Its been a while since I’ve posted anything Maisto related on the site, but how could I not after seeing these shots posted by collector zamac84 over on JOESDIECASTSHACK.COM. Maisto did a great job on this 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible. Zamac84 also reports that the piece was only $8.50 at Walmart. You certainly can’t go wrong for that price! Click either image to see the full size picture.

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

Just a quick reminder that the crew over at DIECASTLIVE.COM has teamed up with Maisto to offer collectors the chance to win some really great Maisto prizes! Two contests are still underway and they are open to all registered forum members. If you still haven’t checked out DIECASTLIVE.COM, then now is a great time to register and check out the site. After signing on, be sure to head straight over to the Contest Forums to join in the fun!

[via diecastlive.com]

Collector chboja shares these shots of the upcoming Outlaws line from Maisto. This series is certainly an old school rodder’s dream come true. Cadillac-addicted Maisto designer Castro even threw in a custom Deville for good measure! Click on any of the thumbs for the full sized pictures.

Look for these to hit your favorite retailer soon or check out eBay or one of the many online diecast retailers to snag the complete set!

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

Long time collectors of Jada Toys and Maisto should be familiar with what artist and designer Castro has done for the hobby. His significant contributions at both companies have helped forge new directions in the types of products available today. Not too long ago we posted about his Outlaws line with Maisto and now we get a look into his brand new baby - Gascaps!

The initial release includes a total of eight vehicles covering a wide variety of styles from a Merc and VW Bus (both shown) to a School Bus and GMC Denali! Each three-inch piece includes lights, sound, and the trademark oversized gas cap. The best news is that Castro and Maisto scored prime real estate at your local Target - so keep your eye out for these coming soon!

As of this posting, Maisto has yet to update their official site with pictures of all the cars from the first release. To check them all out, use the link below to jump over to Castro’s MySpace page where you can see all eight plus much more of his amazing art!

[via Castro on MySpace]

Rat Rod fans rejoice! Castro, the uber-talented designer at Maisto gave collectors a glimpse of the new “Outlaws” line that should be showing up in stores soon. He also indicated that there WILL be chase cars mixed into cases. Infact, the Bare Metal/Black ‘29 Ford Model shown in the picture is one of the chase pieces! Click the picture for a close-up.

[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]

Maisto’s presence at the 2007 DCX Expo was certainly nothing to sneeze at, and we caught a glimpse of what they brought through Roy Nakamura’s pictures last week. MAISTO.COM has also put up a selection of photos over on their own gallery for your viewing pleasure so be sure to check them out. Use the link below to make the jump!

[via maisto.com]