Just as American collectors will be waking from their “Turkey-induced food comas,” Pope Designs will be launching this year’s Christmas Bus sale. Pope’s 2011 Santa Express VW Drag Bus will officially go on-sale this Friday, November 25th with a limited edition quantity of just 16 pieces.

Of those 16, 12 will be “Standard Editions” featuring Metallic Evergreen paint with Pro-Circuit rimmed front tires. The remaining 4 will be the coveted “Diamond Edition” featuring Metallic Gold paint job along with Redline Real Rider tires. Both editions come mounted in an acrylic case with original Pope Designs artwork on the backdrop card.

Each bus will be available for $90 (plus $6 shipping) on a first-come, first served basis via the Pope Designs eBay page. Diamond Editions will be randomly inserted into orders in place of the Standard Edition. Be sure to visit the Pope Designs Sales Page for more information and to see additional photos of the bus!

Join me in wishing Pro Diecast Customizer and Diecast Hall of Fame Inductee Bryan Pope a very Happy Birthday! Stay in touch with everything going on at Pope Designs by joining the mailing list, “friending” Bryan on Facebook and “liking” the Pope Designs Facebook page.

Bryan’s next convention appearance will be at the Summer Smash coming up on August 25th thru the 28th. Be sure to visit the official Summer Smash website for more info on tickets and accommodations.

It will be the ONLY way for collectors to get the remaining Pope Designs 5th Anniversary Camaros now that the online sale is over!

Pope Designs continues their 5th Anniversary celebrations with the release of this limited edition “Atlantic City” VW Drag Bus. Limited to just 30 pieces, this bus was created as an offering to the attendees of the upcoming Diecastspace Dragbus Getaway at the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

The Pope Designs 5th Anniversary VW Drag Bus features Real Rider front tires, Anniversary artwork, an acrylic case, a custom backdrop insert and the all new custom acrylic case sleeve packaging that was designed exclusively for the Anniversary series. As an added bonus, each bus will include a Pope Designs 5th Anniversary Pin mounted inside the case.

Fortunately for collectors, Pope Designs has decided to make a quantity of these buses available to their online fans first and will be holding a special sale this weekend. Here are the details:

Date: Sunday, May 8 2011
Time: 9:00pm EST
Where: eBay.com
Seller ID: pope-designs
Quantity: 15
Sale Price: $100 + $7 S&H (USD)

Click either image to see the larger version

There are still a number of Pope Designs casting in the works that will be coming out during the remainder of the year. Be sure to head over to PopeDesigns.com and sign up for their e-mail list to be alerted when new offerings become available!

February 28, 2011 was the day I finally had to leave Las Vegas and go home to New Jersey. Not that I didn’t miss my wife and son [I did] and not that I didn’t have to go back to work [I did], but I was leaving with the 2011 DiecastSpace Super Convention in my wake. For four days I celebrated diecast, friends, fun, food and Vegas; what more could you ask!  Plus I actually got to meet one of my personal celebrity idols to boot! I must congratulate CJ and the entire DiecastSpace crew for executing a well run convention, as well as Lee Pearlman and his Liberty Promotions staff for their wonderful events!

I hadn’t been on the convention circuit for a while so it was so good to get back into the swing of it, re-connect with old friends and make new ones as well. The DCS Supcon was held in a new venue this year; the Tropicana Hotel rather than the Circus Circus Hotel of the past two years. Both hotels have their pluses and minuses when it comes to hosting a convention, but overall this hotel was a fine choice. The one thing I couldn’t get over was the friendliness of the hotel staff! I know the Tropicana is trying to reconstruct itself [there was a lot of that going on throughout the convention] but also reinvent itself. It showed through the staff, hotel remodeling and a host of other things. A lack of low priced food offerings within the hotel was the biggest detriment but there were some close by if you didn’t mind walking a bit.

CJ, Bob, Jeff, Cullen, Tony, Paul and the whole DCS crew tend to think a little outside the normal convention box and it makes for a nice overall event! Diecast Uno continues to be one of my favorite events at any DiecastSpace conventions. My table of nine consisted of my long time friends Bryan Pope, Connie Basham [2011 HOF Inductee], Jason Scull from NM and his girlfriend Gina, as well as good convention friends Carl, Larry and Joey and a brand new friend Sherrie Hoffman from OR. I won’t say play became ruthless, but it sure was competitive! Tables were supposed to play 5 games and the best of 5 games winner moves onto to the final. Well, we took the longest and had five different people win who then had a one game playoff! It was lots of fun!

Another enjoyable part of the convention for me is the annual customs contest. For an admitted non artist; I am always amazed at the creations these talented diecast customizers come up with. Bryan Pope, Chris Walker, Kazy Kishi and so many more have imaginations that actually come to life! This year the Amateur entries could rival the Pros and the Pro entries were so well done it was hard to choose a favorite. In the end a handful of customizers won some well deserved awards!

The Hall of Fame induction dinner was probably the highlight of my convention trip. Not only was my good friend Connie Basham inducted in the Intriguing Collector category, but I got to meet Richard Petty, Shirley Muldowney and Tommy Ivo who were also 2011 inductees. Mr. Petty is a gracious man, and I even got my picture taken with him! Shirley Muldowney and Tommy Ivo had interesting stories to wow the dinner crowd too. As always Chris Parker (HWC) from Mattel [another 2011 inductee] was on hand to liven up the event with his trademark callouts and silly string attacks! CJ also had musical entertainment in the form of a mother/daughters trio that performed several beautiful songs. One of the biggest surprises of the night was that the HOF induction portion of the night was hosted by none other than Dennis Gage from TV’s “My Classic Car!” He was a fill-in for Joe Kelly Jr. who had hosted this event for the last 2 years. Dennis was very jovial and tried to interject his own style into his hosting duties. He did a great job! I got a chance to meet him briefly before the event, and he was very affable and funny! I hope he returns in the future! Another highlight of the HOF event was having many of the attending past and present Hall of Fame inductees sign a special convention poster! The after-party awards announcements were also a BLAST; a Silly String Blast that is; get the picture [WINK WINK]!

Liberty Promotions continues to spice up the Diecastspace conventions by running their very popular scavenger hunt, as well as Wheel of Fortune – both of which allow collectors to try and win some rare Rebel Run prizes. I must admit I tried the scavenger hunt Thursday and Friday with no luck [and got into some trouble with hotel security while searching-cant really say anymore-Thanks.] and was going to give up on Saturday. I’m glad I didn’t because I eventually found one of LP’s secret scrolls and bagged myself a Rebel Run Camaro Convention car!

The Charity Auction on Friday night had some rare and tasty goodies for everyone to ogle over and possibly purchase. Many 1-of-1 customs and original pieces of diecast oriented artwork from the likes of Carson Lev and Mike Lavallee were available to bid on. Many of the auction lots rang up high dollar amounts for some worthy charities. Unfortunately, everything I was interested in quickly went past my price range – but it was fun anyway!

The sales floor and exhibition center of the Tropicana was still under construction but that didn’t deter many well known diecast manufacturers, retailers and exhibitors from participating at the Super Convention this year. Manufacturers like Greenlight, M2 Machines and Maisto showed their newest wares while retailers like HOTCASES.com, Nickelcast and Prestige Hobbies had a vast array of cars to purchase. In addition, a collection of unique real 1:1 scale custom cars showed up each day and delighted convention goes. It’s wonderful that so many different vendors and collectors can come together under a united front.

Other convention events included Bingo and the RAOK party. Bingo as always draws a big crowd and made 10 people very happy by winning prizes [not me though but I still fun!]. The RAOK party is also a free event for people to meet each other and share any RAOKs they may have brought. I didn’t stay long at the RAOK party because I had already planned to get together with friends for something else, but I heard everyone who attended had a good time!

Another big highlight for me was to be able to assist one of my best friends Bryan Pope in his annual Pope Designs Las Vegas custom car sale. This year’s design was the “DCS Girls VW T1 Tour Bus.” There were also six of the DCS Girls on hand to assist with the event! How’s that for something to “Get your Motor Running!” The lovely Renee donned a pink Pope Designs t-shirt to assist in pulling all of the winning tickets, while the equally charming Shelby and Angela were our number card girls who held up the winning ticket numbers for everyone to see. The other 3 DCS Girls were signing autographs and taking pictures with all of the eager fans participating in the sale. They were very well received to say the least!

Seventy eight eager people lined up for more than an hour before the sale start time to insure their ability to obtain a ticket allowing them to enter a drawing to buy one of 41 buses available! A special highlight of this year’s sale was that Bryan had a free 1 of 1 Double Diamond version of the T1 Tour Bus up for raffle for all ticket holders after the sale. I was happy to see many long time Pope Designs fans show up and even win a T1, but was more amazed at the first time winners and their back stories.

One winner this year was Las Vegas’s own Brandan Terkel. Last year Brandan was at the Super Convention hobbling around in a lot of pain on crutches. This year he had fully recovered and even opened a diecast business named CDCToyz.com (who was also a convention sponsor). Brandan and his dad Rand are huge diecast fans and Pope Designs supporters, so it was good to see one of them win. Brandan and Rand are nice, honest people, and you should definitely check out their site!

Another first time T1 winner was Martin Cruz from the Philippines. Before the official sale began, Martin told me that the one of the biggest reasons he wanted to come to Las Vegas this year was to win a Pope Designs T1! Martin is a member of the Diecast Car Collectors of the Philippines [DCPH]. It seems Martin wasn’t supposed to come to the convention this year but was offered the chance at the last minute when one of the club’s members had to bow out. Martin quickly seized the opportunity to come with his goal of winning a T1!

