Today I Opened A '70 Chevelle SS Wagon

Today I opened a '70 Chevelle SS Wagon from the Hot Wheels Garage series.  To my surprise there was a dent in the hood just forward of the hood scoop as well as related paint damage.  The blister pack showed no signs of abuse.  

Now I'm sorry but it's bad enough I have to put up with dents and dings on my real car; toy cars are fantasy.

For more about the Chevelle family may I suggest Chevelle SS 1964-1972: A Muscle Car Source Book or if you prefer large scale diecast Revell 1:25 '70 Chevelle SS 454.

Dogs and Cars

Dogs.  Cars.  Dogs and cars.  There's something magical about the way they go together.  I love seeing dogs with their head out the window, hair/fur flying back in the wind.  People like riding in cars.  And so apparently do dogs.  Toy car companies picked up on this concept years ago witness these fine examples.  And the tradition continues today.

1960s Matchbox MG 1100

1982 Hot Wheels Mercedes 380SEL (1994 release)

You can spot the pooch in the back seat of the Mercedes.  Too bad the owner left the window up.

1985 Hot Wheels Dream Van XGW

  The Dream Van reveals the napping dog inside when you open the cool gull-wing door. 

2010 Matchbox '71 Olds Vista-Cruiser

Mattel continues the tradition with their new castings of Oldsmobile and Pontiac wagons.

2010 Hot Wheels Custom 1966 GTO Wagon

If you're a fan of older Matchbox toy cars you'll want Charlie Mack's excellent book Encyclopedia of Matchbox Toys (A Schiffer Book for Collectors).

 

If your favorite '90s band is the same as my daughter's you'll like I Want Candy.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy new year.  If you're in a reflective mood listen to Dan Fogelberg's Same Old Lang Syne.  Prefer to ring out the old and ring in the new?  There's George Harrison's Ding Dong, Ding Dong from Dark Horse.  For the traditional you simply can't beat The Beach Boys' Auld Lang Syne from their classic Christmas Album.

The best is yet to come.  Cheers!

Batmobile Four-1 (Bat-1)

Hot Wheels Four-1

The Hot Wheels Four-1 is a custom design along the lines of a Smart car. This pint-size vehicle sports a huge 4 cylinder engine where a passenger might otherwise sit.  The black paint and wing-like rollbar extension  immediately reminded me of the Batmobile.  The blue windshield recalls one of my favorite toys: the Corgi #267 TV Batmobile from the 60s TV series.  The blue wheels allude to the glowing hubs on the Batmobile from Batman Forever.

The "Bat-1" (No room for Robin in this 1)

I removed most of the graphics from the side and the racing number from the rollbar.  The Corgi Batmobile inspired the bat sticker on the door for a retro touch.

The Bat-1 in front of a 1966 movie poster

 

King of the Kustomizers: The Art of George Barris is a fantastic book that covers many of Barris' creations including the 1966 TV Batmobile.

If you're a fan of the 1966 Batmobile you'll want this incredibly detailed 1:18 scale  Hot wheels 1966 Batmobile Elite Version Limited.  Mattel scanned Barris' 1:1 car to generate the casting. 

I'd Like To See A Hot Wheels Chaparral 2J

The 2J had two snowmobile engines turning props that sucked the car to the ground.  The boxy back end with enclosed wheel wells kept the air in and created the suction footprint. 
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I have a cool Tyco HO racer from childhood like the one in this pic..

Jim Hall created some of the most innovative Can-Am race cars of all time.  To read more about the man and the cars there's this cool book (click on picture to buy from Amazon):




If you'd rather race than read there's this cool Scalextric slot car: