This year marks the 100th-anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 and Mattel will be making its mark on the day with a spectacular stunt being coined as “Fearless at the 500". Approximately 1 hour before the start of the race, a custom built 1:1 scale vehicle will be released from a nine story, live size Hot Wheels track.

The track itself is being placed in the infield area of the speedway’s fourth turn and will take approximately 3 weeks to construct. An artist’s rendering of the track and tower can been seen to the right. The identity of the truck’s driver will remain unknown until the completion of the stunt at which point it will be revealed. The stunt itself has been designed to be a record breaking jump of 302 feet with a landing area somewhere near the speedway’s short chute near turns three and four.

Promotional tickets with prime seating for the stunt in the grandstand facing the landing are being offered up for $80 and $90. The ticket package includes a Hot Wheel replica, discounts and a $5 coupon for IMS merchandise.

Check out the teaser video below.

Those who have to deal with a daily commute to and from work probably notice new billboards every now and then, but tend to ignore them as time goes on. However, citizens of Bogata, Columbia certainly won’t be able to ignore this amazing new life-sized loop-de-loop that was constructed on an overpass.

The idea was for the billboard was conceived by ad giant Ogilvy and Mather’s Columbia branch. Its curious that South America was chosen for the debut location, but certainly doesn’t make it any less cool!

Attendees of the first-ever Canadian Diecast Convention will now have one more exciting event to attend as the 1:1 scale Hot Wheels Ford Mustang Color Shifter will be making at stop in Niagara Ontario on Saturday, September 11th.

The Mustang is covered in the very same thermochromatic paint that is used on 1:64 scale Hot Wheels Color Shifters and will change from blue to white when exposed to hot or cold water. The Mustang’s appearance is part of a cross-country tour that stops at more than 50 festivals and events across Canada to promote the Hot Wheels Color Shifter products.

This event will give convention goers and children a chance to water down the full-size car and see its color change before their very eyes. Perhaps even Hot Wheels Designer Larry Wood will get a chance at shooting the water canon at it!

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this fantastic new event at the first-ever Canadian Diecast Convention coming to the Sheraton at the Falls on September 9-12, 2010! Information on tickets and accommodations for the convention can be found on ToyCarConventions.com.

The list of exclusive and limited edition pieces that will be showing up at this year’s Summer Smash just keeps growing and growing. Check out this amazing CMC 1:18 scale Audi 225 Roadster that will be part of the charity auction courtesy of Joe Kelly Jr. and The Car Room Magazine.

This piece is a pre-production hand-sample that came direct from CMC. Its one of only three that were ever made, AND its the only pre-pro that was ever made in the color combination of white and red with unpainted wheels. Check out this list of amazing features:

• Over 1,600 individual parts
  Working steel spring suspension
  Working steering
  Opening stamped-steel louvered hood with real spring catches
  Opening trunk
  Removable spare tire
  Leather seats
  Materials list includes copper, brass, stainless steel, mild steel, leather, styrene, rubber, vinyl, and more

This piece was featured in the April / May 2009 issue of The Car Room Magazine as well as in an episode of "Playing With Cars." Its estimated to be worth over $500, so this should certainly bring in a good amount of money at the charity auction.

Here’s the episode of Playing With Cars that the Audi was featured in:

Be sure to check out the official Summer Smash website for more information on tickets and accomadations.

Its been a long time since I’ve featured a picture of someone “out in the wild” showing their love of Hot Wheels, so I was stoked (yeah, I said stoked!) to come across this picture of this awesome 1:1 scale Hot Wheels pickup! Special thanks to Loretta Parker for snapping the picture and sharing it on Facebook!

Have you seen someone proudly displaying their love of Hot Wheels? Reach out to me via the contact form and we can share your picture with the rest of the collecting community!

Muscle Machine artist Rohan Day recently included a link in his email newsletter that directed readers over to JoesDiecastShack.com where he explained the process of creating a Muscle Machine from concept to finished product. Here are the pictures and notes that Rohan shared on Joe’s site:

Recently I’ve been asked a couple times what the process is behind the creation of a Muscle Machine, so I’m posting a sequence of images to give some idea of how it typically happens. First up is a rendering.

Second Stage is a sketch model. Here you can see a comparison of a stock bodied model to the Muscle Machines sketch model that has been cut, shut, and reproportioned.

From the sketch model the factory cuts this first model on which the tooling will be based.

Normally there’s a bit of a conversation as to how to fine tune the model, so notes get sent back and forth. Photoshop mockups help with the communication.

This is a later model from the factory taking into account the notes that have sent to them about any mods that were needed.

Once the factory resin models have been signed off on, you see the first early pre production samples, which are often a little rough around the edges.

Paint schemes and specs of which wheel/tire/hood/engine/color combos are mapped out on ‘E-sheets’.

The original drawing is modified to reflect the chosen paint schemes and is generally used on trading card art.

Finally you receive a pre-production sample that really looks like the production piece, though often a couple minor alterations need to be made. Sorry I meant to use the Purple with flames Vette pre-pro, but can’t find it…

Be sure to visit JoesDiecastShack to see the original post as well as tons of other great diecast information!

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

I’m sure those who attended the GMP Experience during the Hotlanta convention would agree that it was quite possibly the highlight of the weekend. The event was spectacular from start to finish. Everything was top notch – from Tom Long’s (GMP’s President) gracious hosting, to delicious the BBQ and the amazing parting gift. Oh, did I mention the cars!?! Attendees got a first-hand look at almost every model that GMP makes. I think more than a few collectors left with a future GMP purchase on their brains! Not too shabby for a $25 premium event!

If that weren’t enough, the trip also included a side excursion to Milton Robson’s private 1:1 scale car collection. Getting a first-hand look at his spectacular award-winning collection of muscle cars and classics was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Here are some photo sets of both the GMP Tour and the side trip to the Robson collection. Enjoy!

The GMP Experience

Milton Robson’s Private Car Collection

Tire manufacturer Dunlop recently teamed up with UK car enthusiast TV show Fifth Gear to accomplish a real life “loop-the-loop” world record – without the use of a safety net! As collectors, we can only reenact this amazing stunt with the help of plastic track and our trusty die-cast cars. It appears that the stunt organizers actually did the same while working out the physics needed to complete the stunt. Here are a few select videos from the series. Visit the official Dunlop “Loop-the-Loop” site for the full run.

The Teaser

Working out the physics

The Stunt

[via dunlop.eu]

Its been a while since I’ve featured a 1:1 scale car here on diecastAUDIO. I introduced the category last year to showcase concept cars that may or may not become production vehicles, but often become miniatures after being picked up by one of the mainstream die cast brands. In fact, the post I did last year about the 2011 Pontiac Trans Am has become one of the most popular posts on the site!

When thinking of James Bond and the all the cars that have appeared in the films, images of BMWs, Lotus Esprits and Aston Martins might come to mind. This time around we’re taking a look at Ford’s new European model, the all-new Ford Ka. The “peppy-looking” little car will make an appearance in the highly anticipated new James Bond film, “Quantum of Solace.” While it might not be a sleek and sexy sports car, its sure to command attention with the film’s leading lady, Olga Kurylenko behind the wheel!

Many of the James Bond cars have been replicated in die cast over the years. Brands such as Corgi, Johnny Lightning and ERTL have all produced replicas of classic Bond rides in a variety of scales. The Ka has a mild amount of sportiness to it in its stock form, and I can almost picture it as a part of a James Bond themed Johnny Lightning release. It might even take on a whole new life with the addition of larger wheels, low-profile tires and a body kit.

Its hard to say if the Ford Ka will ever make it to die cast form. I feel chances are slim that we’ll ever see it come to any of the mainstream brands. What do you think?

Collector Camaro Marty sent in this mention of the new “Moments in Time” series from MotorMax. The set features four existing castings from the MotorMax line placed in diorama settings.

One interesting thing to note is the “American Graffiti” packaging shown in the picture. The same sets on eBay and other online retailers show a more generic packaging style and the official MotorMax site shows the set without the cardboard. I haven’t confirmed yet, but my guess is that the American Graffiti packaging might be exclusive to Walmart.

Please leave a comment if you can confirm my suspicion!

The look and feel of the diecastAUDIO site has been the same for quite some time. In preparation for next weekend’s Summer Smash, we’ve decided to mix things up and launch something brand new! When its finally complete, this new design will be much more functional and will do an even better job at presenting collectors with the best of whats happening in the world of die cast cars.

Not all of the new sections are 100% functional yet, so please bear with us as we put the finishing touches on the site this week. Let us know what you think of the changes by leaving a comment or sending us a email.

Stay tuned for more announcements on the new site changes as they become available!

Thanks!
-Jeff

Its been quite a while since I’ve done a 1:1 Scale post, and this one certainly makes a fine addition to the category. While out doing errands this past weekend, I spotted this excellent custom Jeep when it cruised by me here in Massachusetts. As it turns out we had the same destination, so I pulled out the camera phone for a quick “photo-op!” As you can see by the second picture, the owner is proudly displaying his love of Hot Wheels! Click either image for a closer view.

If you’ve spotted someone publicly displaying their love of Hot Wheels (or any other diecast for that matter!) we’d love to post about it! Send your pictures and related information to blog [at] diecastaudio.com and we’ll post it up!

Marty from DIECASTLIVE.COM sent over these shots of some new diecast after receiving them from Wade at 1 Badd Ride. The 2005 Mustang features a new custom hood, the New Challenger features the cool T/A paint scheme, and the ’05 Vette is in a hot liquid bronze color. Each casting will be available in both 1/24th and 1/64th scale (pictured). Click on any of the thumbnails to view the full-size images.

Keep your eyes peeled at your favorite retailer as these should be in stores now. Also be sure to use the link below to head over to the official post on DCL to see the full list of castings that are part of Series 6!

[via diecastlive.com]

Collector chboja posted this nice series of shots on JOESDIECASTSHACK.COM featuring a highly detailed Mk5 VW GTI from diecast manfacturer Norev. This is a sure to be very popular with GTI and VW fans worldwide!

Be sure to use the link below to jump straight to the discussion thread and leave your own reply on what you think of this great casting.

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

I think this is the first time for anything from Models 56 to be mentioned on diecastAUDIO, and boy is it a good one! Collector fgf60 on JOESDIECASTSHACK.COM shared this impressive limited edition 1/24th scale piece dubbed “The Interceptor.” The Interceptor featires a 351 engine is running twin four barrel carburettors and lots of chrome under the hood. Each available color will be limited to 1667 pieces and wil come with its own certificate.

Be sure to check out the official Models 56 site for more information on Models 56 and The Interceptor.

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

Greg from DIEHARD-DIECAST.COM is helping spread the word about the return of Muscle Machines and their newest upcoming release via his latest newsletter. Rohan Day let Greg know that it looks as though Muscle Machines are ready to make a come-back. Even better is that this time both the original artist as well as the original model builder will be involved through-out the process!

Stay tuned for more details to come. For now, be sure to head over to MUSCLEMACHINES.COM where you can sign up for e-mail updates.

[via diehard-diecast.com]

As seen on DIECASTMAX.COM:

After a long absence, the Toyota 2000 GT will be welcomed back by AUTOart as four different 1967 and 1968 SCCA race models. Originally conceived by renowned auto designer Graf Goertz, a running prototype was built in 1963 with the help of Yamaha. Amazingly it was rejected by Datsun who wanted a fastback sports coupe. Well, they pitched it to the guys at Toyota and the rest is history! In 1968 Carroll Shelby financed a team in the SCCA C Production Class and enjoyed several wins and podium finishes. The four models being produced will be AUTOart Diecast Model Nos. 86816 (1968 Toyota 2000 GT SCCA #33), 86815 (1968 #23), 86716 (1967 #2 24 Hours of Fuji Race), and 86715 (1967 #1 24 Hours of Fuji Race). Also coming soon will be 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer WRC Rally cars!

Also set to arrive are:
75151 1/18 BMW M5 “SHADOW LINE” 1987 (DOLPHINGRAY METALLIC)
75152 1/18 BMW M5 “SHADOW LINE” 1987 (ZINNOBER-RED)
75161 1/18 BMW M535i (E28) 1985 (ALPINWHITE)
75162 1/18 BMW M535i (E28) 1985 (DIAMONDBLACK METALLIC)
77305 1/18 NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R (R34) V-SPEC (MIDNIGHT PURPLE)
77351 1/18 NISSAN SKYLINE GTR R34 POLICE CAR (LIMITED EDITION OF 6000PCS WORLDWIDE)

[via diecastmax.com]

Collector Roy Nakamura has posted some great information on JOESDIECASTSHACK about new accessories you can use to liven up your 1/24th scale diecast displays. He had this to say:

“Here are some very ‘cool value priced’ Accessory Sets that should be of interest to diecast collectors coming out soon. I’ve been collecting higher end accessory sets from GMP for a couple of years now and they have added a new dimension in displaying and photographing my collection. My only issue with the GMP sets is that they are rather expensive and very delicate. These new 1/24 scale sets from Phoenix Toys are priced at less than $10 and should be available at most Hobby Shops and Online Dealers soon and are perfect complements to any Jada, Maisto or 1Badd Ride 1/24 car display…or even 1/24 Hot Wheels for that matter.”

Click the thumbnails for the full versions of the photos or use the link below to jump over to Joe’s for the offical thread.

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

Poster Motorhead on the HOBBYTALK.COM diecast forums shared some information and these excellent pictures of AutoArt’s new Mad Max Interceptor from the Road Warrior movies. The pictures were found on a Japanese website and show that this will be a highly detailed piece that even comes with accessories like gas cans, a dog and a spare tire. There doesn’t appear to be any information from AutoArt North America on the piece, so pricing and availability in the states is still unknown. The Japanese release appears to be sometime in November or Decemebr of this year – Stay tuned!!

Use the link below to jump over to the thread for additional pictures!

[via hobbytalk.com]

In addition to the recent 1 Badd Ride NASCAR annoucements on DIECASTLIVE.COM, this sneak peek picture of the new 1 Badd Ride Dodge Challenger was spotted as well. The Challenger will come in both diecast and radio control versions. Not much else is known about it so far, although we can expect it to hit retailers some time this fall.

[via diecastlive.com]

This past week the folks at 1 Badd Ride let collectors know about the launching of their new line of NASCAR collectibles through a post on DIECASTLIVE.COM. Both 1:24 and 1:64 scale cars can be found in Target, and their availability will expand to additional retailers soon.
The first series of 1:64 scale pieces includes six drivers:

- #01 Mark Martin, Army Vette
- #17 Matt Kenseth, DeWALT Mustang
- #99 Carl Edwards, Office Depot Ford GT
- #26 Jamie McMurray, IRWIN Ford GT
- #6 David Ragan, AAA Mustang
- #16 Greg Biffle, Ameriquest 67′ Shelby GT 500

The first series of 1:24 scale pieces will include:

- #01 Mark Martin, Army Vette
- #17 Matt Kenseth, DeWALT Mustang
- #99 Carl Edwards, Office Depot 67′ Shelby GT 500

These are definitely great looking casts and are a nice twist on the traditional Nascar diecast collectibles that have been available over the years.

[via diecastlive.com]

Collector chboja over on JOESDIECASTSHACK.COM shared several pictures of various new castings from French diecast maker Norev. Being a VW nut and owner, I’m particularly excited about their new GTI casting (shown)!

Make the jump with the link below to see all the photos featuring a wide variety of cars coming this year.

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

As car enthusiasts, we’ve been able to enjoy drawings and photographs of it. As diecast collectors, we’ve been able get our hands on it from manufacturers like Jada Toys and GreenLight Collectibles. Now, AUTOBLOG.COM lets us know what its really like to experience one first hand!

Last week the folks at Autoblog got to spend time with the Hugger Orange hued Camaro Convertible Concept that GM brought out to California. The result is a great article with plenty of juicy “tid-bits” about what will present in the final production run of the car as well as an amazing photo gallery containing 52 shots of the beauty! Click the link below to make the jump over to their site for the full story.

