Maisto is one company that is very hard to find up to date release information on. In this article I will attempt to inform you of all the 1/64th scale car lines they have to offer and show some photos of some of their line. The main two lines are: All-Stars and Pro-Rods, with sub categories to each.

Series 9.2 includes: ’36 & ’37 Ford coupe; ’32 Ford Roadster; ’36 Chevy Pickup; ’29 Ford Model A; ’50 Merc.

SUB-Series include: Tour Buses – Red and Blue colors. Fresh Pair – Two cars released together in a single pack. Transporters – 4 color choices. Elite Transporters – A Flatbed style truck w/car; a Tow Truck w/car; and Pickup w/trailer and car. Limousine – Stretched cars and SUV’s. Rescue Force – Police and other emergency vehicles.

Cars include: ’65 Mustang; ’62 Chevy Biscayne Wagon; ’62 Chevy Bel-Air; ’55 Nomad; ’67 Mustang GT; ’69 Corvette; ’70 Nova. Some cars have exposed engines which are: ’71 Vega; ’93 Mustang Cobra; ’70 GTX; ’64 Galaxie 500; ’68 Camaro Z28. A sub-series in the Pro-Rods line is the Haulerz line which has four styles of cabs to choose from.

* – 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 we look at another 50′s styled custom Hot Wheels – the ’69-70 issued Nomad.

Here’s a cool fact about this car. It first appeared as a concept show car for General Motors Motorama traveling caravan of car shows. The concept was GM’s first station wagon bodied dream car. It was originally built on a stretched 1953 Corvette chassis and appeared as a 1954 show car called the Chevrolet Nomad. It had a 54 corvette body with the trademark Nomad ribbed roof, full quarter panel side glass and rear hatch. Thank god the design gurus at GM thought better and left the Corvette as a 2 door sports car and shifted the Nomad design to the all new 1955 Bel Air chassis!

Hot Wheels designers kept most of the Nomad styling intact rounding out the wheel opening to give the car a lower stance for orange track racing. Other features were an opening hood, metal chassis, an interior in white only and an exterior available in 12 spectra flame colors.

About the “roofless” Nomad shown: Well, my brother took a hammer to that one in 1971, so I cut off the back and made the “El Nomadino!”
Restored in purple spectra.

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

Now that the latest Kmart Collectors Day has come and gone, the special events continue with the Kmart 2008 HOT WHEELS Collector Edition ’56 Chevy Nomad Promotion! Mattel teams up with Kmart for this type of special offer just a few times a year, and collectors are certainly in for a treat during this 40th Anniversary celebration.

Just as in the past, this is a 20-for-1 mail-in promotion. Simply buy 20 select Hot Wheels basic cars at any Kmart and send in the full card backs as well as a check or money order for $3.00. In return Mattel will send you a gorgeous Hot Wheels Collector Edition ’56 Chevy Nomad with the following great features:

• - Mate black paint
• - The classic Hot Wheels flame in red and white on the sides
• - Red stripes on the top
• - 40th Anniversary Logo
• - Real Riders five-spoke wheels with red stripe tampo
• - Metal body, chassis and engine
• - Light smoke-tinted windshield

Collectors should note that the original announcement for the promotion mentioned that the ’56 Nomad would include an opening hood. Since then Mattel has updated the announcement to let collectors know that the final version will no longer be including that feature. Despite that change, this 40th Anniversary Nomad is a great looking piece! Be sure to visit the official promotion announcement on HotWheelsCollectors.com for additional information including details on which card backs are acceptable for this promotion.

[via hotwheelscollectors.com]