Over on HOBBYTALK.COM, Fred Bloods from 1STOPDIECAST.COM let collectors know the line-up for the new 1/64th Scale All Stars Release 7.1 due in stores this May. VW fans will certainly be thrilled!

1967 VW Notchback - Red / Black Roof
1967 VW Notchback - Lt Blue / White Roof
1967 VW Squareback - Primer Black with Graphics
1967 VW Squareback – Primer Black DE Surf
VW Beetle - Charcoal / White (Wahoo)
VW Beetle - Purple / White
VW Samba - Orange / White
VW Samba - Flat Gray with Graphics
VW Karmann Ghia - Black / Charcoal
VW Karmann Ghia – Blue
VW Fastback - Black / Charcoal
VW Fastback - Purple / Flat Black

[via hobbytalk.com]

Joe Falco from JOESDIECASTSHACK.COM shares some information (via fellow collector Romero39) about a new series from Maisto that is showing up at Shell gas stations. The series contains the following 1/64th scale castings selling at $4.99 each:

‘70 Challenger
‘87 Chevy 1500
‘62 Chevy Bel-Air
‘06 Ford Mustang GT

A 1/24th scale 68 Shelby GT-500 is also available for $19.99. At this time, the only picture available to share is this fairly blurry one showing the ‘87 Chevy 1500 and the ‘70 Challenger. We’ll share more as they come about!

UPDATE: Poster Randy1501 has added great photos of all 5 Maisto/Shell vehicles - click below to check them out!

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

VWVORTEX.COM forum poster gtidude2000 gets the “Prankster of the Week” award for this little mock-up of a MK2 GTI that never was. He was able to fool a few fellow forum members until one called his bluff. Now only if Maisto would produce a real one!!

Head on over to the Vortex forums with the link below to see the original post.

[via vwvortex.com]

Poster Randy1501 over on JOESDIECASTSHACK.COM hits readers with a barrage of posts showing samples of the new lines Maisto will be bringing to market this year. Each post gives features a variety of pictures of cars in the lines creating a nice preview!

Maisto’s new lines (with links to each post) will include:

Outlaws - old skool, “rat rod” style castings

T-Lugz - Cartoon-style castings with collectible figurines

Lifterz - Customized pickups with realistic lift-kits

Pro-Street - Big Block Muscle Drag Cars

Stay tuned for more information as these lines get closer to hitting retailers!

[via joesdiecastshack.com]

Over in the Diecast & Model Car forum on vwvortex.com poster sbvwfanatic shares a interesting discovery found in the latest issue of Diecast Magazine. The first page ad of the latest issue reveals that Maisto will be offering the VW R32 (MKIV) in 1/24th scale. Photos on the page show four different color variations including black, yellow, blue and red.

This is definitely exciting news for R32 and MKIV owners (like me!) who happen to collect!

[via vwvortex.com]

Interesting quote from Maisto management…

“We had a very good year internationally, and we see that continuing for 2007. But our category is not exactly on the upswing. So we have moved beyond die-cast into other areas of vehicle play, such as R/C, juvenile die-cast, etc, as well as moving out of the vehicle aisle with other products such as our Drama Queens BabyBoos and Cinnicats.”
—Rick Berman, director of marketing, licensing and design, Maisto, Fontana, Calif.

Looks like the increasing costs of materials is making it hard to pay the bills as a diecast-only company. First Chub City from Jada, and now this. We’ve seen the Drama Queens, but BabyBoos and Cinnicats? What could these be?

[via playthings.com]

JDS poster Sixty8hotwheels gives us a glimpse of the new flatbed hauler from Maisto. This piece features a metal body with a plastic base, as well as a flat bed that slides and tilts to form a ramp. Poster wilcoxg has spotted them in his local Target at a price point of $7.

[via joesdiecastshack.com]