Last week the latest installment of Mattel’s “Ask a Designer” video series was released on the Official Hot Wheels YouTube channel, and this time around collectors got to have their questions answered by the legendary Larry Wood.

Larry provided some great answers to many of the common questions I’ve heard collectors ask over the years about the Hot Wheels design process and how cars get selected to be made. We also get an update on the 1:1 scale COE that Larry’s been building over the years. I can’t wait until he’s able to bring it around to the conventions!

Collectors who would like the opportunity to meet Larry in person should check out on of the conventions he’ll be attending this summer. He’s currently scheduled to be the guest of honor at the 2011 Collector Experience in Nashville, TN on June 16-19 and at the 4th Annual Hot Wheels Summer Smash in Warwick, Rhode Island on August 25-28.

Collectors who regularly attend conventions are most likely familiar with Mattel’s popular Hot Wheels Vending Machine that has become a feature attraction over the years. Standing in a massive line of fellow diecast enthusiasts while waiting for a chance to see what mysterious Hot Wheels goodness will fall from the innards of the giant metal box is one activity that many collectors look forward to at each event.

If you haven’t had a chance to attend one of the many conventions that the vending machine makes a stop at then, picture if you will, a snack style vending machine – the type with spiral bars that moves your selection towards you after making your desired “letter/number” selection. However, the snacks have been replaced with premium limited edition Hot Wheels products that are normally available for members of the HotWheelsCollectors.com Redline Club, and the identity of the item you’ve selected remains hidden behind frosted glass until its pulled from the spring-hinged door at the bottom of the machine. Add in the antics of Mattel’s Chris Parker, who runs the vending machine events and you have a recipe for fun turned up to “11!”

Mattel’s Hot Wheels vending machine has appeared at many conventions over the years including numerous DiecastSpace conventions, the annual Summer Smash in Rhode Island, the Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels and of course, the official Hot Wheels Conventions that occur each spring and fall. Unfortunately, the vending machine is not always available for every event. The team over at DiecastSpace recognized the value that the vending machine has brought to their events and has come up with a solution to ensure that the fun continues on.

This June, the brand new “Diecastspace Vending Machine” will make its debut at the Nashville Collector Experience in Nashville, Tennessee. As you can see from the rendering, it will be decked out in flames and will proudly display the Diecastspace logo – but, while the outside looks great, collectors know that its whats on the inside that counts! Convention attendees can expect to find all sorts of products from the major diecast manufacturers being stocked in the machine. This means collectors could find Hot Wheels products, convention pieces, White Lightnings, Green Machines, Liberty Promotions products, M2 Machines Chase Pieces and much more coming with their pulls. Rumor has it that even the customizers will be getting in on the fun and will be producing limited edition pieces that will be part of the mix!

The new vending machine is certainly an exciting new development for the DiecastSpace family of conventions and I’ll be sure to share photos of it when the vinyl-wrapping process is complete. Be sure to visit ToyCarConventions.com for information on tickets and accommodations for the Nashville Collector Experience so you can be part of the fun!

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.

Earlier this week Mattel debuted their upcoming “Wall Tracks” product line at the 2011 New York Toy Fair. This unique twist on traditional Hot Wheels track sets takes familiar looking stunt track segments and moves them off the floor and onto the walls with the help of 3M adhesive Command strips. Known for being able to hold tremendous amounts of weight, the use of 3M strips ensures that removing or reconfiguring the track will keep your walls in perfect condition.

Kids and collectors alike can expect to see Hot Wheels Wall Tracks sets to hit retailers this coming fall in plenty of time for the 2011 holiday season. The starter set should retail for around $30 (USD) and are compatible with existing Hot Wheels track sets which will allow the action to continue on from the wall to the floor for even more fun!

Check out this video from Mattel’s booth at the Toy Fair for a demonstration of a Wall Tracks setup in action.

Actor Jeremy Piven has teamed up with Mattel to star in this hilarious video entitled “The Fifth Racer” that launched on FunnyOrDie.com today. Piven plays the role of a coffee guy who desperately wants to be the fifth member of Team Hot Wheels and shows off his best stunts to see if he’s got what it takes to make the team.

The video seems to be produced in support of promoting Mattel’s Hot Wheels fan page on Facebook. Hopefully this will be the first of many viral video efforts coming from the Hot Wheels brand!

What do you think of the video? Leave your thoughts via the comments section below.

Sure, I’m I diecast collector – but I also have an extreme love for all things related to tech and gadgets. I still have yet to make it out to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show (someday, someday!!), but if I had this year I would have witnessed what could quite possibly be a nice combination of both my interests. That combination comes in the form of what will be called the “Hot Wheels Video Racer.”

Each 1:64 scale car features a built in miniature POV (point-of-view) camera in the front AND a tiny LCD screen on the bottom that can be used to instantly view your recorded footage without needing to connect the car to another display device. A simple button push on top of the car starts and stops the record at will. Mattel has also created an easy to use software editing program geared towards kids that will allow you to transfer the video footage off the car onto a computer where it can be edited and customized with music. An additional feature that makes this product even cooler is the included protective case for the car. The case allows the car to be used outside (attached to a bike or skateboard, etc) for an even better video capture experience.

Each Hot Wheel’s Video Racer will retail for $59.99 USD and will be hitting store shelves this fall. Check out the video below from the Mattel booth at CES 2011.

When you think back on your childhood and playing with Hot Wheels there are a few models that could possibly define that era. We all had the Splittin’ Image, Turbo Fire and the Twin Mill in our black wheel carry case. The Twin Mill really stands out as a true fantasy car, and its always at the center of any redline bench racing session.

The Twin Mill was designed by Ira Gilford and was released in 1969 as a USA only casting. It had a metal base & body, a plastic interior that came in assorted colors, redline tires, twin plastic exposed chrome engines and a clear windshield. Some castings can be found with gold-tinted motors. The silver interior version is very hard to find.

A few examples exist with the angle of the rear fender cut more inward. These are known as “Cut Fender” variations, and they tend to fetch premium pricing the ranges between $400-$700 loose. Some castings carried chrome rear wheels (similar to the HK wheels on other castings) that were found on very late runs. Note: These are correct U.S. Wheels. Magenta, Hot Pink, Light Green, Yellow are among the most common colors with these wheels.

Finishes were available in eighteen spectraflame colors with the hardest to find being metallic magenta. This casting is very desirable among collectors and affordable to buy. C8 examples sell in the range of $40-$90 loose.

What’s cool about the Twin Mill casting is that it was the first life-size car created based on a Hot Wheels design. The full-sized Twin Mill was commissioned for the Hot Wheels 30th anniversary in 1998 and unveiled in 2001 at SEMA. The twin Chevrolet motors, supplied by General Motors Performance Products are not just for show – this car is fully operational! The current version of the Twin Mill® is painted in PPG’s Hot Wheels Spectra- flame® Anti-freeze. Note the original 1998 model was painted dark red, antifreeze is a repaint.

Click any image to see the larger version.

Credits: Images from the RK Stickels collection. Full size Twin Mill courtesy of SEMA and Mattel. Tomarts guide #6, Spectraflame-the essential guide.

In 2009, Larry Wood officially announced his retirement after 40 years with Mattel and what better way to pay tribute to a designer that has brought us so many cool casting then to  feature the Tri Baby. The Tri Baby was the first “concept car” Larry produced for Mattel.

This casting was released in 1970 in both a USA and Hong Kong version. It has a swing-up hinged rear opening engine cover that reveals 3 detailed turbine engines. It also features a wrap-around windshield in clear and blue glass, a plastic interior in assorted colors and redline tires. As with all early redlines, the base and body are cast in metal.  The finish was available in 10 spectra-flame colors with the hardest to find being metallic hot pink.

This casting is very desirable among collectors. C9 sell in the range of $40-$90.

Casting Comparison

Credits: Images from the RK Stickels collection. Tomarts guide #6, and Spectraflame – The Essential Guide.

The Hot Heap could quite possibly be one of the coolest castings Mattel has ever built, and its history makes a very interesting story.

Don Tognotti was one of the most successful Custom car show promoters of his time, but before that he built show cars. The Hot Heap was based on his 1964 modified Model T Roadster show car called “King T”, also known as “Tognotti’s T.” The King T won the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at the Grand National Roadster Show in 1964.

By winning this award the King T was launched into stardom. Shortly after, MPC built a 3-in-1 model kit, and in 1968 Mattel released it as one of the original 16 Hot Wheels castings. A popular Hot Wheels model among many collectors, the Hot Heap is one casting that most collectors hope will be reissued in the near future.

The Hot Heap was originally issued in both a US and Hong Kong casting. The US version featured a metal engine and a color-matched, molded interior and steering wheel. The base was fairly plain with no details other than the exhaust pipes and logos (Hot Wheels, US patents pending, etc.) It also had a shorter trunk, and the leaf springs on the back were shorter and less detailed. US  castings also came clear windshields and the wheels carried a dull silver finish.

The Hong Kong casting came with a plastic chrome engine. The base was more detailed with the entire drive train molded into the base, and featured open slots to view the axles. It was also issued with chrome wheels. The trunk was also longer, and the leaf springs on the back were longer and more detailed. They also came with blue-tinted windshields, and the interior were molded in various colors with a black steering wheels.

Credits: Images from the RK Stickel’s collection, Tomarts guide #6, and Spectraflame – The Essential Guide.

Collectors attending the first ever Canada Collectors Convention with September will have the opportunity to meet the uber-talented Wayne Scott who has been confirmed as the guest of honor for the Legends Dinner.

Wayne is well known for his amazing graphic work with Mattel and the Hot Wheels brand. Before his recent departure from Mattel he was able to take a stab at full-blown design which resulted in popular new castings like Rolling Thunder.

Be sure to visit ToyCarConventions.com for information on tickets and accommodations for the Canada Convention. This first-ever event is on course to sell out fast!

Every now and then I’m amazed where the hobby of collecting diecast cars has taken me. I’ve had the opportunity to travel to some great places and meet some of the coolest people in the hobby. One of the folks I’ve been fortunate enough to be-friend over the course of the last few years is the talented and very down-to-earth Eric Tscherne. If you aren’t familiar with Eric or any of his many accomplishments in the diecast industry, then I suggest you check out the Saturday Nitro interview we did last year. Its a great listen and will definitely get you up to speed.

Diecast designers come up with a tremendous number of designs that unfortunately are never selected to become real castings. Its been many years since Eric moved on from his design position with Mattel and the Hot Wheels brand, yet one of his original designs has seemingly come back to life as part of the 2010 Hot Wheels line-up. Eric recently sent me his account of how this design has come full circle and is now becoming a reality. I’m sure you’ll agree, its a really interesting read. Enjoy!

The new Dodge Charger Drift Car that Hot Wheels is producing as a 2010 New Model is actually one of my designs! I originally designed the car at Mopar’s request. BJ Birtwell, then with Chrysler as a youth marketing person, called me up on behalf of Shaun Carlson and NewFormz to design their new drift car. This was in 2005. The guys, including driver Samuel Hubinette, wanted to do something with the Charger to make it more aggressive and unique. Originally they had asked for a wide body design which you can see in my drawings. Through that process however I kept coming back to the SRT-8 body and especially the hood. The 2005 show car was before the release of the SRT-8 so things like the hood were unavailable for the 2005 build.

The NuFormz team eventually migrated over to an SRT-8 body but the paint scheme remained. Shaun Carlson had raced for Mopar for years dating back to his Dodge Neon front wheel drive dragster (a Hot Wheels car I worked on while at Mattel). He had recently been running Pro-Stock for Mopar for Don Schumacher’s team with legends like Allen Johnson. Shaun had expressed bringing over the cool Colored camo designs of the Pro-Stock cars asking for something a bit different and in Mopar Blue. I designed a camo that had Mopar script and "M" icons interlaces with a traditional camo print.

At the time when I was designing the show car, I was also working on the Foose diecast line. At toy fair I was with Chip and we were talking about various projects and I found out that Chip was going to do the wheels on the Charger show car. It was mind blowing to me that we had both been working on the car but unaware of the other’s involvement even though we had been working on the diecast line for months! Some of the build of the show car was captured in a documentary, Drift The Sideways Craze that aired on Discovery’s HD Theater and TLC.

At the Super Convention Phil Riehlman and I got to talking and he told me Jun Imai had handled the Charger project for Hot Wheels. Jun is super talented and it shows in his work. The Charger came out beautiful. It is really cool to see my design end up in the Hot Wheels line some 5 to 6 years after I left. I now know how it must feel for other artists, designers, customizers and race car drivers to see their design turn up on a toy store shelf when it wasn’t the original intent. It’s a honor and a privilege.

- Eric Tscherne

The Hairy Hauler! This has to be one of the craziest looking castings from the 70’s. I like to think that this might what have resulted if a Heavyweight casting was given to Jesse James at Monster Garage (if Jesse worked for Mattel in the 70’s!!).

Obviously, Jesse James was not the designer of the Hairy Hauler. In fact, he was probably playing with one back then just like the rest of us Redline Collectors! In reality, the man responsible for the Hairy Hauler was Hot Wheels Designer Paul Tam. Paul designed some unique cars while at Mattel, but this one takes the cake.

This USA only casting was available in 12 spectra-flame colors and featured an all-metal chassis and body. The hinged nose canopy opened to reveal a white plastic interior. What I like the best about the Hairy Hauler is that its heavy, fast, and sleek which makes it great for orange track racing!

Click on any image to see the larger version

Here’s a look at some of the latest Hot Wheels products that will be appearing in stores and online.* Found anything that isn’t on the list? Please submit it via the contact page and we’ll update the list to your credit!

Basic releases:

Here are the next case code cars you should be seeing now in stores. They are case code ‘F’; being stocked by end of February into March.

New Models: Bread Box in red (pic’d) – ’71 Maverick Grabber in yel. (pic’d) – Formula Street in yel. (pic’d) – ’67 Chevelle SS 396 in gold (pic’d)

’10 HW Performance: Ferrari F430 Challenge in yellow.

HW Racing: K&N ’08 Challenger SRT8 in wht.

Hot Auction: ’56 Merc. in 2 tone green (pic’d).

Mystery cars: Formul8r in red.

Track Stars: Side Draft in met. mustard.

Other vars. collector series: ’07 Silverado in blue; AMC Javelin AMX in red w/wht. + blue; Asphalt Assault in org; ’09 Ford F-150 in blue; Deuce Roadster in black w/flames; ’65 Impala in brick red; ’55 bel-air in red.

Race World: Beach- Meyers Manx in blue; Deora II in org. (pic’d) Highway- OCC Splitback in purp.(pic’d); Bad Bagger in gold (pic’d).

Treasure Hunts: Chevy Camaro in org. (pic’d).

Walmart Specials; Various cars w/Good Year stamped tires; Exclusive colors, Mustang Fastback in yel.; Valentines Day cars: ’68 Merc. Cougar; Baja Breaker (pic’d); ’68 El Camino; 365 GTS4 Daytona Spider; Night Burner. St. Patricks day cars: Blast Lane (pic’d); Funny Money; ’69 Chevelle SS 396; Corvette C6; Limozeen. Target specials: Valentines: ’68 El Camino; ’68 Couger; ’69 Corvette; Avant Garde; Baja Breaker; Golden Arrow.

K-Mart Specials: K-Days cars: Excl. colors – ’70 Superbird in wht. (pic’d); ’57 Bel-Air in red/wht.; Mustang Funnycar in org.; Thunderbolt in gold. 1st. to market – ’70 AAR Cuda in wht.; GMC Motorhome in blue; V-8 Vega in wht. Mail in car – ’62 Corvette in blue. (pic’d).

Other series:

2010 Delivery series (Code “F + G” expected for Feb into Mar):  Wynn’s Super Van; Centerline ’56 Flashsider; Holley ’62 Chevy; B+M ’34 Ford Sedan Del.; Hedman Headers Anglia Panel; Mooneyes Cool One; PPG VW DLX Station Wagon; Hot Wheels Hiway Hauler (pic’d); Mickey Thompson Baja Breaker w/ M/T tires, (pic’d); Hays ’69 Chevy Pickup; ISKY racing cams Ice Cream Truck; BF Goodrich ’56 Ford; Mr. Gasket ’72 Ford Ranchero (pic’d); Pennzoil Convoy Custom (pic’d).

HW Garage Series 2010 (Code “E, F, G”, are expected in Feb into Mar): Larry Wood- Bone Shaker (pic’d); Rat Bomb (pic’d); Phil Riehlman- ’70 Ply. Road Runner (pic’d); ’69 Pontiac GTO (pic’d); ’65 VW Fastback.

2010 Dragstrip Demons (Case code ‘C’ expected in Mar)

Speed Machines (Case ‘C’ expected in Feb into Mar): ’09 Nissan GT-R Spec.V (pic’d); Ferrari 333 SP (pic’d); Jaguar XJ220 (pic’d); Porsche 911 GT3 Road (pic’d); Saleen S7 (pic’d); Tesla Roadster (pic’d).

* – Please note that this list was compiled based on information gathered by collectors from online research and personal finds at retail locations. The ability to find select pieces will vary based on geographic location and the frequency that your local retailer refreshes their stock.

The "In the Stores" column is brought to you courtesy of the Connecticut Valley Diecast Club.

This time around we sit down with diecast and toy designer, Eric Tscherne. We’ll learn about about how Eric got into the business and has built a diverse career that has spanned Mattel, Jada Toys, RC2, and Upper Deck. We’ll also find out about his current and upcoming projects now that he’s freelancing as ET Designs.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Over the course of his career, MiQ Willmott has created artwork for rock-n-roll bands like Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, and Aerosmith. More recently, he and his wife created TWEEQIM Creative Lab and have contributed their amazing talents to companies like Mountain Dew and Dell.

But of course, die-cast collectors will identify with MiQ’s art from his 6 years as project manager/art director for the graphics team at Mattel for the Hot Wheels brand. Join us for a discussion of all things art, rock-n-roll and die-cast on this edition of Saturday Nitro!

Attendees of this past weekend’s 23rd Annual Hot Wheels Convention in Los Angeles bared witness to more than just the die-cast cars they know and love. Mattel’s Chris Parker, known for his full beard and long flowing hair, allowed the entire length to be cut off during the convention to benefit the Locks of Love organization.

Chris’s long hair was certainly part of his zany and fun personality, but I think the new look won’t change his character too much! Congrats to Chris on a job well done with this generous donation to charity!

Former Hot Wheels graphics guru MiQ Willmott and his family were recently featured in this short artist profile video put together by Dell. MiQ and Thuy3 (his wife) created some truly amazing artwork for Dell that can be selected as a option when customizing your laptop.

Its been many years since he moved on from Mattel, but his work there has certainly not been forgotten. Collectors had the opportunity to get reacquainted with MiQ at the 2009 Hotlanta Collectors Experience just a few months ago, and I look forward to speaking with him again on an upcoming Saturday Nitro. MiQ will also be attending the 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention in February where he will inducted into the Diecast Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2010.

[via youtube.com]

Those who are familiar with Neil Rambaldi’s Redline Poker Tournaments know that the act of winning comes with more perks than just bragging rights. The potential of winning one of Neil’s Mattel-produced Redline Poker Buses is well worth the price of admission to his events. However, if you play play like I do, then the chances of winning that top prize are slim to none!

For that very reason I was pretty psyched to learn that Paul Biddle from The Toy Peddler will be sending one of those coveted buses to Summer Smash to be given away to one lucky attendee. The drawing is open to all members of The Toy Peddler attending the convention that sign up, along with all new members that register while there. You will have the choice of winning the Bus or 250.00 dollars cash. Just drop your registration in the Toy Peddler box at Summer Smash for your chance to win!

Be sure to visit the official Hot Wheels Summer Smash web site for more information on tickets, accommodations and scheduled activities.

Earlier this year, Ford launched an innovative promotional program to build buzz about their new Ford Fiesta. The campaign is called The Ford Fiesta Movement and gave 100 lucky “agents” the opportunity to get behind the wheel of their own Fiesta for 6 months. During that time, they have been blogging, tweeting and life streaming their experiences as part of their daily life with the car. In addition, the agents are given monthly “missions” that they must complete as part of the campaign.

As it turns out, one of those missions was to visit the Hot Wheels Design Center at the Mattel Headquarters in El Segundo, California. The lucky agent who won the “golden ticket” and got to complete that mission was aspiring indy filmmaker and dancer, Beto “Mooncricket” Lopez. As a Hot Wheels collector himself, this mission was certainly a dream come true!

Here is the first episode from his trip to the Design Center. I’m sure you’ll agree that Beto got to experience what collectors like you and I only dream of!

Be sure to visit the Fiesta Movement web site to see what Beto and the rest of the agents have been up to as part of the campaign.

[via youtube.com]

Joe Kelly Jr. from The Car Room Magazine was in attendance at the Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels and shot this footage featuring Mattel’s Chris Parker and Mike Zarnock. The vintage Redline collection that Mike and Joe are highlighting is owned by Sid Belzburg, owner of RedlinesOnline.com! Special thanks to Ralph Riccardi for great camera work and editing. Enjoy!

[via vimeo.com]

No, these shots aren’t from an over-enthusiastic collector with no budget for creating realistic diorama’s. They are actually from a 2008 Mattel outdoor advertising campaign that won a Bronze Lion at Cannes 2008!

Click any image to view the larger version

[via theinspirationroom.com]

There’s less than a week until the Comic-Con invasion returns to San Diego, California and its yet another year that I will not be attending. Like many others, I will be experiencing the convention virtually through all the online content and video posts from fellow media outlets.

Collectors who will be attending Comic-Con in person should plan on heading over to the Mattel’s Hot Wheels sales and display booths to get a first-hand look some special new products. Here are some of the cool things you can expect to see (as listed on HotWheelsCollectors.com):

• – Battle Force 5 – Check out the new Hot Wheels series debuting on Cartoon Network August 29th. Free DVD trailer included with every purchase*! Also, come out to Room 7AB on Sunday, July 26 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM to see the Hot Wheels® Battle Force 5 screening
• – Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise in Space Dock – Docking station opens up to become a stand for the Enterprise. Available first at Comic-Con, then only at HWC!
• – Batman: The Dark Knight Batmobile and Bat-Pod Vehicles – Packaging recreates the scene from the movie where the Batmobile is destroyed and the Bat-Pod emerges. Available first at Comic-Con, then only at HWC!
• – Real Bat-Pod from The Dark Knight – Visit the Hot Wheels booth and see the actual Bat-Pod from the hit film!

* This item is available on a first-come, first-served basis only while supplies last.

You can check out all the cool photos of these Comic-Con/HWC Exclusives on the original news posting on HotWheelsCollectors.com.

[via hotwheelscollectors.com]

The Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels staff has confirmed that Chris Parker from Mattel will be coming to the convention with the vending machine in tow! Those who have purchased vending machine pulls before know that its always fun and exciting to see what drops from behind the frosted glass. Equally as fun are the antics and commentary added to the event by Chris as each piece falls! Rodger Dodger!!!

Tickets for the Wild Weekend are available on the official web site or by calling 860.558.3136 to buy them directly.

[via wwhw6.com]

In the last Stick’s Redline Garage post I focused on The Python. Bill Cushenbery also built a sister car to the Python. That futuristic concept roadster was called the “Silhouette.”

The Silhouette premiered in January 1963 at the San Mateo Autorama, and by 1969 it became a Hot Wheels casting. It was probably the most remembered car of this era, especially in a metallic red that matched the original candy color – minus the dark faded highlights (see pictures below). Minor modifications were made to Cushenbery’s original design by the Hot Wheels staff when designing the die-cast version. Those changes included a taller blown motor with dual carbs, med wheels in back with smalls up front and removal of the side pipes.

This casting was available in 16 spectraflame colors and featured a matching color base. The Silhouette, like the Python, is one of my favorites as a collector as they are available in good supply as well as being an affordable casting to collect.

Note: all resto’s carry repro wheel from the redlineshop.com.

The dust has settled from the die-cast whirlwind know as the Hotlanta Collector Experience that roared through Georgia a week ago. This smaller, more intimate event could almost be considered “Son of the Super Convention,” which is not to say that it was any less of an show. In fact, the DiecastSpace.com Admin team did an amazing job of listening to the attendee feedback from the 2009 Super Convention and applying it to the Collector Experience.

Registration was streamlined, plenty of time for in-room trading was added to the schedule, and the quality of the convention cars spot-on all the way around. Without a doubt, the weekend was a great success and one that those in attendance will not soon forget. I’ve got plenty of pictures to share and will be posting sets through-out the next few days.

For starters, here are a few shots from the first pre-convention session run by Mike Zarnock on Thursday evening. The session was called “What’s It Worth?” and spawned some great conversations amongst the attendees on how collectors differ when it comes to determining what a specific piece is worth. Mattel’s Chris Parker started some great collector interaction by posing questions about the HotWheelsCollectors.com
Redline Club cars as well.

Friday morning got off to a great start with the opening session which included CJ’s announcement of the 2010 Collector Experience in Walt Disney World, Florida!

Collectors of Mattel’s Cars movie collectibles will be happy to hear that the “World of Cars” collector event will return to participating Kmart locations on Saturday, June 20, 2009. Just like the standard Hot Wheels days at Kmart, this event will feature a great mix of exclusives, chase vehicles and “first to markets” from the Cars collectibles line. The exclusive character cars will also feature real rubber tires.

The Python, originally labeled the “Cheetah,” was modeled after the fully functioning Car Craft Dream Rod show car built by Bill Cushenbery. Rumor has it that the name change was needed since Car Craft Magazine and Cushenbery would not release licensing rights to Mattel. Slight modifications were made by the Hot Wheels design staff for the final tool. Those changes included a blown motor, removal of the side pipes and a painted roof to simulate a vinyl top. This casting was available in 19 spectraflame colors, and had two wheel and motor variations.

The Python was available in two manufacturing variations – a USA and Hong Kong casting. There were slight modifications to each origin of production, see below for comparison. On the USA version, the body hangs halfway over base in front, but has no overhang in back. In addition, the engine sports twin carbs. On the Hong Kong version, body hangs over the base in front and back with a supercharged engine sitting on the base.

The Python is one of my favorite Redline castings as they are available in good supply and are affordable to collect. The Purple Python in my collection is original, but was acquired with a missing the painted roof and without wheels. For now it wears a set of “repro-sneakers” until I can get a good set of originals to add. The pink with black roof is also part of my collection, but I commissioned James Sweetring (aka “Rooster”) out of his Utah custom shop for this restoration.

Click any image to see the larger versions

Note: all resto’s carry repro wheel from the redlineshop.com.

I still have tons more 2009 Super Convention content to share and this is definitely one of my favorites. Getting to see Mattel’s full-scale Twin Mill in person is always a treat, but to witness Hot Wheels design veteran Larry Wood helping to push and pull it into the convention space at Circus Circus was the coolest. Enjoy!

Attendees of this summer’s Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6 certainly have no shortage of events to choose from and its shaping up to be one heck of a weekend. One such event will be Neil Rambaldi’s Redline Poker Club Tournament. The tournament will include two levels of play:

Open Admission

• - Texas Hold’em-style play
• - Entrants capped at 50 Players
• - $100 Buy-in
• - Winner will receive a very limited
• - Mattel-produced VW Drag Bus “Poker Edition”

Private Game

• - Limited to 16 Players
• - $200 Buy-in
• - Winner receives a “Poker Edition” VW Bus, special trophy, and $1000 worth of BP’d Redlines!

If you’re any good at poker at all, then one look at the Mattel-produced winner’s bus will be all the persuading you need to enter the game! Act fast, as seats are limited.

Click the image to see a larger version

Registration for either of these games can be done thru email via contact@wwhw6.com

[via wwhw6.com]

This time around my special guest is Chris Bouman, Hot Wheels Senior Marketing Manager at Mattel. Chris is responsible for the product line development and marketing for all the Hot Wheels collectible lines, which includes all cars priced $3 and up. We talk about his career, existing and future product lines and a whole lot more. Chris even provides some great teaser information on some upcoming products that you won’t want to miss!

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

For most Hot Wheels collectors, having an original authentic Beach Bomb in their collection is only a dream. This summer you’ll have a chance to make that dream come true at the Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels, because some will WIN this AUTHENTIC Rear Loading Beach Bomb from the Bruce Pascal Collection for just $50!

Here are the details directly from the official Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6 web site:

All Rear Loading Beach Bomb photos on this site were supplied by Bruce Pascal, and are used courtesy of HWProtos.com. For more useful information on prototypes, redlines, and other early Hot Wheels, visit their web site at www.hwprotos.com.

Please visit the official Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6 site for information on ticket purchases and for additional photos of the Beach Bomb.

[via wwhw6.com]

Here is a quick slideshow of the souvenir area of the registration room and the small Mattel display room at the 2009 Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals in Reston, VA. While the Mattel display room was pretty small, it did happen to feature a few unique Hot Wheels t-shirt designs – even some for the ladies!

Several full-scale show cars were on display in the main hallway at the convention. Shelby brought the Terlingua Cobra and a Super Snake and Dennis Roth brought the Bonneville Tric. Of course collectors really went nuts for the Hot Wheels Crazy Horse Funny Car and Mattel’s Twin Mill. Even Larry Wood himself helped HWC Chris and HWC Bryan roll the Twin Mill into the hotel!

Stay tuned for video footage of the cars entering the building as well as a special moment that got captured at the end of the convention when the Cobra was leaving the building!

Special thanks to my sponsor, DiecastSpace.com for making my trip to the convention possible!

Hot Wheels new Dragstrip Demons line has turned out to be one of Mattel’s most impressive series so far this year. Each and every car released so far has been a winner, and collectors can certainly tell just how popular they are by the empty pegs that hang in most brick and mortar retailers!

Well, it looks like the quality will continue as this e-sheet of the upcoming Mike Zarnock Altered Roadster just passed across my desk a few days ago. It’s awesome that Mattel is producing a car for Mike. Especially one that will appear in a mass-market line like the Dragstrip Demons. He’s a veteran collector and a scholar to the Hot Wheel brand. Nobody deserves it more.

Congrats Mike! I’m looking forward to seeing this beauty in person!

Custom Cars big and small have always caught my eye. As some of you know my hobby is collecting and designing 1-to-1 customs. 50′s era customs are my favorite. Well the custom car world was in full swing in the states during the early 50′s and late 60′s. Builders such as Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, Bill Cushenberry and Daryl Starbird were household names in those pocket-size Rod & Custom magazines. Roth’s Beatnik Bandit and Cushenberry’s Silhouette were scaled down from full size prize winning customs to 1968 Mattel releases. So, I’ve always wondered where the ideas and thoughts came from with the origin of the Sugar Caddy.

Well, I would say that might point to the full-size bubble tops that came out of Daryl Starbird’s “King of the Bubble Tops” stables. Daryl’s “Pedicta” show car was just one of many customs he built on Ford, Chevy and Cadillac chassis that Mattel took notice of when designing the Sugar Caddy. Mattel already had an Eldorado casting, so why not modify it.

This casting was available in 12 spectra-flame colors and had a plastic interior that came in assorted colors. The Sugar Caddy is one of my favorites, designed by Ira Gilford, it sports an exposed engine, glass roof and spoiler door decals.

Note: The Orange Sugar Caddy with black roof and racing stripes is part of my collection, but I commissioned James Sweetring “AKA, Rooster” out of his Utah custom shop for this restoration. I’ve also included a shot of the original “Pedicta” as reference.

Note: all resto’s carry repro wheel from the redlineshop.com

Is it just me or does it seem that 2009 will be a great year to be a diecast collector? If there’s one thing to be said about our hobby, its there’s no shortage of diecast conventions in the near future! Here is a quick list of the best multi-day events happening across the country this year (listed in order of occurrence):

2009 DiecastSpace.com Super Convention
I’ve been talking about this “first of its kind” event for a while now, and its really shaped up to be one heck of a time! Its the first time almost all the major mainstream diecast manufacturers will be present under one roof. Mattel, Johnny Lightning, GreenLight, M2 and GMP as well as a gathering of the country’s top diecast customizers will descend on Las Vegas from February 18th – 22nd. If that wasn’t enough, the first ever Diecast Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be taking place to honor somme of the best names in diecast and the automotive industry.

Very few tickets are left to this great event. Visit the official Super Convention site for ticket availability and pricing.

9th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals
Unofficially dubbed the “East Coast” Hot Wheels Convention, this Mike Strauss run event moves from city to city each Spring. This year it lands back in Reston, Virginia from March 25th – 29th. The week is always packed full of great events and fantastic ion-room trading. This year’s special guests include Howard Reese, Mike McClone, Phil Riehlman, Wayne Scott and Larry Wood.

Tickets are on sale now and will be available until March 5th or when sold out (which ever comes first). They can be purchased online with a credit card or with a check and the mail-in form.

Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6
Randy Price’s Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels returns to Connecticut this year on July 30th – August 2nd. This year’s event will offer a variety of events including a Guinness Book of World Records attempt for the Longest Track. Convention vehiles are being produced by Mattel this year and special guests will include Larry Wood, Mike Zarnock, Bob Parker.

A variety of ticket packages are currently available on the official Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6 website.

Hot Wheels Summer Smash 2
Jim Lombari and the Rhode Island Hot Wheels Club are bringing the diecast fun back to Warwick on August 27th-30th for the 2nd Annual Hot Wheels Summer Smash. This year offers four full days of activities and convention vehicles from both Mattel and Liberty Promotions. Special guests include Larry Wood, George Soulakis, Mike Zarnock and Bob Parker.

The official Summer Smash website is up and tickets are now on sale.

23rd Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention
Traditionally the larger of the two “Strauss” conventions, this California based convention is usually the most grand seeing that Mattel is headquartered just up the road in El Segundo. Dates for this event typically land in October with the official announcement coming out shortly after the Nationals in Reston are over.

Some collectors felt that the 2008 convention was a little lacking in its 40th Anniversary year. Perhaps the 40th Anniversary cross-counrty tour drained a little bit too much from the coffer. It should be interesting to see how this convention compares to the others happening earlier in the year – especially since Mattel is participating in the all of them.

The world might be in an economic frenzy right now, but the future is certainly looking bright for the world of diecast!

Word on the street is Mattel is in the planning phases of making a Hot Wheels feature film for the big screen! Until now, Hot Wheels fans have been used to action-packed animated features on DVD. Early speculation points to the movie being somewhere between Mad Max and The Fast and the Furious, but tamed down to a suit a kid-friendly audience.

This is a an interesting move for Mattel and I’m sure that they hope to follow in the successful footsteps of Hasbro when it comes to adapting brands to the silver screen. Their Transformers movie franchise will see a sequel this summer and the GI Joe feature film will be hitting soon as well. Mattel would be foolish to not try and expand the Hot Wheels brand (and more) in the same direction.

Barry Waldo, Vice President of entertainment and marketing for Mattel, said:

“There’s a huge scope of what you can do. It’s a billion-dollar brand for us. We want to continue making it relevant for kids. We won’t have the cars talk. That would be off brand position for us. It won’t be another ‘Knight Rider,’ I promise that. We always start out not wanting to make a long toy commercial. We want to make a credible story that will make people go to the theater.”

I’m definitely interested in seeing where they take this project. For the most part, I think they’ll see some decent success as long as the cars don’t talk and they do a better job than the most recent Speed Racer film.

What are your thoughts..?

Saturday Nitro kicks off 2009 with a show that sets the bar really high with Lead Hot Wheels Designer, Larry Wood as our special guest! Not only does this show contain over an hour and a half of great diecast discussion with Larry, but Super Convention chairman, Shane Whittenbarger shares some VERY special news about a new convention sponsor and partner!

Special thanks to American Collector’s Insurance for sponsoring the show!

As a reminder, these shows are done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

The 2009 Diecast Super Convention has seen tremendous interest and growth since its inception. While originally scheduled to be held at the Hooters Hotel and Casino, the convention has quickly grown to the point where more space will be a necessity! As a result, DiecastSpace.com has announced that the convention is moving to the Circus Circus Las Vegas Hotel. Not only will convention goers find the newly renovated accommodations more spacious, but they’ll enjoy a nice drop in price as well!

If you’ve already booked your room at Hooters, then you’ll need to cancel your reservation at Hooters, and contact Circus Circus ASAP to reserve your room. Many convention-goers have done this already and have reported that the process is very easy. If you still have yet to book a room, then be sure to call 1-800-634-3450 and mention “Group Code B02DCS.” The new room rate is just $76 per night (plus tax) which is a considerable savings from their normal rate of $199! Room reservations from the convention will be available until February 15th.

If the new fabulous accommodations weren’t enough, collectors will be thrilled to know that Mattel and the Hot Wheels brand will be joining the festivities in February! So far you can look forward to Mattel hosting their very won FREE party to include food and live music as well as sponsoring the Hot Wing eating contest. They will also be sponsoring the Customs Contest Awards ceremony which will now include cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place! Word on the street is that Mattel might also be bringing a few other surprises and you can be sure that I’ll be letting you know as soon as they can be confirmed.

Be sure to visit www.spinyourtires.com for more information on the 2009 Super Convention!

[via www.spinyourtires.com]

Our final show for 2008 featured legendary NHRA Drag Race Hall of Fame driver Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen. And if having an amazing guest like The Mongoose on the show wasn’t cool enough, we were able to have “The voice of NHRA Drag Racing,” McClelland fill in the hosting duties while I was away for the holidays.

Occasionally its a challenge coordinating schedules across various time zones. This show was one of those times, but Dave did a stellar job filling the show with great commentary as well as spontaneous interviews with DiecastSpace.com CEO, CJ Cramer and our own Saturday Nitro Producer, Shane Whittenbarger who talked in great detail about the new changes for the 2009 Super Convention as well as the 1st Annual Diecast Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The show really launched into orbit once Tom McEwan came on the line. Both Dave and Tom ran thru a wide variety of topics that spanned their careers which made for a truly spectacular show. If you’re not a Drag Racing nut, you’ll certainly be one after listening to this show!

Special thanks to American Collector’s Insurance for sponsoring the show!

As a reminder, these shows are done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page of check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

Earlier this month Mattel posted an official announcement about their upcoming 2009 Connect Cars line that has been creating quite a buzz among the Hot Wheels collecting community. Fifty cars from the basic line have been selected and specially designed with tampos containing characteristics of each state in the USA. Each car will come in a special case, and the cases will be able to connect to one and other to form an American flag.

Fred Bloods from 1 Stop Diecast recently posted a complete list on JoesDiecastShack.com of all 50 castings along with pictures of a few.

Attendees of the 2008 Hot Wheels Convention in California where treated to an early look at the line during a special presentation. Mark from RaceGrooves.com captured a short clip of it which you can see here:

Matchbox collectors will compare Connect Cars to the license plate themed set from a few years back. Releases like this are truly geared towards the “completist” collector, and it should be interesting to see if all 50 castings are released in even quantities across the country. In addition, it should be interesting to see if any variations appear to extend the collectibility beyond the fifty.

These casts will begin to arrive in stores before the end of this month (December 2008). Multi-packs of three cars will also be released. All 50 cars will be available by the end of summer 2009.

What do you think of this new series? Is it a winner or just another re-hash of an old idea? Share your thoughts via the comment form below.

I feel fortunate to live in New England and be a diecast collector. My location in Massachusetts allows me to access about 6 states within a two hour drive, and that opens up an opportunity to connect with many of the clubs that have been established in those areas.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of being invited down to the 2008 Connecticut Valley Diecast (CVD) Holiday Dinner. Club President Ken Cwikla and his staff put together an amazing day full of diecast activities and surprises. It was an honor to join Mike Zarnock and Bob Parker (unfortunately Charlie Mack could not attend) as part of the special guests in attendance. The morning began with the CVD monthly meeting that featured a packed room filled with buy/sell/trade tables and the club’s fantastic downhill racetrack. The Chinese Auction featured many great items to tempt collectors such as a Since ’68 40th Anniversary set and a Burgundy Sledster that was graciously donated by Luis Tanahara and The Custom Crew.

The meeting ended at noon and everyone moved upstairs to take part in the holiday dinner. The dinner tickets also served as part of multiple raffle drawings that were pulled while everyone enjoyed the buffet. After dinner, Ken Cwikla presented the members of the club staff with some surprise (and well deserved) thank you gifts for all their hard work during the year. Ken was also presented with a 1:18 scale Orange Challenger that was signed by the staff and special guests.

The afternoon continued with a few short speeches by Bob Parker and Mike Zarnock. Both of them provided interesting backgrounds on their careers as well as what collectors have in store for events that they will be a part of in 2009. Mike even hinted that he’ll be making a very exciting announcement (involving Mattel?!) in the near future! I also stepped up to the mic to fill collectors in on what has been happening with diecastAUDIO and the great guests we’ve been having on Saturday Nitro Live. Speeches aside, the special guest who got the most attention was good ol’ Saint Nick who arrived in time to hand out some great gifts to the kids. The day wrapped up with autograph session with Bob and Mike where collectors could order copies of their books and have an opportunity to ask questions in a more up close and personal fashion.

Connecticut Valley Diecast is a great family-friendly club and the staff did an amazing job putting on such a great event. I highly recommend that you check out the club’s monthly meetings if you live anywhere in the New England area. They meet on the first Sunday of the month in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. A meeting schedule and directions can be found on the CVD website. Definitely check them out – you’ll be glad you did!

Last Saturday night’s show with Carson Lev is definitely not one to be missed! Carson and I covered a plethora of topics during the monster one hour and 50 minute show! Much of the show centered around highlights from his amazing career with lots of detail about his time at Mattel and now with Redphin Productions and Foose Design. Collectors will want to pay close attention to some of the things Carson reveals towards the middle of the show about the future of the Foose line of diecast!

As a reminder, these shows are done LIVE on Saturday nights which means that you can participate by calling in and asking questions directly to our special guests! Be sure to check the official schedule on the Saturday Nitro site for a list of upcoming shows.

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page of check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

During November’s meeting, Rhode Island Hot Wheels Club President, Jim Lombari announced that Mattel will be partnering with the club to be a part of Hot Wheels Summer Smash 2009 which is officially scheduled for August 27-30 in Warwick, Rhode Island. The club’s hard work in raising $20,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation played a big hand in gaining Mattel’s attention and everyone is excited and honored to have them be a part of next year’s event.

Stay tuned for more details on this great partnership!