek of some of the great creations via the gallery below. Click on any of the thumbnails to see a large version of the images.

Collectors interested in attending Summer Smash should make the jump over to the official Summer Smash website for more information on tickets and accommodations. I hope to see you there!

The 2nd Annual KustomKon wrapped up this past weekend in Dallas, and a small selection of the remaining event and souvenir cars from the convention are now available in the DiecastSpace online store. Collectors will find a variety of castings to choose from that were customized by the likes of Chris “Nightstalker” Walker, Albert “Kool51” Avila and Tony “SDChopShop” Monzon. However, you’ll need to act fast since only a small quantity of each are left after the convention.

Here is a sampling of some of the cars currently available. Click any image to see a larger version.

Click here to jump over to the DiecastSpace store to view the remaining KustomKon cars.

A copy of this Summer Smash 4 poster surfaced towards the end of last week and features renders of the many of the custom cars being produced for this year’s convention. The gas pump packaging is clearly a Jimmy “The Boxman” Chavez creation which is a good indication that at least a few (if not all) of these pieces will be coming from the package master.

Quantity and pricing on these pieces is still to be determined, but attendees of Summer Smash 4 will certainly be the first to have a chance to add these to their collection. Be sure to visit the Official Summer Smash 4 website for details on tickets and accommodations to this convention.

VW Drag Bus Fans will be happy to see that the Regular and Rebel Run Editions of Liberty Promotion’s Diecast Hall of Fame Bus are now available to all Liberty Legion membership levels. Both versions of the bus were originally scheduled to be on sale last February during the 2011 DiecastSpace Super Convention along with the “Ceremonial Edition” which was only available to attendees of the Hall of Fame Ceremony.

The regular version is limited to 1250 pieces and the Rebel Run version is limited to 250. Each bus is available for $26.99 (USD) plus shipping. Rebel Run versions are randomly inserted into orders and are only available by chance.

Click here to jump over to the Liberty Promotions sale page

Note: At the time of publishing this article, a small quantity of the “Ceremonial Edition” bus has been made available at the DiecastSpace online store. Like the Rebel Run, this version of the Hall of Fame bus is also only limited to 250 pieces and is selling for more than the $59.99 asking price on the secondary markets.

Click here to jump over to the DiecastSpace store to check availability on the Ceremonial Edition bus.

The 2011 DCX Expo rolls into the Fairplex in Pomona, CA as part of the RCX Expo on March 19th and 20th, and in celebration of the event Diehard-Diecast.com is offering up a limited run of custom VW Drag Buses. In years past these buses had only been made available to collectors who were physically attending the expo. This year two different versions of the bus have been created to accommodate both those who can make it and those who can only order online.

The first “INTERNET ONLY” version features black paint with this year’s DCX logo with flames design. The basic piece comes with plastic wheels and the chase piece features redline real rider tires. This bus comes on a custom DCX/Diehard Diecast card and is limited to just 150 pieces. Orders for this bus can be placed online for $70 each (USD) and you can choose whether you’d like to have it shipped or if you’d like to pick it up in person at the show.

Click any image to see the larger version

The second “ATTENDEE” version of the bus features bright green paint with the same logo and flame design. The basic piece comes with plastic wheels and the chase piece features redline real rider tires. It also comes on a custom DCX/Diehard Diecast card (with matching bright green color) and is limited to just 150 pieces. This version of the bus can also be ordered online for $65 each (USD) but MUST BE PICKED UP IN PERSON AT THE EVENT. The Attendee version will not be available for shipping.

Click here to jump over to Diehard-Diecast and place your order.

Of course, attending the expo in person is the best option and the line up of vendors is looking great. This year’s confirmed exhibitors include Lionel NASCAR Collectibles, M2 Machines, Ertl Collectibles, The Custom Crew and GreenLight Collectibles. The popular “Customs Alley” returns as well and will feature Jimmy “The Box Man” Chavez, Jay Holt of Execution Customs, Sheri Abbey of Sheri’s Wheels and Alvaro Gonzalez of Pipe Customs. FREE passes to the 2011 DCX Expo are available by contacting Diehard-Diecast via the Contact page on their website.

The Midnight Racing has become one of the more popular events at the various Diecastspace conventions and attendees of the 2011 Diecastspace Super Convention will have the opportunity to participate in a extra special version of the race. What will make the event special is the limited edition set of Hot Wheels Muscle Tone castings designed by Eric Tscherne.

Not only did Eric create the actual First Edition Muscle Tone casting for Mattel back in 2000, but he’s also selected the colors and come up with an all new graphic design for the cars that will be available for the race.

Eric has been releasing the e-sheets for the car on Facebook over the last few weeks. Collectors who are able to snag one of these beauties will truly have a great souvenir commemorating both the Super Convention and Eric’s induction into the Diecast Hall of Fame.

Be sure to visit the ToyCarConventions.com for information on tickets and accommodations to the 2011 Super Convention being held in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 24th through the 27th.

Diehard-Diecast.com’s exclusive Fire Series has launched with this fantastic limited edition Volkswagen Fire Bus. The piece is available in both Basic and Chase versions, both of which were designed by Lou Tanahara. The Basic version comes with plastic wheels and a white top. The Chase version features rubber Real Rider tires and a Pearl White top. Each drag bus comes packaged in a custom Diehard-Diecast blister card and will sell for $80 (USD).

Chase pieces will be randomly inserted into orders. Collectors can expect a 1-in-10 chance of receiving a chase piece.

Click any image to see the larger version

Click here to jump over to the Fire Series page on Diehard-Diecast.com

Collectors who have eagerly been waiting to see what type of holiday creation Chris “NightStalker” Walker comes up with this year will be pleasantly surprised to see that this year’s sale will include three different castings to choose from! Each casting will be sold individually and will not be offered as a set.

A run-down of each piece is shown below. Click on any image to see the larger version.

Rudolph’s Rod Shop Panel:

Painted in pearl red with real rider tires. Rudolph’s Custom Rod Shop graphics adorn the sides and top of this little gem. These are limited to only 10 and come numbered in an acrylic case.

Price is $55.

Alien Projects Custom Convoy:

Dressed in pearl white and green paint with red real-riders. “Happy Holidays from Alien Projects” graphics on the side as a little homage to Alien Projects.  Limited to only 10 and numbered in an acrylic case.

Price is $65.

NightStalker’s Holiday VW Bus:

Painted with candy spectraflame red over chrome with Pro Circuit wheels.  Custom Holiday graphics adorn this wonderful piece. Comes limited to 20 and numbered in an acrylic case.

Price is $75.

Two notable aspects of this sale are the prices and the “added bonus.” Chris will be offering up each piece at a price point that ranges between $55 and $75 depending on the casting. Your wallet will certainly like that! He has also hinted that each person who makes a purchase will get a special “die-cast treat” as well. Now that’s some holiday spirit!

The sale starts on Thursday, December 2nd at 6PM PST (9PM EST) on the Night Stalker Customs website. A purchasing button will become active when the sale begins. Chris advises that if the sale button doesn’t show up, your computer may be "cached."  Dump your cookies and reset your browser to see the updated page.

Pope Designs is preparing for an extra special holiday season this year as Christmas 2010 will mark their 5th anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, a new version of the Kringle Delivery Service VW Drag Bus has been created. The original graphics from the first version sold four Christmas seasons ago have been updated and applied to a great selection of two-tone colors.

Collectors of Pope Designs work are well aware of the highly sought after “Diamond Editions” which typically feature real rubber front tires and are produced in a lower quantity. This time around, the Diamond Edition has been eliminated as all the buses in the run will feature real rubber tires and an even number of each color have been produced.

Here are details for the sale:

Where: eBay
Date for Both Auctions: Friday November 26, 20 (Black Friday)
Time for Both Auctions: 9pm EST, 8pm CST, 7pm MST, 6pm PST
Auction #1 Name: Kringle Delivery Frosty Blue Holiday VW Bus 2.0
Auction #2 Name: Kringle Delivery Holiday Gold Holiday VW Bus 2.0
Auction #1 Quantity Available: 15 Combo #1: Frosty Blue
Auction #1 Quantity Available: 15 Combo #2: Holiday Gold
Price: $115 Each
Shipping: $8 (PD ships both domestically and internationally)

Collectors who are lucky enough to purchase both color combinations will get matching production numbers for the set. Please visit the official Pope Designs website for more information on this great sale.

There are a growing number of collectors in the diecast community who question the merits of collecting customized pieces or the so-called Code 3 class of diecast.  That question is becoming more relevant as an increasing number of diecast customizers appear on the scene and that the Diecastspace.com KustomKon Conference (the first ever event geared specifically for diecast customizers) just wrapped up this month in Dallas. Here is a short explanation of Code 3 diecast (or Codes 1 and 2 for that matter) for those of you that may be unfamiliar with the term(s).

Code 1

A Code 1 diecast refers to a casting/model built by an established manufacturer that is available to the general public via some form of mass market outlet.  Examples of this are Mattel’s Hot Wheels and Matchbox, Johnny Lightning, Greenlight Collectibles, etc. which are sold thru outlets like Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, and Target, a local independent hobby/toy store, supermarkets, drug stores etc, etc, or thru a hobby specialist website like Milezone.com or 1stopdiecast.com.

There is also a new, smaller group of Code 1 diecast that has also come into play only within the last few years. Three players have emerged bringing forth their own lines of brand new castings and covering them with some pretty wild themes. This new breed of diecast manufacturer includes Dave Chang’s Kustomcity EVO line, Lou Tanahara’s Custom Crew Sledster line, and the recently introduced Dreamliner line by Chris “Nightstalker” Walker’s Alien Projects. All of these independents have conceived fresh castings, produced on a limited basis, by independent manufacturers, and are sold thru venues like conventions and internet websites. All of these brands have a growing fan base of admirers and collectors, as well as escalating prices for their rarer models. These newcomers bring a fresh perspective as to the direction the diecast collecting hobby is going in years to come.

Code 2

A Code 2 diecast car is a casting/model that is built by an established diecast manufacturer again like Mattel, Jada, or M2 Machines etc, etc to be sold exclusively by only a select retail outlet(s) or website like McDonalds kids’ meal promos or only being sold to select people who are part of a members only club like Mattel’s RLC, the older Snap-On dealer exclusives or the Johnny Lightning Collectors Club.  These Code 2 cars are usually sold in a limited quantity run or sold only for a short time or maybe even both.

Another type of Code 2 cars are ones made for specific diecast conventions by various major manufacturers. The cars are generally commissioned by a private party or convention promoter and sold only to people admitted by paid admission to the event. This even applies to the convention’s traditional Sunday toy show where the general public is invited in. Usually the public is either let in shortly after the convention-goers have entered or are charged a fee to enter. Examples of this type of Code 2 cars include pieces offered by the Strauss conventions, The Gathering of Friends, Lightning Fest and other events. If a non-club member or non convention-goer wanted to purchase these cars they would have to go on a secondary market like eBay or a toy show.  These cars are also usually made in limited quantity, and no more are made once the outlet that commissioned the car is sold out. 

Sometimes there are occasions when the Code 1 and Code 2 lines are blurred and things get a little confusing. Examples of cars like this are; Target exclusive tin cars, Wal-mart exclusive paint jobs, K-Mart day exclusive cars and even cars for the K-Mart and Toys R Us mail-away promotions.

I feel that cars exclusive to Target, Wal-Mart, or K-Day but can be bought at the store level are prime examples of cars that fall into the Code 1 category.  Even though the cars are usually more limited in production that most Code 1 cars and there will be people who don’t have access to the stores selling these cars in their area; they are still available to the general public in and they are still made in much higher numbers than most Code 2 cars.

I feel cars like the ones that are part of K-Mart and Toys R Us mail-away promotions tend to fall into the Code 2 category. These pieces typically require the collector to gather receipts and proofs of purchase in order to receive them. If you don’t go to those particular stores and collect the necessary requirements needed to obtain the car, you would have to buy or trade for them elsewhere. Other examples of Code 2 cars include those made exclusively as a corporate promotion. Examples of these would include pieces from the likes of Snap-On tools or cars for a diecast hobby specialist website. These cars are also usually made in a limited number, are available for a limited time, and may only be available as a mail-in, in-store offer, or through the a specific website. It often helps to join the mailing lists for these locations so you’ll get advance notice of their impending sales.

Code 3

Code 3 diecast cars are simpler to explain, but are often categorized into different sub-categories.  This type of diecast is typically created from an established manufacturer’s casting, stripped of their original paint, tampos and packaging; then re-painted and re-packaged by someone else.  There has been a surge in the sales of custom diecast pieces during the last 4 years. Most custom diecast pieces, but not all (I would say 85%), are created from Hot Wheels castings. Some “diecast customizers” come up with pretty amazing designs that are quite different from what is typically found on Code 1 and 2 cars. Some Code 2 cars do rise above the sometimes humdrum norm of diecast design and are very distinctive; but most never capture the uniqueness of Code 3 customs.  

One of the largest and most well-known Code 3 customizers is Liberty Promotions [LP].  They produce models with custom themes in quantities that tend to average around 2500 cars per run.  LP’s models are collected by a broad array of collectors, and the secondary market prices for some of their rarer “Rebel Run” issues can become very expensive. I would even believe that some newbie collectors are unaware that LP’s cars are actually customs. I usually joke with my friends that LP has become so well known their cars should be classified as a Code 2 ½!

The current crop of top customizers who sell their work include a diverse spectrum of people like Jimmy “The Boxman” Chavez who is known for both his wild packaging (and indoor sunglasses!) to others like Diecastspace.com Diecast Hall of Fame inductees Bryan Pope of Pope Designs, Chris “Nightstalker” Walker of Alien Projects, Vince “V-Man” Mosley, Jay Holt of Execution Customs and Sherry Abbey. These customizers have built a large following of adoring fans who try to gobble up their customs as soon as they become available. They have been honored over and over again with custom contest awards for their creations.

Popular “up and comers” in the customizing arena are folks like Dino LaSpada (LB Customz),  Tony Monzon (SDChopShop) and “Crazy” Kazy Kishi and Chojiro of Japan- who are crafting wild and far out pieces that win the admiration of their peers and dazzle people like me who can barely draw stick figures! There are also many, many more great customizers out there just producing for the love of customizing. I can’t even begin to list all of their names, but I have been fascinated with their work for a long time.

The next type of code 3 cars has really exploded over the last few years; the RAOK!  What’s a RAOK you ask?  It’s a gift of a car given from one person to another as a sign of friendship without expectation of a return gift.  It’s a [R]andom [A]ct [O]f [K]indness gift!  Custom RAOKs are passed out between friends/acquaintances at a convention or a local club party/meeting.  Most Custom ROAKs are usually created/commissioned by the giver and are in a baggie with a custom printed header card. I love receiving RAOKs and am very appreciative of all the cars I have been given over the years from so many different people; especially since there is no way I can reciprocate for reasons previously mentioned in the last paragraph.

Code 3 cars also figure prominently at diecast conventions. For many years the Strauss series of conventions have used Code 3 cars as prizes for their Button Bingo, Poker, and Dinner giveaways as well as their Newsletter member appreciation car. Most Code 3 cars given away by Strauss come in a vast array of colors with some very low production numbers that add to their collectability. Other conventions venues like Diecastspace.com and the RIHWC Summer Smash conventions utilize code 3 cars as their convention and souvenir pieces. These are usually made by a wide selection of admired customizers who add an air of distinction to the piece. Many of these pieces are also becoming very collectible and sought after.

And even after all of the examples I have brought up about various Code 3 diecast cars; many people still don’t think they are worth collecting.  So here are my answers to the many questions/concerns still out there about collecting Code 3 cars:

Q/C) Some people think that since Code 3 cars aren’t built by a major manufacturer, their collectability and future value suffer.
A) Untrue.  As cited above many Liberty Promotions Rebel Runs go up in value.  This is also the case for many Strauss, Pope Designs, Nightstalker, and Dave Chang EVO customs as well. 

Q/C) Some people feel they can’t justify the purchase price of some customs for sale.
A)  Many people only have a limited amount of funds these days and need to spend their money wisely.   This is all the more reason to buy only the diecast you really like.  If you factor in the time, materials, and limited production numbers of many diecast for sale vehicles; you can see why they cost what they do.  Most people buy customs because they enjoy the individuality of the cars vs. the commonality of mainline diecast or relate to the theme and appreciate the time it took build the car.

Q/C) I never seem to know when the customs for sale cars are available and miss out.
A)  This is where the buyer has to do their due diligence and invest a little time.  There are a few things you can do to insure you are in the loop or know when you can buy a customizer’s next offering.

1. Join a customizer’s website email announcement list.  Most customizers have one and you will always know when one of their cars is up for sale either online or at a convention.  You’ll have to have fast fingers to buy most customs online so set your alarm for five minutes before sale time to make sure you’re on the net and ready to buy.
2. If you have the time or can afford to do so, go to a diecast convention at least once in your collecting career.  Conventions will open your eyes up to a whole new side of collecting.  Here is where you can make friends and connections and learn about custom collecting first hand.
3. Scan auction sites like eBay, Scoomer, and The Toy Peddler or go to your local hobby show.  Even though you may possibly have to pay higher secondary market prices for a custom, you can pick and choose the designs you like best.  There will always be folks who buy a custom piece to try and flip it for a profit.  This may take it away from someone interested who won’t flip it but capitalism is what makes the world go around.  Only the collector has the power and final say whether the price of admission is too high or not.

So, should diecast collectors consider collecting custom pieces?  It boils down to so many factors and tastes that some say there isn’t just a yes or no answer but I say yes; collect the customs you like and can afford. They will bring a fresh perspective and centerpiece to your collection as well as a hot topic amongst your friends both enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. 

As the title of this article says, the beauty of a custom is truly in the eye of the collector and if you pursue the beauty of custom diecast, I’m sure you will find it to be a great new place to explore. As always, I welcome everyone’s opinion and thoughts about this article.  Let me know what you think in the comments section below!

Pope Designs rolls into the the 2010 fall season with this first-ever online-only Halloween offering that is sure to grab the attention of Pope and Drag Bus fans alike.

The Standard Edition features festive ember-glow burnt orange paint and basic wheels while the Diamond Edition is dressed in Toxic Green and features Real Rider White Letter tires. Both versions come packaged in an acrylic case with an original Pope Designs artwork backdrop.

Click any image to see a larger version

Only 20 “Bat-Pumpkin” VW Drag buses were produced, and the details of the sale are as follows:

• Quantity Produced: 15 Standard Edition / 5 Diamond Edition
  Quantity For Sale: 13 Standard Edition / 4 Diamond Edition
  When: Friday October 1st, 2010
• Time: 9pm EST, 8pm CST, 7pm MST, 6pm PST
  Where: eBay
  Auction Title: Pope Designs Bat-Pumpkin Drag Bus
  Price: $115.00 each (plus $8 shipping, both domestic and international)

  
As always, Pope Designs distributes the Diamond Edition in a random fashion. Be sure to visit the official Pope Designs website for the full story behind the “Bat-Pumpkin” – you’ll be glad you did!

Attendees of the first-ever Canadian Convention kicking off on September 9th in Niagra Falls, Ontario will have the opportunity to obtain two great limited edition Pope Designs creations made in celebration of the event.

The Drag Bus is limited to just 25 pieces (20 Standard, 5 Diamond Edition) of which 20 (16 Standard, 4 Diamond Edition) will be for sale at the convention, and they will be available for $100 each. The time and place of the sale will be posted on the final convention schedule available during registration.

The Dairy Delivery is limited to just 10 pieces and will be sold out of Bryan Pope’s room for $85 each. Convention attendees should look for Pope Designs flyers at the hotel for the location of Bryan’s room.

Stay up to date on all of the latest Pope creations by signing up for the mailing list over on the official Pope Designs website.

As previously reported, Jimmy “The Boxman” Chavez has created some really amazing limited edition custom pieces under his ProToyType brand for this year’s Summer Smash. In the event you won’t be able to make it to Rhode Island (did I mention Summer Smash starts TODAY?!) you can now check out the select over on Diehard-Diecast and contact them if you would like to make a purchase. Check out this amazing Custom Convoy that wasn’t included in my initial post!

Diehard-Diecast also has the latest Delivery Series cases in stock which the premier versions of the 49 Ford COE, 64 GMC Panel and VW Variant. They are being offered by the case or singles too. Just click on the CONTACT button, let them know which cars you want and they will send you a PayPal invoice. Check out the select on the Diehard-Diecast.com Hot Wheels page.

These shots of 6, yes SIX custom creations from Jimmy “The Boxman” Chavez surfaced today, and from the looks of things, attendees of the 2010 Hot Wheels Summer Smash will certainly have their hands full trying to decide which of these to take home!

Once again, Boxman has managed to create a unique packaging design that manages to work perfectly with three different themed designs – Dark Shark, Summer Smash Surfing and 3D Tiki. Collectors who attended the 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention got a chance to see Jimmy’s incredible 3-D backing cards, and this new 3-D Tiki design will allow Summer Smash attendees to see the visual effects first-hand as well.

Each casting is limited to just 10 pieces and will be available to Summer Smash attendees on a first come, first served basis. Pricing of each piece is still to be determined.

Click any image to see the larger version

Be sure to visit the official Hot Wheels Summer Smash website for information on tickets and accommodations.

Here’s a last minute reminder for all the VW Drag Bus collectors out there that Chris Walker’s “Bombshell” Drag Bus goes on sale tonight, July 30st at 9pm EST, 6pm PST. This new Night Stalker creation features a classic Bomber Nose art style – a style that has influenced many of Chris’s customs over the years.

Click any image to see the larger version

The bus is dressed in House of Kolor Silver metal-flake with a white top. The side graphics feature a lovely blonde "bombshell" (hubba, hubba!) riding a flaming bomb, and the top is adorned with a second pin-up and signature “kill count” bomb markings. This run is limited to just 20 pieces and each bus comes mounted in an acrylic case. They will be available via http://www.alienprojects.com/NSPromotional.htm for $90 (USD) each on a first come, first served basis. The sale link will become visible on the page when the sale starts. Be sure to clear your browser’s cache to ensure the button will show up

The judges certainly had their work cut out for them after seeing the great Pro entries in the 2010 Magical Weekend of Cars Customs Contest.

The following slideshows feature entries from the Mild, Spicy, Wild and Sets classes. Which are your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

+++ Pro, Mild +++

+++ Pro, Spicy +++

+++ Pro, Wild +++

+++ Pro, Sets +++

The Amateur entries in the Customs Contest at the 2010 Magical Weekend of Cars contained a wide variety of style and creativity. Today’s amateurs are tomorrow’s pros, and each year the level of talent continues to rise.

The following slideshows feature entries from the Mild, Spicy and Wild classes. Which are your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

+++ Amateur – Mild +++

+++ Amateur – Spicy +++

+++ Amateur – Wild +++

There were a lot of fantastic entries in the Customs Contest at the 2010 Magical Weekend of Cars in Orlando, Florida. This is the first post of many that will showcase all the great work these customizers have put into their entries. This slideshow features only diorama pieces along with the tremendous efforts submitted by the kids.

Stay tuned for more pictures featuring the customs from both the Amateur and Pro classes.

The 2010 Magical Weekend of Cars has come and gone, but not without many great memories of the good times had be all who attended. The weekend was also packed full of many great convention and souvenir cars to choose from.

Collectors who weren’t able to attend the Magical Weekend are in luck as limited quantities of several convention pieces have been made available in the DiecastSpace store on a first come, first served basis. This is definitely a prime opportunity to pick up some great pieces like the MiQ Willmott Dairy and the official Liberty Promotions Drag Bus, Dairy and Camaro.

Speaking of Liberty Promotions, the remaining alternate color convention bus and Rebel Run versions (submitted randomly into orders) are also available for purchase at LibertyPromotions.com.

This sneak peek of the Custom DiecastSpace Sledster being produced for the 2010 Summer Smash was just released and it looks like its shaping up to be one heck of a piece! Paint and graphics are being handled by LBCustomz and KB Kustoms. Only 25 of these are being made and there will be ONE CHASE piece randomly inserted into a lucky collector’s order.

This piece is available for pre-order in the DiecastSpace online store while supplies last for $169 USD (with free shipping).

Be sure to visit the official 2010 Hot Wheels Summer Smash for information on tickets and accommodations for the largest diecast show to hit the Northeast this year.

Attendees of the 2010 Magical Weekend of Cars will need to act fast to get their hands on one of these official Magical Weekend Convoy Customs.

Paint and graphics were done by SDChopShop and packaging was completed by Jimmy “The Boxman” Chavez. The run is limited to just 20 pieces.

The 2010 Magical Weekend of Cars rolls into the Swan and Dolphin Hotel at Disney World in Orlando Florida from June 23trd thru the 27th. Visit ToyCarConventions.com for more information on tickets and accommodations.

Bryan Pope from Pope Designs will once again lend his customizing talents to the Hot Wheels Summer Smash that will roll into Warwick, RI on August 19th through the 22nd. Attendees of this year’s Smash will be able to get their hands on this great looking ‘59 Caddy Funny Car.

Click the image to see a large version

Its refreshing to see Pope utilizing a fresh and unique casting – much to the dismay of Drag Bus fans everywhere! Only 100 of these will be made and they will surely sell out at the Summer Smash, so be sure to get your tickets soon and join us in Rhode Island this August!

Attendees of the upcoming Magical Weekend of Cars in Orlando, Florida will have the opportunity to snag one of these fantastic limited edition VW Drag Buses from Pope Designs. The bus comes as part of the purchase of a ticket to the Pope Designs Experience event and is limited to just 100 pieces!

Click the image to see a larger version

Tickets to the DiecastSpace Magical Weekend of Cars are selling fast, so be sure to visit ToyCarConventions.com for the last information on events and accommodations.

Theres no doubt that MiQ Willmott’s 2010 Diecast Hall of Fame Dairy Delivery was a hit at the DiecastSpace Super Convention. It made its debut there in a limited edition flat black with two extra special pieces done up in purple appearing in the charity auction.

Attendees of the upcoming Magical Weekend of Cars will have a chance at this “MiQ approved” 2.0 version of the Dairy that will be done up in crimson red. Chances are also pretty good that an alternate color pair could appear in the charity auction once again! Stay tuned!

The DCX Expo returns to the Fairplex in Pomona, California this year on March 20th & 21st. Along with its return comes an opportunity for collectors to pick up some limited edition custom pieces being made specifically for the event.

This first piece announced is this custom 1:24 scale Divco that has been designed to match the style of the DCX Dairy Delivery offered at the 2007 expo. The run is being limited to just 50 pieces, and they are available for $55 each. Collectors who are interested in this piece should note that the 2007 Dairy Delivery shown in the picture does not come with the Divco, and is only shown for design reference.

M2 Machines will be in attendance at this year’s event and has produced a limited run of the 1970 Ford Gran Torino GT casting. The standard edition run is limited to 492 pieces and ships in the standard M2 packaging for $17.00. They have also produced a chase version for the show that is limited to just 108 pieces. Chase pieces will be randomly inserted into orders that are placed through Diehard-Diecast.com. No information is currently available on how they will be distributed during the event itself. Both versions also have an official DCX show sticker that indicates the run quantity.

Pieces purchased through Diehard-Diecast will ship on March 22, 2010 or you can request to pick up your order at the show.

Jump to the Diehard-Diecast order page

The Pro Customizers showed off some great work this year at the 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention. There were many new pieces to be seen as well as some repeat favorites from previous events. It was fun to see some of the latest castings being used here and there as well. Chris Walker event entered his new custom Dreamliner complete with opening doors and hood. Enjoy!

Pro Mild Customs:

Pro Spicy Customs:

Pro Wild Customs:

Pro Customs Sets:

The Amateur Customizers at the 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention certainly brought their "A" game when it cam to this year’s entries. Many of the pieces stood out at approaching Pro level. There’s no doubt that you’ll see many of these customizers at the Pro level very soon. Enjoy!

Amateur Mild Customs:

Amateur Spicy Customs:

Amateur Wild Customs:

Amateur Customs Sets:

The Customs Contest at the 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention was packed full of great creations broken up into a wide variety of categories. This first post features photos sets from the Large Scale, Diorama and Display Only categories. Enjoy!

Large Scale Customs:

Diorama Customs:

Display Only Customs:

Chris Walker has been a busy boy. Not only did he produce several of the excellent event cars at the recent 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention while launching the first run of his new Dreamliner casting, but he also managed to produce a limited run of “Shelby authorized” VW Drag Buses.

Up until now, these pieces were only available to the attendees of the Super Convention. Only a small quantity (less than 10) remain and will be made available on a first come, first served basis via the Alien Projects website. This is the 3rd Shelby bus from Chris, and this time they are painted black with the yellow graphics and feature Terlingua decos. Each piece is set in an acrylic case and numbered.

The sale link will go live on Friday 26, 2010 at 9pm EST (6pm PST). Each remaining bus will be sold for $125. I was fortunate enough to have my raffle number called during the invitation-only Shelby party which yielded me one of these beauties. They are definitely worth your hard earned dollar.

Legendary artist and ex-Hot Wheels graphic designer MiQ Willmott has teamed up with pro customizer turned diecast manufacturer, Chris Walker to create one of my favorite pieces for the upcoming 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention. This amazing Dairy Delivery has been made in celebration of this year’s Diecast Hall of Fame and certainly pulls out all the stops.

Each Dairy will come on a custom card as shown in the mockup. The run is limited to only 75 pieces and will sell for $80 each (limit of 2 per person).

Attendees will certainly have a challenge deciding where to spend their money with pieces like this and some of the other limited edition customs being produced for the Super Convention!

See you in Vegas!

DiecastSpace celebrates its two year anniversary with the sale of this amazing limited edition custom Sledster. The graphics for this special piece were designed by the Custom Crew’s Big Lou Tanahara, and the customizing work will be handled by Dino Laspada (aka LBCustomz). Dino is a stickler when it comes to perfection, so collectors can expect nothing less than an amazingly executed limited edition custom.

Click the image to see a larger version

These special Sledsters are currently on sale for $149.00 each and the run is limited to just 50 pieces. Click here to jump to the order page while supplies are still available.

The Lincoln Johnny Lightning Race Club recently announced the availability of their 2010 custom club car. The club selected Johnny Lightning Ford, Chevy and Dodge (shown) van castings as the base for this year’s run.

A total of 15 were customized for the run by M & S Customs who have also done a number of cars for the Rhode Island Hot Wheels Summer Smash conventions. Each car is being sold for $20 to non-club members and $15 to club members.

Contact the club through their official website for more information.

Drag Bus collectors attending the 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention will have the opportunity to snag one of these limited edition creations from Diecast Hall of Fame inductee, Bryan Pope. Each piece features Redline Real Riders, two tone paint, original graphics and will come mounted in an acrylic case.

The sale will take place on Friday, February 19th at 5:30pm in front of Salon 4 at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. The sale will be on a first come first served basis and collectors may not line up earlier than 5pm. Only 20 buses were created and will sell for $100 each with a limit of one per person.

Last fall I revealed the e-sheet for the Connecticut Valley Diecast Club’s upcoming limited edition S’Cool Bus. The rendering was impressive to say the least, and I was instantly looking forward to getting a first-hand look at the marriage of Bob Stickel’s design work and Liberty Promotion’s production quality.

To my surprise, that opportunity came sooner than anticipated when I got that first-hand look at an “Ol’ S’Cooler” of my very own at the 2009 CVD holiday party. The paint and tampo detail truly brings the e-sheet to life, and the build quality and presentation are top notch as expected from a Liberty produced product. Simply said, collectors couldn’t ask for a better sibling to go along with last year’s stellar CVD Passion.

The good news is that the wait for getting one of these for your own collection is almost over. The sale is set to begin on Sunday, January 10, 2010 on the CVD website. Each Ol’ S’Cooler will be priced at $29.95 each. The price includes shipping. The run is limited to just 250 pieces, so be sure to act fast as these are sure to sell out in record time just like the Passion did last year.

Click any image to see the larger versions

The 2009 holiday offering from Liberty Promotions is sure to keep your collection warm this winter season. The Regular Run is limited to 1300 pieces and features candy apple red paint, green windows and green-line real rider tires. The Rebel Run version is limited to 200 pieces and features winter green paint, red windows and red-line tires.

Liberty Legion members can purchase the Winter Wagon based on the following schedule:

• Colossus & Titanus: Monday, November 30th at 9am CST
• Prominus: Wednesday, December 2nd at 9am CST
• Commendus: Friday, December 4th at 9am CST
• Discoverus: Monday, December 7th at 9am CST

Make the jump over to the Liberty Promotions website for more details and ordering information.

This year’s Christmas offering from Pope Designs arrives just in time for when most of us will finally be emerging from our Thanksgiving food comas (here in the states anyway)! When the sale begins, collectors will have their choice between Drag Bus and Dairy Delivery castings – a first for Pope.

Each casting will be offered via separate eBay auctions. Collectors who managed to purchase one of each, will receive matching numbered pieces.

Between the pair of castings, there were 20 Drag buses produced of which 18 will be available and 15 Dairy Deliveries produced of which 14 will be available. The Bus will sell for $100 (+ $8 shipping) and the Dairy for $80 (+ $8 shipping)

The sale starts on Friday November, 27 2009 at 9pm EST (6pm PST) via the eBay seller id: pope-designs. Be sure to visit the PopeDesigns.com “Upcoming Sales” page for more images and additional information on this great sale!

[via popedesigns.com]

Collectors who were able to catch wind of last year’s Connecticut Valley Diecast Club Car from Liberty Promotions will remember how fast it sold out. The Purple Passion casting matched with with its flat black paint an “rat rod” style pin striping was a perfect combination to set sales on fire.

For those who missed out on adding last year’s car to their collection, then you’ll be pleased with this early sneak peek at the all new 2010 CVD Club car that follows in its predecessors footsteps. The S’Cool bus has been selected as the new casting, but the overall theme of the design remains fairly close to the Passions’. I’m sure you’ll agree that this is not a bad thing in any sort of way.

Liberty Promotions is producing a limited run of just 250 pieces in the run which should be available shortly after the New Year. Rest assured that I’ll be providing an update on any sales information as soon as it becomes available!

This Friday, October 30th, Chris “Night Stalker” Walker will be offering up his first time ever Halloween themed custom. Appropriately dubbed the “Psycho Sled,” this VW Drag Bus comes painted in a deep purple candy metallic with orange flake with excellent ghoulish graphics that are right  on par for the Halloween season.

Each piece comes mounted in an acrylic case and will be numbered. The run is limited to 20 buses and will sell for $95 each. The sale itself starts at 9pm EST (6pm PST) on Friday, October 30th. The link to buy will become active on the sale page at that time.

More pictures are available at Chris’s Alien Projects website. Good luck to those who will be trying to obtain this bus! Better get those mouse-clicking fingers warmed up!

This Halloween season, Bryan Pope takes his holiday themed offering in a refreshing direction by offering up a piece that celebrates the spirit of “All Hallows Eve” by integrating the the day’s traditional colors with a “Hellfire” flame design that’s sure to please.

Even more impressive is the Diamond Edition for this run which is officially dubbed, the Black Diamond. This more sought-after piece features an all black exterior, black painted rims, chassis and engine, as well as a ghosted black version of the same Hellfire flames.

There were only 20 buses created for this run, with 15 in the standard design and 5 Black Diamonds. Only 14 standard and 4 Black Diamond will be available when they go on sale at 9pm EST (6pm PST) on Wednesday, October 21st on eBay, where it is listed as the “Pope Designs Blazing Shadow VW Drag Bus.” Each piece comes in an acrylic case with a theme matching back drop for $115.00 plus $7.00 S&H.

Please note that there is a limit of 2 pieces per person. Buying 2 does not guarantee receipt of a Black Diamond edition. All Black Diamond edition buses will be randomly distributed among buyers of the product.

Be sure to visit the official Pope Designs website for more information or to sign up for the Pope Designs email list to be notified in advance of these great offerings.

[via popedesigns.com]

Joe Kelly Jr. from The Car Room Magazine talks to Pro Diecast Customizer Chris “Night Stalker” Walker about his background and early influences for his one-of-a-kind designs.

Thanks again to Ralph Riccardi for manning the camera and all the great editing!

Labor day has come and gone, the kids are back to school, and the evening temperatures here in the Northeast are beginning to cool down to autumn-like levels. With Halloween just a short month and a half away, collectors can expect to see a few limited edition custom pieces pop up in celebration of the cavity-promoting holiday.

The first to appear and make you salivate is the DiecastSpace “Drool Ghoul” Drag Bus. The graphics and paint were designed and executed by Chris Walker. The run is limited to just 25 pieces and goes on sale this Friday (09/18/09) at 6pm PST (9pm EST) on DiecastSpace.com for $80 each (plus $6 shipping).

Click the image to see a larger version

[via diecastspace.com]

Fans of Bryan Pope’s work might be interested in visiting the Pope Designs website this coming Sunday. This curious little image came in an email yesterday and hints of a potential sale involving what looked like another (and potentially final) offering from the popular “Wild Boar” series.

A quick trip over to the site confirmed that a sale for a “Wild Boar” Dairy Delivery will be forth-coming! The detail page was not available at the time I checked, so be sure to check back with there with the link below if you are interested in joining the quest to obtain this piece.

[via popedesigns.com]

Get ready to witness some of the most detailed 1:64th scale die-cast customs you’ll ever see. I literally couldn’t believe my eyes after seeing Doug Woods’ work first-hand at the Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6. Joe Kelly Jr. from The Car Room Magazine sat down with Doug at the convention to talk about his amazing one-of-a-kind creations.

It pretty easy to see why the special limited edition Shane Tribute Sledster sold out so quickly now that the official design has been revealed. The graphics designed by Luis Tanahara and the paint and artwork application will be completed by Sheri Abbey. This limited run was being produced for the October Hot Wheels Convention in LA, but sold-out shortly after the pre-order was announced (site-unseen) on DiecastSpace.

[via diecastspacecommunity.com]

It looks like we’re still being treated to a few more surprises with just over a week left until the start of Hot Wheels Summer Smash 2 in Warwick, Rhode Island! This time around its a sweet look at Vince “V-Man” Mosley’s Summer Smash Drag Bus and Dairy. I can’t wait to see these in person! It certainly looks like Summer Smash attendees will have plenty of limited edition customs to choose from this year!

Visit the official Hot Wheel Summer Smash website for information on tickets, accommodations and event activities. Please note that the Warwick Crowne Plaza has been sold out and additional rooms are being made available at alternate hotels nearby.

Just in case you aren’t on Chris “Night Stalker” Walker’s email list yet (and why aren’t you..?!), you might be interested in taking a look at his newest custom to honor his 2009 induction into the Diecast Hall of Fame. He even cast a replica of the top of the Hall of Fame ring that each person received as part of their induction!

Here’s what Chris had to say about the bus:

“In celebration of my being inducted into the Die-cast hall of Fame, I created a special car to commemorate that. My favorite casting, with my favorite color and graphics. Spectra-flame Pink over chrome, with gold accents. Gold Chassis details, wing, rocker panel, and gold wheels with real riders. This has got to be one of my favorite customs so far. The pink on this one just glows.

This one comes in an acrylic case numbered. Real Rider tires… HOT! I will offer some of these for sale on the website coming this Monday, July 27th. So you guys will get first crack at them as usual. So get them while they’re hot folks.”

This bus is limited to 20 pieces and will be sold for $125 each on a first come, first served basis starting at 6pm PST/9pm EST on Monday July 27th, 2009 on Chris’s official site.

[via alienprojects.com]

In his latest newsletter, the award-winning pro customizer Chris Walker announced the launch of a new business called Alien Projects. This business will be the base for several new products that will start with a brand new casting that Chris has designed and is currently having manufactured in China! This flatbed, car-carrier style casting (shown below in resin form) is sure to be a hit with collectors and customizers alike. I can already picture how it will display in my hobby room!

If all goes well, the production samples will debut at the Hot Wheels convention in Los Angeles in October, with the final pieces becoming available to collectors in November. Information on the run quantity, price and chase pieces is still to be determined. I’ll keep you updated as new information becomes available.

[via alienprojects.com]

My previous post on the limited edition Summer Smash Hot Wheels Drag Bus from Pope Designs hinted of a potential matching piece from 2009′s Customizer of the Year, Vince “V-Man” Mosley. Well, the rumors were true! On the left is the Yellow Dairy that matches the Pope Summer Smash bus and is limited to 23 pieces. On the right is the Platinum Dairy that features the same great design with a metallic platinum finish, but is limited to just 2 pieces!

Click either image to see the larger version

Both of these beauties will only be available at the Smash, with the Platinum version being available as part of the charity auction. Price of the yellow dairy is still TBD. Visit the official Summer Smash web site for additional information on tickets and accommodations.

2009 has been a busy year for Bryan Pope. His work has not only gained the attention of collectors, but has attracted convention promoters as well. Limited runs of Pope commissioned pieces have appeared at the Super Convention, the Collector Nationals in Reston and the Hotlanta Collector Experience. Even more pieces will also be part of the upcoming Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels and Summer Smash conventions.

With a list of conventions like that you can certainly imagine the great selection of limited edition pieces event attendees have been able to take advantage of! However, Pope Designs has not forgotten their most loyal customers; their ONLINE customers!

On Wednesday July 22nd, at 9pm EST, the classic Pope Designs online sale returns with the VW Dragulance! In order to keep the price down, the quantity has been raised a bit to a total of 23 pieces in the run. This will also give collectors a better chance at obtaining one during the typical online mad-dash. 19 of the 23 will be the standard edition with the remaining 4 being the coveted “Diamond Edition.”

Each bus will sell for $90 (USD) plus $7.50 (USD) for shipping under eBay seller name “pope-designs.” Visit the Pope Designs website for more details on this highly detailed piece that you don’t want to miss!

[via popedesigns.com]