[via autoblog.com]

Poster cadman on JOESDIECASTSHACK.COM shared this unique display for 1/24th scale cars. This nicely crafted unit is know as the “Triflection Display Case” and it allows you to see all four sides of the vehicle at once through the use of three mirrors.

The case itself measures 5 in. deep, 18 in. wide and 5 ½ in. high and will fit both 1/24th and 1/25th scale cars. The base is native Oregon hardwood, precision machined and beautifully stained and finished. Polymer feet on the bottom protect against scratches.

It is available for purchase from WWW.LEGACYDIECAST.COM for $69.95 plus $10 shipping (per unit) in secure package. While its finely crafted and the concept is unique, the piece you select to display in it better be a prized possession for that kind of price!

Click on the thumbnails above to see the full versions of the photos.

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

As posted on DIECASTMAX.COM:

“It’s undeniable that the diecast car market is trending away from where it has been since around 2000 when new diecast companies like Maisto, MotorMax, Welly, and others couldn’t seem to release enough new models in a zillion colors with an unlimited production. Many serious collectors bemoaned this overabundance of mediocre releases of boring street cars. Now their seems to be little choice in the matter as the well has dried up and 2007 will see the lowest number of new releases in a decade with some companies choosing to either delay or scrap new releases or exit the market entirely. Maisto will reportedly not release any new 1/18 Premier Edition models, instead choosing to revamp existing molds. Ertl RC2 will only release a handful of their limited edition Authentics models. Highway 61 will have some fresh cars but no word from Lane Exact Detail on their high-end, superb quality 1/18 scale American muscle car offerings. Even Jada Toys has slowed somewhat and will throttle back their stock despite feeling the pinch less than other developers due to foresight in purchasing metal contracts in advance. Their wholesale costs have risen only slightly from last year. Our advice to the diecast model car collector? Choose your purchases wisely and look for high-quality limited edition pieces for the next few years. Like it or not, this downturn is likely to last.”

[via diecastmax.com]

From AUTOBLOG.COM:

There is an exhibit area at the New York Auto Show with a staggering 1,190 vehicles on display. And it’s “manned” by a trio of vivacious pre-teens playing “Race to the Mall” with a new line of die-cast toy cars made just for girls.

The new line of cars for girls opens up numerous possibilities for the company. Already planned is a line fruit scented cars. Each one will have a different look and smell coming out of the package. The candy-and-glitter paint schemes could also lead to a line of matching makeup.

[via autoblog.com]

From SPENCER1984.COM:

The Reel Rides cars have begun to hit stores, but the reviews have been mixed. The biggest complaint seems to be that the scale of the 1/64 cars is inconsistent (for example, the Porsche could comfortably fit in the bed of a Chevy C10…it’s a small car, but not that small).

Kudos to RR for taking the advice of fans to heart and using it to improve their product. Now, I’ll just have to see how they do with their 1/24 scale line…

BTW, definitely take some time to go check out the SPENCER1984.COM web site. They have a great wealth of information surrounding model building as well as diecast!

[via spencer1984.com]

We know the diecast version rolls – now we get to see the real one in action! Time to save your pennies kids cause there’s 49 of them up for grabs!

[via webridestv.com and the JLFT MySpace Blog]

GMP has released a set of “Greaser” figures to display next to your 1/18th scale diecast rides. These detailed figurines come as a set and sell for around $40. Check out the official GMP site for more details. I can’t wait to get a set and sit Cherry on the hood of my Cadillac!

[via gmpdiecast.com]

For a little change of pace, collectors might be interested in heading over to JOESDIECASTSHACK.COM for a close-up look at the new Reel Rides line from Malibu International which features cars from various Hollywood films.

Joe Falco did a great job showing off the 1970 GTO and ’72 Chevy C10 pickup from the movie Dazed and Confused, as well as the ’58 Porsche Speedster from Top Gun. The remaining castings from the line include the Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am and the 1967 Plymouth GTX from Tommy Boy.

As you can see from the picture above, Malibu International is providing the castings in various sizes. Make the jump with the link below to see additional photos and to read Joe’s comments on the line – both good and bad.

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

Poster pms485 on JOESDIECASTSHACK.COM brings collectors a first look at the preliminary view of the 2007 Autofest ADDWC Charity car. To catch those up who haven’t heard, Autofest 2007 is the replacement event for the 2007 Lightningfest which was cancelled after Johnny Lightning pulled out to potentially hold their own show. Mark Hosaflook along with his volunteers and sponsors never missed a beat by pro-actively seeking out new diecast companies to continue the Lightningfest spirit in its new Autofest form. Motor Max stepped up to the plate with its Fresh Cherries line and will be producing the event’s Pace Car Mustangs and the ADDWC Charity Vega.

Mark later joined the discussion by adding a list of “firsts” that the Motor Max creation will feature. Not only will this charity car be the lowest factory run ever produced from the Fresh Cherries line, but it will also come in three different stripe versions, three color pad print, and the chase version will feature special Fresh Cherries red tires. Top it off with factory sealed blisters sporting special numbered holographic stickers, and you have one very desirable piece!

Ordering information and additional background on this piece can be found on HOBBYTALK.COM

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

Poster WLCollector over on HOBBYTALK.COM shares this magazine scan of the new 2011 Pontiac Trans Am. Rumor has it that this concept will be used for a new Knight Rider movie some time in the future!

Use the links below for additional information and pictures.

[via hobbytalk.com]

JOESDIECASTSHACK.COM forum poster Roy Nakamura shares these great pictures of the new GMP 1/18th scale Street Fighter Camaro done up in blue. Roy mentions that while it does have a nice replica of the twin turbo LS2 engine, the designers gave it a Rally Sport (RS) front-end with a standard back-end which is something that Camaro “uber-enthusiasts” might not be terribly pleased with. Make the jump with the link below for larger version of the same pictures or head on over to the official GMP diecast site to see what else they have to offer.

Since the Hot Wheels version of the Bugatti Veryon is the only one that any of us will probably own, I thought this little piece on someone who owns a real one might be of interest – especially since he destroyed it! Here’s the picture and text from AUTOBLOG.COM:

We only know of one other time a Bugatti Veyron has been wrecked, and that was during the car’s development when a prototype was destroyed doing a high-speed test. There there was the time a preproduction Veyron performed a very public spin-out at Mazda’s Laguna Seca Raceway during the Monterey Historics. These incidents actually delayed the debut of the production car, though perhaps it should have stayed in the oven a bit longer if its designers were worried about stability at speed.

We should end this post with that greatest of car wreck jokes: “Think that’ll buff out?” No. No it won’t.

[via autoblog.com]

Introducing the Toyota FT-HS – a hybrid sports car concept revealed at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. To summarize what this cool concept aims to be you’ll have to imagine having a car that is much faster than a Porsche, Mercedes AMG and any M series car from BMW all while costing just 1/4 the price! This sleak 4-seater sports a retractable roof similar to a targa top, but will essentially reduce to a 2-seater when the top is rolled back.

Toyota hasn’t had a real sports car since 1997′s Supra so this will certainly put them back in the game rather quickly if it ever comes to production. diecastAUDIO is thinking that this will probably make it as a Hot Wheels casting first! More pictures after the jump!

[via trendpimp.com]

Gallery: Dodge Demon Concept

[via autoblog.com]

According to ECchopper over at HOBBYTALK.COM, the raw versions of the new Jesse James 1/64 vehicles are limited edition chase versions.

[via hobbytalk.com]

All are 1:24 and with the detail you’d expect from FM. There’s something for everyone on this list, but I bet the black Gullwing and 56 Vette will be popular!

1904 Mercedes Simplex — only one other issued in 1994; this is LE = 1500

1925 Hispano Suiza Kellner — one other issued in 1993, discontinued; LE = 1500

1954 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing — in black

1955 Bentley S1 — only other one issued out of production; LE = 1500

Pierce Snorkel Ladder Truck — Zone shows no previous issues

1956 Corvette Roadster — 3rd official release of this car

1948 Tucker Torpedo — only one other issued and it’s discontinued; LE = 2500

1983 Corvette Coupe — Zone shows no previous issues; LE = 1983

2006 Corvette Indy Pace Car — New Tooling!

2007 Shelby Mustang — New Tooling!

[via www.diecast.org]