The final collector story involves four members of the Sipple Family from Cincinnati Ohio. Mom Melva, son Bruce, Bruce’s wife Jessica, and Melva’s daughter/Bruce’s sister Lorrie Davis all attended the convention together. It was Lorrie’s second time but her family’s first -and what a time they had. Jessica won a Pope T1 standard version, Bruce won a Pope T1 Diamond version and Mom Melva won the 1 of 1 PD Double Diamond version of the T1! Although Lorrie didn’t win a Pope T1, she did win a raffle prize at the Charity Auction. The family also managed to win a total of 4 Rebel Run Camaros in the Liberty Promotions Treasure Quest Scavenger Hunt! Talk about luck!  There are several photos from the T1 Bus sale on the Pope Designs’s wesbite, so be sure to check them out!

I was glad to receive some unique code 3 custom Hot Wheels as event cars as well as purchase several 80’s Majorettes I didn’t have as well as a mint Yatming Porsche 924 that I didn’t know existed so I was very happy! Other vendors had Hot Wheels from current to back to 60’s Redlines, many different Matchboxes from all eras, as well as a nice supply of JLs and lots of other brands in all scales. Room to room trading was on a few floors and offered some varied choices and good prices!

Even Sunday morning; when everyone else was leaving turned out to be one of the most hysterical events I personally have ever seen at a convention. The sight of a previous HOF inductee [try to guess] barreling down a hotel hallway in only their undershorts surprising then spraying a newly appointed HOF inductee [try to guess] with Silly String and then running off will forever be burned into my mind!  As you can see, Silly String plays an important role at Diecastspace conventions!

The whole time I was there; I was greeted warmly by fellow collectors I hadn’t seen in a while who welcomed me back into the convention fold. It was a great feeling! As with any group who has similar interests, there is an unspoken bond between collecting brothers [and a large and growing number of sisters] that we get each other and don’t judge this strange addiction to little cars. There will always be people who take collecting way too seriously, as well as those who lean towards amassing and flipping diecast as a way to make extra cash.  That’s OK too; to each his own!

Combining all of these great activities and friends together in a location like Las Vegas was the icing on the cake! I have had wonderful times at pretty much every convention I have attended no matter where it is held or who/what organization is hosting it, but I think Las Vegas is just a fantastic place, so it makes this convention that much more enjoyable. As of now, I don’t know when or if I will be able to get to another convention this year. I would love to go to the L.A. area Strauss convention this coming October for their 25th anniversary, but I’ll have to wait and see. The Macungie, Pennsylvania 2-day outdoor toy show in August is definitely on my list. That show is something my friends Bill, Tony and Lisa and I just can’t miss!

I’ve said it before and I will say it again; going to diecast conventions to me has become more about connecting with friends, laughing together and celebrating diecast. If I find something to buy or win something; it’s even better! Who wouldn’t want to share this experience with people you enjoy hanging out with; that is what life should be all about in the first place!

As always, I enjoy your comments – so definitely let me know if you went to Las Vegas this February or share any other positive convention experiences you have had in the past!

Pope Designs is preparing for an extra special holiday season this year as Christmas 2010 will mark their 5th anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, a new version of the Kringle Delivery Service VW Drag Bus has been created. The original graphics from the first version sold four Christmas seasons ago have been updated and applied to a great selection of two-tone colors.

Collectors of Pope Designs work are well aware of the highly sought after “Diamond Editions” which typically feature real rubber front tires and are produced in a lower quantity. This time around, the Diamond Edition has been eliminated as all the buses in the run will feature real rubber tires and an even number of each color have been produced.

Here are details for the sale:

Where: eBay
Date for Both Auctions: Friday November 26, 20 (Black Friday)
Time for Both Auctions: 9pm EST, 8pm CST, 7pm MST, 6pm PST
Auction #1 Name: Kringle Delivery Frosty Blue Holiday VW Bus 2.0
Auction #2 Name: Kringle Delivery Holiday Gold Holiday VW Bus 2.0
Auction #1 Quantity Available: 15 Combo #1: Frosty Blue
Auction #1 Quantity Available: 15 Combo #2: Holiday Gold
Price: $115 Each
Shipping: $8 (PD ships both domestically and internationally)

Collectors who are lucky enough to purchase both color combinations will get matching production numbers for the set. Please visit the official Pope Designs website for more information on this great sale.

There are a growing number of collectors in the diecast community who question the merits of collecting customized pieces or the so-called Code 3 class of diecast.  That question is becoming more relevant as an increasing number of diecast customizers appear on the scene and that the Diecastspace.com KustomKon Conference (the first ever event geared specifically for diecast customizers) just wrapped up this month in Dallas. Here is a short explanation of Code 3 diecast (or Codes 1 and 2 for that matter) for those of you that may be unfamiliar with the term(s).

Code 1

A Code 1 diecast refers to a casting/model built by an established manufacturer that is available to the general public via some form of mass market outlet.  Examples of this are Mattel’s Hot Wheels and Matchbox, Johnny Lightning, Greenlight Collectibles, etc. which are sold thru outlets like Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, and Target, a local independent hobby/toy store, supermarkets, drug stores etc, etc, or thru a hobby specialist website like Milezone.com or 1stopdiecast.com.

There is also a new, smaller group of Code 1 diecast that has also come into play only within the last few years. Three players have emerged bringing forth their own lines of brand new castings and covering them with some pretty wild themes. This new breed of diecast manufacturer includes Dave Chang’s Kustomcity EVO line, Lou Tanahara’s Custom Crew Sledster line, and the recently introduced Dreamliner line by Chris “Nightstalker” Walker’s Alien Projects. All of these independents have conceived fresh castings, produced on a limited basis, by independent manufacturers, and are sold thru venues like conventions and internet websites. All of these brands have a growing fan base of admirers and collectors, as well as escalating prices for their rarer models. These newcomers bring a fresh perspective as to the direction the diecast collecting hobby is going in years to come.

Code 2

A Code 2 diecast car is a casting/model that is built by an established diecast manufacturer again like Mattel, Jada, or M2 Machines etc, etc to be sold exclusively by only a select retail outlet(s) or website like McDonalds kids’ meal promos or only being sold to select people who are part of a members only club like Mattel’s RLC, the older Snap-On dealer exclusives or the Johnny Lightning Collectors Club.  These Code 2 cars are usually sold in a limited quantity run or sold only for a short time or maybe even both.

Another type of Code 2 cars are ones made for specific diecast conventions by various major manufacturers. The cars are generally commissioned by a private party or convention promoter and sold only to people admitted by paid admission to the event. This even applies to the convention’s traditional Sunday toy show where the general public is invited in. Usually the public is either let in shortly after the convention-goers have entered or are charged a fee to enter. Examples of this type of Code 2 cars include pieces offered by the Strauss conventions, The Gathering of Friends, Lightning Fest and other events. If a non-club member or non convention-goer wanted to purchase these cars they would have to go on a secondary market like eBay or a toy show.  These cars are also usually made in limited quantity, and no more are made once the outlet that commissioned the car is sold out. 

Sometimes there are occasions when the Code 1 and Code 2 lines are blurred and things get a little confusing. Examples of cars like this are; Target exclusive tin cars, Wal-mart exclusive paint jobs, K-Mart day exclusive cars and even cars for the K-Mart and Toys R Us mail-away promotions.

I feel that cars exclusive to Target, Wal-Mart, or K-Day but can be bought at the store level are prime examples of cars that fall into the Code 1 category.  Even though the cars are usually more limited in production that most Code 1 cars and there will be people who don’t have access to the stores selling these cars in their area; they are still available to the general public in and they are still made in much higher numbers than most Code 2 cars.

I feel cars like the ones that are part of K-Mart and Toys R Us mail-away promotions tend to fall into the Code 2 category. These pieces typically require the collector to gather receipts and proofs of purchase in order to receive them. If you don’t go to those particular stores and collect the necessary requirements needed to obtain the car, you would have to buy or trade for them elsewhere. Other examples of Code 2 cars include those made exclusively as a corporate promotion. Examples of these would include pieces from the likes of Snap-On tools or cars for a diecast hobby specialist website. These cars are also usually made in a limited number, are available for a limited time, and may only be available as a mail-in, in-store offer, or through the a specific website. It often helps to join the mailing lists for these locations so you’ll get advance notice of their impending sales.

Code 3

Code 3 diecast cars are simpler to explain, but are often categorized into different sub-categories.  This type of diecast is typically created from an established manufacturer’s casting, stripped of their original paint, tampos and packaging; then re-painted and re-packaged by someone else.  There has been a surge in the sales of custom diecast pieces during the last 4 years. Most custom diecast pieces, but not all (I would say 85%), are created from Hot Wheels castings. Some “diecast customizers” come up with pretty amazing designs that are quite different from what is typically found on Code 1 and 2 cars. Some Code 2 cars do rise above the sometimes humdrum norm of diecast design and are very distinctive; but most never capture the uniqueness of Code 3 customs.  

One of the largest and most well-known Code 3 customizers is Liberty Promotions [LP].  They produce models with custom themes in quantities that tend to average around 2500 cars per run.  LP’s models are collected by a broad array of collectors, and the secondary market prices for some of their rarer “Rebel Run” issues can become very expensive. I would even believe that some newbie collectors are unaware that LP’s cars are actually customs. I usually joke with my friends that LP has become so well known their cars should be classified as a Code 2 ½!

The current crop of top customizers who sell their work include a diverse spectrum of people like Jimmy “The Boxman” Chavez who is known for both his wild packaging (and indoor sunglasses!) to others like Diecastspace.com Diecast Hall of Fame inductees Bryan Pope of Pope Designs, Chris “Nightstalker” Walker of Alien Projects, Vince “V-Man” Mosley, Jay Holt of Execution Customs and Sherry Abbey. These customizers have built a large following of adoring fans who try to gobble up their customs as soon as they become available. They have been honored over and over again with custom contest awards for their creations.

Popular “up and comers” in the customizing arena are folks like Dino LaSpada (LB Customz),  Tony Monzon (SDChopShop) and “Crazy” Kazy Kishi and Chojiro of Japan- who are crafting wild and far out pieces that win the admiration of their peers and dazzle people like me who can barely draw stick figures! There are also many, many more great customizers out there just producing for the love of customizing. I can’t even begin to list all of their names, but I have been fascinated with their work for a long time.

The next type of code 3 cars has really exploded over the last few years; the RAOK!  What’s a RAOK you ask?  It’s a gift of a car given from one person to another as a sign of friendship without expectation of a return gift.  It’s a [R]andom [A]ct [O]f [K]indness gift!  Custom RAOKs are passed out between friends/acquaintances at a convention or a local club party/meeting.  Most Custom ROAKs are usually created/commissioned by the giver and are in a baggie with a custom printed header card. I love receiving RAOKs and am very appreciative of all the cars I have been given over the years from so many different people; especially since there is no way I can reciprocate for reasons previously mentioned in the last paragraph.

Code 3 cars also figure prominently at diecast conventions. For many years the Strauss series of conventions have used Code 3 cars as prizes for their Button Bingo, Poker, and Dinner giveaways as well as their Newsletter member appreciation car. Most Code 3 cars given away by Strauss come in a vast array of colors with some very low production numbers that add to their collectability. Other conventions venues like Diecastspace.com and the RIHWC Summer Smash conventions utilize code 3 cars as their convention and souvenir pieces. These are usually made by a wide selection of admired customizers who add an air of distinction to the piece. Many of these pieces are also becoming very collectible and sought after.

And even after all of the examples I have brought up about various Code 3 diecast cars; many people still don’t think they are worth collecting.  So here are my answers to the many questions/concerns still out there about collecting Code 3 cars:

Q/C) Some people think that since Code 3 cars aren’t built by a major manufacturer, their collectability and future value suffer.
A) Untrue.  As cited above many Liberty Promotions Rebel Runs go up in value.  This is also the case for many Strauss, Pope Designs, Nightstalker, and Dave Chang EVO customs as well. 

Q/C) Some people feel they can’t justify the purchase price of some customs for sale.
A)  Many people only have a limited amount of funds these days and need to spend their money wisely.   This is all the more reason to buy only the diecast you really like.  If you factor in the time, materials, and limited production numbers of many diecast for sale vehicles; you can see why they cost what they do.  Most people buy customs because they enjoy the individuality of the cars vs. the commonality of mainline diecast or relate to the theme and appreciate the time it took build the car.

Q/C) I never seem to know when the customs for sale cars are available and miss out.
A)  This is where the buyer has to do their due diligence and invest a little time.  There are a few things you can do to insure you are in the loop or know when you can buy a customizer’s next offering.

1. Join a customizer’s website email announcement list.  Most customizers have one and you will always know when one of their cars is up for sale either online or at a convention.  You’ll have to have fast fingers to buy most customs online so set your alarm for five minutes before sale time to make sure you’re on the net and ready to buy.
2. If you have the time or can afford to do so, go to a diecast convention at least once in your collecting career.  Conventions will open your eyes up to a whole new side of collecting.  Here is where you can make friends and connections and learn about custom collecting first hand.
3. Scan auction sites like eBay, Scoomer, and The Toy Peddler or go to your local hobby show.  Even though you may possibly have to pay higher secondary market prices for a custom, you can pick and choose the designs you like best.  There will always be folks who buy a custom piece to try and flip it for a profit.  This may take it away from someone interested who won’t flip it but capitalism is what makes the world go around.  Only the collector has the power and final say whether the price of admission is too high or not.

So, should diecast collectors consider collecting custom pieces?  It boils down to so many factors and tastes that some say there isn’t just a yes or no answer but I say yes; collect the customs you like and can afford. They will bring a fresh perspective and centerpiece to your collection as well as a hot topic amongst your friends both enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. 

As the title of this article says, the beauty of a custom is truly in the eye of the collector and if you pursue the beauty of custom diecast, I’m sure you will find it to be a great new place to explore. As always, I welcome everyone’s opinion and thoughts about this article.  Let me know what you think in the comments section below!

Pope Designs rolls into the the 2010 fall season with this first-ever online-only Halloween offering that is sure to grab the attention of Pope and Drag Bus fans alike.

The Standard Edition features festive ember-glow burnt orange paint and basic wheels while the Diamond Edition is dressed in Toxic Green and features Real Rider White Letter tires. Both versions come packaged in an acrylic case with an original Pope Designs artwork backdrop.

Click any image to see a larger version

Only 20 “Bat-Pumpkin” VW Drag buses were produced, and the details of the sale are as follows:

• Quantity Produced: 15 Standard Edition / 5 Diamond Edition
  Quantity For Sale: 13 Standard Edition / 4 Diamond Edition
  When: Friday October 1st, 2010
• Time: 9pm EST, 8pm CST, 7pm MST, 6pm PST
  Where: eBay
  Auction Title: Pope Designs Bat-Pumpkin Drag Bus
  Price: $115.00 each (plus $8 shipping, both domestic and international)

  
As always, Pope Designs distributes the Diamond Edition in a random fashion. Be sure to visit the official Pope Designs website for the full story behind the “Bat-Pumpkin” – you’ll be glad you did!

Attendees of the first-ever Canadian Convention kicking off on September 9th in Niagra Falls, Ontario will have the opportunity to obtain two great limited edition Pope Designs creations made in celebration of the event.

The Drag Bus is limited to just 25 pieces (20 Standard, 5 Diamond Edition) of which 20 (16 Standard, 4 Diamond Edition) will be for sale at the convention, and they will be available for $100 each. The time and place of the sale will be posted on the final convention schedule available during registration.

The Dairy Delivery is limited to just 10 pieces and will be sold out of Bryan Pope’s room for $85 each. Convention attendees should look for Pope Designs flyers at the hotel for the location of Bryan’s room.

Stay up to date on all of the latest Pope creations by signing up for the mailing list over on the official Pope Designs website.

Bryan Pope from Pope Designs will once again lend his customizing talents to the Hot Wheels Summer Smash that will roll into Warwick, RI on August 19th through the 22nd. Attendees of this year’s Smash will be able to get their hands on this great looking ‘59 Caddy Funny Car.

Click the image to see a large version

Its refreshing to see Pope utilizing a fresh and unique casting – much to the dismay of Drag Bus fans everywhere! Only 100 of these will be made and they will surely sell out at the Summer Smash, so be sure to get your tickets soon and join us in Rhode Island this August!

Attendees of the upcoming Magical Weekend of Cars in Orlando, Florida will have the opportunity to snag one of these fantastic limited edition VW Drag Buses from Pope Designs. The bus comes as part of the purchase of a ticket to the Pope Designs Experience event and is limited to just 100 pieces!

Click the image to see a larger version

Tickets to the DiecastSpace Magical Weekend of Cars are selling fast, so be sure to visit ToyCarConventions.com for the last information on events and accommodations.

Drag Bus collectors attending the 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention will have the opportunity to snag one of these limited edition creations from Diecast Hall of Fame inductee, Bryan Pope. Each piece features Redline Real Riders, two tone paint, original graphics and will come mounted in an acrylic case.

The sale will take place on Friday, February 19th at 5:30pm in front of Salon 4 at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. The sale will be on a first come first served basis and collectors may not line up earlier than 5pm. Only 20 buses were created and will sell for $100 each with a limit of one per person.

This year’s Christmas offering from Pope Designs arrives just in time for when most of us will finally be emerging from our Thanksgiving food comas (here in the states anyway)! When the sale begins, collectors will have their choice between Drag Bus and Dairy Delivery castings – a first for Pope.

Each casting will be offered via separate eBay auctions. Collectors who managed to purchase one of each, will receive matching numbered pieces.

Between the pair of castings, there were 20 Drag buses produced of which 18 will be available and 15 Dairy Deliveries produced of which 14 will be available. The Bus will sell for $100 (+ $8 shipping) and the Dairy for $80 (+ $8 shipping)

The sale starts on Friday November, 27 2009 at 9pm EST (6pm PST) via the eBay seller id: pope-designs. Be sure to visit the PopeDesigns.com “Upcoming Sales” page for more images and additional information on this great sale!

[via popedesigns.com]

Every now and then something cool slips by me only to surface a short while later. This is one of those times. Just in case you missed it (like I did), here’s a look at the very first e-sheet for the convention cars being produced for the 2010 DiecastSpace Super Convention.

This limited edition Dairy Delivery is being made by Bryan Pope of Pope Designs for the Diecast Hall of Fame Dinner. Tickets to the Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony are available on the official Super Convention website for $100.

This Halloween season, Bryan Pope takes his holiday themed offering in a refreshing direction by offering up a piece that celebrates the spirit of “All Hallows Eve” by integrating the the day’s traditional colors with a “Hellfire” flame design that’s sure to please.

Even more impressive is the Diamond Edition for this run which is officially dubbed, the Black Diamond. This more sought-after piece features an all black exterior, black painted rims, chassis and engine, as well as a ghosted black version of the same Hellfire flames.

There were only 20 buses created for this run, with 15 in the standard design and 5 Black Diamonds. Only 14 standard and 4 Black Diamond will be available when they go on sale at 9pm EST (6pm PST) on Wednesday, October 21st on eBay, where it is listed as the “Pope Designs Blazing Shadow VW Drag Bus.” Each piece comes in an acrylic case with a theme matching back drop for $115.00 plus $7.00 S&H.

Please note that there is a limit of 2 pieces per person. Buying 2 does not guarantee receipt of a Black Diamond edition. All Black Diamond edition buses will be randomly distributed among buyers of the product.

Be sure to visit the official Pope Designs website for more information or to sign up for the Pope Designs email list to be notified in advance of these great offerings.

[via popedesigns.com]

Fans of Bryan Pope’s work might be interested in visiting the Pope Designs website this coming Sunday. This curious little image came in an email yesterday and hints of a potential sale involving what looked like another (and potentially final) offering from the popular “Wild Boar” series.

A quick trip over to the site confirmed that a sale for a “Wild Boar” Dairy Delivery will be forth-coming! The detail page was not available at the time I checked, so be sure to check back with there with the link below if you are interested in joining the quest to obtain this piece.

[via popedesigns.com]

My previous post on the limited edition Summer Smash Hot Wheels Drag Bus from Pope Designs hinted of a potential matching piece from 2009′s Customizer of the Year, Vince “V-Man” Mosley. Well, the rumors were true! On the left is the Yellow Dairy that matches the Pope Summer Smash bus and is limited to 23 pieces. On the right is the Platinum Dairy that features the same great design with a metallic platinum finish, but is limited to just 2 pieces!

Click either image to see the larger version

Both of these beauties will only be available at the Smash, with the Platinum version being available as part of the charity auction. Price of the yellow dairy is still TBD. Visit the official Summer Smash web site for additional information on tickets and accommodations.

2009 has been a busy year for Bryan Pope. His work has not only gained the attention of collectors, but has attracted convention promoters as well. Limited runs of Pope commissioned pieces have appeared at the Super Convention, the Collector Nationals in Reston and the Hotlanta Collector Experience. Even more pieces will also be part of the upcoming Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels and Summer Smash conventions.

With a list of conventions like that you can certainly imagine the great selection of limited edition pieces event attendees have been able to take advantage of! However, Pope Designs has not forgotten their most loyal customers; their ONLINE customers!

On Wednesday July 22nd, at 9pm EST, the classic Pope Designs online sale returns with the VW Dragulance! In order to keep the price down, the quantity has been raised a bit to a total of 23 pieces in the run. This will also give collectors a better chance at obtaining one during the typical online mad-dash. 19 of the 23 will be the standard edition with the remaining 4 being the coveted “Diamond Edition.”

Each bus will sell for $90 (USD) plus $7.50 (USD) for shipping under eBay seller name “pope-designs.” Visit the Pope Designs website for more details on this highly detailed piece that you don’t want to miss!

[via popedesigns.com]

Up until now, we’ve only been able to see the e-sheet for the limited edition Pope Designs Camaro that will be part of the Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels Ladies Lunch honoring Shirley Wood. The run is now complete, and I’ve just received these shots of the final piece. All I can say is WOW!

Now all I have to do is convince my wife to attend!

Click either image to see a larger version

Be sure to visit the official Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6 web site for more information on tickets and accommodations for this event coming to Connecticut on July 30th thru August 2nd 2009.

The talented Bryan Pope of Pope Designs has signed up to created a limited run of VW Drag Buses for this year’s Hot Wheels Summer Smash! The bus (shown below) will be limited to just 30 pieces. Each bus will be packaged in a baggy with a matching header card. “…the 30 piece run will be available in a variety of ways during the Smash. Pricing is still to be determined.

And if that’s not awesome enough, rumor has it that Vince “V-Man” Mosley will be creating a matching Dairy Delivery that will also be available at the Smash! Stay tuned!

[via hotwheelssummersmash.com]

Just when you thought the line-up of amazing convention cars for the upcoming Hotlanta Collector Experience couldn’t get any better, Bryan Pope of Pope Designs has announced that a new Legends Dinner Drag Bus will be added to the mix! As previously mentioned, dinner ticket holders will receive the Pope Designs Legends Dinner Camaro as part of their ticket purchase. This new addition will be an additional purchase to be sold immediately following the Legends Dinner. The location, time, quantity and price are still being ironed out.

I’ll be sure to post an update when those details are made available. Until then, feel free to drool over this awesome e-sheet!

Click the image to see a larger version

Bryan Pope of Pope Designs continues to knock’em out of the park with this new bus design that will come to life as the “Paradise Road” event car at the Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6. Each convention attendee who submits a VW Drag Bus or Beach Bomb into the Paradise Road display will receive this Pope Designs creation. Each piece submitted can be loose or carded. Slots are limited and are filling up fast, so be sure to register on the Paradise Road VW Drag Bus and Beach Bomb Reunion page before its too late.

Click the image to see a larger version

[via www.wwhw6.com]

This past Tuesday, the convention promoters at DiecastSpace.com announced that Nascar racing legend Bobby Allison will be the official guest of honor at the Legends Dinner during the Hotlanta Collector Experience this coming June. The announcement states:

“On Saturday June 13, 2009 Hotlanta Collector Experience Legends Dinner is proud to announce a Nascar Legend as our special guest, Mr. Bobby Allison will be on hand to spend time with our guests. The Allison family is a fixture in the auto racing world and is bringing along a very special collectors piece for the charity auction.”

The Legends Dinner is a premium event and requires a ticket purchase. Each ticket includes access to the dinner, a special limited edition Legends Dinner Camaro from Pope Designs and memories that will last for a long time to come! Tickets to this great event are almost sold out. Visit the Hotlanta Collector Experience website for more information.

[via diecastspace.com]

Last week I posted some shots of the cool cars Bryan Pope of Pope Designs is creating for the Hotlanta Collector Experience. This time around I’ll wet your appetite with another Pope creation that will be available at the upcoming Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6 convention.

The pink beauty shown below will given to all the women who attend the Ladies Luncheon honoring Shirley Wood (wife of the “recently retired” Senior Hot Wheels Designer Larry Wood). The luncheon is limited to 50 ladies, so get your tickets soon before they sell out!

Visit WWHW6.COM for more information and pricing on Wild Weekend tickets and premium events.

[via wwhw6.com]

This week we chat with Pro Die-cast Customizer Bryan Pope and dive into how he’s quickly risen through the ranks of customizing in a very short time by combining is expertise in graphic design with his passion for Hot Wheels. Additional topics include Bryan’s great convention parties, on-line and live sale pieces and the upcoming convention pieces he’s been commissioned to create.

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.

Several of the convention pieces for the upcoming Hotlanta Collector Experience have been announced and based on the looks of things, this is turning out to be one heck of a show! An e-sheet for the Pope Designs Legends Dinner Camaro has been posted on DiecastSpace.com for the past few weeks and a Drag Truck from Nightstalker Customs was also announced. The e-sheet for the Drag Truck should be available soon.

This week, a picture of the convention exclusive Batmobile (Limited to 50 with Real Riders!) has surfaced and the RAOK Party Drag Bus from Pope Designs was also just revealed. Pile that on top of the online-only Camaro SS from Johnny Lighting and you can start to see the great level of quality this event will provide! Be sure to visit the Official Collector Experience website for more information on all the cars that will be available at the show.

Click any image to view them up close

[via diecastspace.com]

Just in case a little extra nudge is needed to convince you to attend the DiecastSpace.com Super Convention next February, I’d like to submit this image of the upcoming Pope Designs Saturday Nitro Drag Bus! From the looks of it, we’re guaranteed to see this one sell out in minutes! Besides, you just can’t go wrong with Shane at the wheel and me riding shotgun!

Click to see the full image

Stay tuned for additional information on when, where and how much!

[via diecastspace.com]

Customs fans rejoice! An extra special 1 of 1 Pope Designs “LOCO AVENTURA” VW Drag Bus has been put up for auction (only on eBay) for those Pope Designs fans who can’t make it to the die cast exhibition in Mexico [and even for those who can; Pope doesn't discriminate!].

It features a FIERY PEARL RED, WHITE, AND GREEN FLAMED paint job to honor the Mexican exhibition. It also features Real Rider White Wall tires and a gleaming chrome chassis! This unique bus will be complemented by a 10 bus run of an alternate paint schemed bus to be sold exclusively in Mexico City at the Sunday September 8th toy show. That version will feature an enamel red, white, and green flamed paint scheme with Pro-circuit rimmed tires.

It’s not often Pope Designs offers a 1 of 1 of anything so you can expect this bus to be highly sought after!

Bookmark this auction, break out the piñata, salsa and cervezas, and celebrate Pope Design’s first international exploration! It’s the start of a “world” of possibilities for Pope Designs!

Click either image to see them up close!

Note: at the time of this posting, the bus has 5 bids and is currently selling for $314.99!

[via pope-designs on eBay]

Its with great pride and pleasure that I introduce to you, the first ever diecastAUDIO VW Drag Bus! This ultra-limited piece is the result of the hard work and incredible talents of Bryan Pope of Pope Designs and had been designed to appeal to diecastAUDIO and VW Drag bus fans alike. Not only is this the first time I’ve ever commissioned a piece of die-cast that will be available to collectors, but its also the official debut of the brand new website logo that was also created by Pope Designs!

The diecastAUDIO VW Drag Bus sports a sun-kissed silver custom paint job, hand painted details and will be mounted in an acrylic case – all for only $80.00! We also couldn’t let these special debuts go by without cranking up the exclusivity of the bus by making sure that there’s a Diamond Edition as well! The Diamond Edition will feature white letter, Real Rider tires to set it apart from the standard edition.

Unlike the traditional offerings from Pope Designs, there will be 2 ways that everyone can try to obtain this exclusive bus. It will be sold ONLINE and LIVE at this year’s inaugural SUMMER SMASH Convention in Rhode Island. There will be a total of 25 buses produced in all, with 20 available for sale. We will hold back (1) Diamond Edition and (4) Regular models for special guests. Here are the details of the sale:

Online
• Date: Friday, August 22nd 2008
• Time: 9PM EST, 6PM PST
• Where: eBay, Seller Name: pope-designs
• Sale Name: diecastAUDIO VW Drag Bus
• Quantity: 8 Standard; 2 Diamond
• Price: $80.00 + $10 S/H

Summer Smash

• Date: Friday, August 22nd 2008
• Time: 10PM EST
• Where: Hotel Room TBA
• Seller Name: Bryan Pope
• Quantity: 8 Standard; 2 Diamond
• Price: $80.00, Cash Only!

Pope Designs guarantees all sales of the Diamond Edition version (both online and live at Summer Smash) to be completely random and fair so that everyone has a chance at obtaining one. Once all the buses are sold, no more will be produced, so we hope that everyone interested will be able to purchase one.

Special thanks to Pope Designs for all the time, effort and hard work that went into making this bus a reality!

Take care and we look forward to seeing you at SUMMER SMASH!

[via popedesigns.net]