Happy Valentine's Day from the Lamley Group...

Instead of a little perforated card with Lightning McQueen asking you to Be Mine, our Valentine's Day present to you will be pics of this little red looker you have probably not seen before.

Enjoy the pics, and then shut off your computer, turn off your phone, give your iPad a rest, and go give someone special some well-deserved attention...

Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels Alfa Romeo 8C in red...

You knew it was coming...

Many were surprised when Hot Wheels released the first version of the Alfa Romeo 8C in black.  Red is a signature Alfa color, and most photos we have seen of the 8C are in red.  But something makes us wonder if another Italian automaker that shares red as a signature color demanded that only their models debut in red.  Hence, a black Alfa.

But never fear, the 8C is being recolored in 2014, and it is in fact red.  This is the first photo we have seen of the recolor.  It doesn't show if the wheels have changed (we doubt they have), but we can see what color it is:

Is all correct with the world again?

If we see more pics, we will be sure to share them.  Until then, you can get your red fix with a Ferrari...

First Look: 2014 Hot Wheels Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione...

It is about time...

After teasing us about an Alfa Romeo 8C in the Speed Machines lineup back in 2010, we finally get a Hot Wheels Alfa.

We don't know how close the 8C was to being done for the Speed Machines line, but it was close enough for Hot Wheels to announce it as a new tool in the lineup back then.  But two things happened:

First, the Speed Machines line was discontinued before the announced lineup was released.  Two existing tools slated for the line never were made - the Aston Martin DBS and Ferrari 458 Italia (we know the 458 was to be black with racing livery, but that is all we know).  Maybe one day we will see the designs that were meant for those two.

Second, and far more important, Mattel and Alfa Romeo hit a bit of a licensing snag.  We have already documented the strange history of the Matchbox Giulia Sprint GTA, with Alfa licensors requiring the model to only be done in red or white, the only factory colors for that car at the time.

Things got strict, maybe a little messy, Matchbox put the model to bed, and maybe somewhere lost in there Alfa no longer allowed the 8C to be done by Hot Wheels.

Things are very different now.  Talking to those in the know, I have heard that working with Alfa lately has been a dream.  Evidence will be seen soon in the Matchbox range, with the 4C coming, and the Giulia Sprint casting returning in a slightly modified form.  We have even seen a tremendous Alfa set from Kyosho.  But for now let's focus on the stunning 8C, the first Alfa Romeo from Hot Wheels in a very long time.

The 8C might be old news by car standards (the last of only 500 made came off the line in 2010), but with its looks, captured nicely by Hot Wheels designers Fraser Campbell and Ryu Asada, there is never a bad time for it to join the Hot Wheels ranks.  Jeremy Clarkson famously dubbed the 8C one the best looking "evehr maaayde", right before panning just about everything else about it.  But in Hot Wheels land we don't need to worry about how it handles corners, it just needs to look cool.  And cool it is.

Mattel seems to be capturing "small" better than they have in the past.  Like Matchbox's BMW 1M, the 8C is small.  And while there are limits to adhere to size-wise, this model looks small.  It isn't that much smaller than any other Hot Wheels car, but it looks like it is.  Credit the designers.

Of course we hope to see this model in red, and I am sure we will.  I assume recolors are on the way.  But I love this in black.  Yeah, black hides some detail, but black also highlights curves.  Everyone needs a little black dress...

(Find the Alfa 8C on ebay before it is out in stores...)


Hot Wheels Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione (2014 New Models):

Just Unveiled: More photos of the brand new Hot Wheels Alfa Romeo 8C, and an amazing start for new models in 2014...

The news just keeps coming.

We know the news of the Alfa Romeo 8C already broke awhile ago, but more photos are now appearing out there is social media-land, and we like what we see.

These small photos aren't the highest quality, but they do show front and rear detailing that looks pretty sharp.  And while this one unfortunately is plagued with the large-rear-wheel virus, the casting still captures the gorgeous compact lines of the 8c.

Mattel seems to be re-establishing some great relationships license-wise lately.  Who knows if it was a "you, not me" situation, but it is great to see the two sides making up.  First BMW, now Alfa.  Could Mercedes-Benz be somewhere down the line?  (I'm not holding my breath.)

Anyway, a true Italian beauty is making its triumphant return, both as the Hot Wheels 8C you see here, and later in the year with Matchbox as the 4C.  And little birdies are saying we should prepare to see the return of the beautiful Matchbox '65 Guilia Sprint GTA in a color other than red or white.

For now, let's enjoy the newest Hot Wheels models to enter the fold:

Now, with the Alfa sure to hit our stores soon, look how 2014 is starting for licensed New Models not called Jetson:

• Datsun 620
• COPO Camaro
• Aston Martin DB5
• Porsche Panamera
• Alfa 8C
• Lambo Sesto Elemento
• Honda Civic EF
• Mastretta MXR

Take a look at that list, and you see something unheard of with Hot Wheels:

• Italian cars - 2
• Japanese cars - 2
• British cars - 1
• German cars - 1
• Mexican cars - 1
• American cars - 1

Yes, there are as many American New Models as Mexican!  One (ONE!) muscle car in the mix so far.  Will that change?  Of course it will.  Hot Wheels isn't Hot Wheels without a multitude of Mustangs and Camaros int the lineup, and we don't mind at all.  But it is nice to see 2014 launching with such an international feel.

I have maintained that one of my biggest joys about running the Lamley Group is getting to meet so many collectors from around the world.  I have a much better sense of what many of you from both hemispheres like and don't like, and I have learned that the US-centric audience of the HWC may not be as relevant as they think they are.  (Plus, only reading about how angry Pat from Des Moines is that he didn't get his RLC Blown Delivery gets a little old, while any posts linking to Lamley's model showcases gets deleted.  Am I bitter about it?  Maybe.)  Mattel is very aware of its international audience, and it is really starting to show.  But they can do more.  The beginning of 2014 is a nice start...

Model of the Day: Kyosho Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAm...

Here is something that is great about diecast collecting:  Today we feature a beautifully-made model of an Italian car, made by a Japanese diecast company, sold by a shop in Hong Kong, to a collector in the US (who is trying to show it to collectors all over the world).

So, to summarize, it took something from Japan, via Hong Kong, to help an American collector appreciate an Italian car.  Pretty cool, eh?

And how great is this one?  One thing that brands like Kyosho and Tomica Limited Vintage can do, that the $1 brands like Hot Wheels and Matchbox cannot, is be as creative with the wheels as they are with the actual bodies of the models.  Hot Wheels and Matchbox have to build around the wheels they have.  Kyosho and TLV can start from scratch.

Now we don't bring that up to compare the brands, because that doesn't make any sense.  We just say it because Kyosho built the wheels, matched them to the unique Alfa wheel wells, and totally nailed the casting.

And by the way, the Kyosho Alfa models are on sale at Daboxtoys right now.  Follow the link:

Kyosho Alfa Romeo Collection at Daboxtoys.

We hope you take advantage.  And if you need further convincing, just take a look at the breathtaking 1750 GTAm in all its Italian glory:


Kyosho Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAm:

First Look: Kyosho Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa...

I think we will start off this post with an admission of sorts.

When I got the call from Daboxtoys a few weeks ago telling me that the new Kyosho Alfa Romeo set was in, I instantly jumped online to see what models I wanted.  The 1750 GT AM?  A no-brainer (and we will see this one showcased shortly.  Other looked interesting, but what was this TZ3 Corsa?  It looks nostalgic, so what the hell, I'm in.

The cars arrived a few days later, and the TZ3 went on the shelf, waiting its turn in the Lamley studio.  Once I took it out of its case and threw it in the studio, it became apparent this had some sexy 60's lines, but it wasn't quite the nostalgic we thought it was.  It looked more modern.  I mean look at that rear!  So I did what is the equivalent of someone admitting they listen to Kenny G...I went to wikipedia.

I fancy myself a car guy, and we at Lamley take the idea of being "car guys first, diecast collectors second" very seriously.  But occasionally we need to go to everyone's favorite encyclopedia to learn about something we didn't even know existed.

So...

Do we do a write-up about the TZ3 Corsa acting like we've known about it all along?  Or just send you to the sources we used?  A little of both.  Here is Top Gear's write-up.  Here is what we found interesting:

It is a one-off, built for a German car collector.

It's successor, the Stradale (9 built), is based on the Dodge Viper.

It pays homage to the super-sexy Zagato.

Aren't you thrilled to be in the presence of such an expert?  Uh, you're welcome...

So here is Kyosho's version, which is the closest any of you (unless you are Martin Kapp, and if so, thanks for following Lamley!) will get to it.  It really is a beautiful car, and as always, Kyosho captures it perfectly.  I like my nostalgic cars, and Alfas have some of the best classic lines out there, but I am glad I got fooled into getting this one.

Get the Kyosho TZ3 Corsa (and I would recommend red) at the Daboxtoys website or ebay store before it is just as hard to get as the real thing...


Kyosho Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa: