First Look: Tomica Limited Vintage Neo Nissan IDx Freeflow...

It is a treat for us to be able to showcase Tomica Limited Vintage in our First Look series.  Normally First Looks are reserved for just-released Hot Wheels and Matchbox, usually before they hit the pegs.  Normally by the time we get TLV models they have been out for quite a while.

Thanks to our friends at the Japan Booster Tomica Store* on ebay, we are going to move Tomica Limited Vintage into the series.  Of course we won't show them before they are released, but Japan Booster plans on getting them to us as soon as they get them, and that works well for us.

*Quick tangent: We got our package from the Japan Booster Tomica Store yesterday, and the models were packaged perfectly.  The standard TLV boxes come with a protecto, and everything is wrapped well.  Considering they ship any order over $50 to anywhere in the world for free, that is fantastic.  We can't recommend Japan Booster enough.

Now that we are doing TLV First Looks, it seems fitting that the first model we are featuring is one of the most highly anticipated models of the year, TLV or otherwise.  The Nissan IDx created quite a stir when it was showcased at the Tokyo Motor Show last year and marketed as the rebirth of the Datsun 510 bloodline.  And even more excitement when it was announced that would go into production.

And then on top of that, we diecast nerds rejoiced when the first announcement of a 1:64 IDx was on its way, and not from any toymaker, but TLV.

Whether it was Nissan or Tomica that pushed the model's approval in the nostalgic-only TLV line, we have no idea.  We don't care.  All we know is it got done, and the model doesn't disappoint in the slightest.  We anticipate the IDx getting a lot of play in the toy world, especially as it moves closer to production.  If we were betting folks, we would put a lot of money down on Hot Wheels doing an IDx very soon.

But no matter who does an IDx in mini, none will surpass the amazing detail on this one.  Not just what you see in our pics, but the blue interior in all its detail, and the fact that the brakes stay put while the wheels move.  (I tried to get my Racegrooves on and film the wheels moving, but I quickly learned that I should stick to photography...)

We are going to shut up now and let you enjoy the pics.  But get ready for more TLV First Looks soon.  IDx Nismo and BMW E30's are next on the docket...

And don't forget, the IDx and a slew of other TLV's are available at Japan Booster Tomica Store right now.  Spend at least $50 and the shipping is free...


Tomica Limited Vintage Neo Nissan IDx Freeflow:

With its fender mirrors:

With a Hot Wheels 510:

And with some TLV counterparts:

A Tale of Two: Hot Wheels '71 Nissan Skyline & '69 Pontiac GTO...

Black with gold/copper wheels is such a sharp look.  Yes black cars don't bring out the details in our favorite vehicles, mini or real, but who honestly gives a shit when they look so sexy and sleek in black?

Once you have your sexy black car, what to do with the wheels?  You can go all black, making your car growlingly menacing, or you can go chrome, making it shine.  Or maybe gunmetal gray, putting you right in the middle.  And there is copper or gold.  That is where minis might separate from the real thing.  It may not work on the road every time, but it certainly does in a display case.

So when Hot Wheels released the Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X in black with copper rims, we were on board.  And when we got it in hand, we were instantly reminded of another black on copper beauty, the 2005 Hot Wheels '69 Pontiac GTO Judge with Faster Than Ever wheels.  So we thought we would put them together.

These are actually easy to compare, outside of the color of the body and wheels.  The real cars come from the same era, albeit on different continents.  They are both signature cars in their respective countries, and it only takes one word to reference each car.  "Hakosuka" for the Skyline and "Judge" for the GTO.

As far as the minis go, both were designed by epic Mattel designers.  The GTO by Phil Riehlman and the GT-X by Jun Imai.  And they both look really good.

So here is our ode to muscle and j-tin, in the form of sleek sexy black.

Since we have probably discussed the Hakosuka to death here on Lamley, how about a few thoughts on the GTO:

The casting debuted in 2005, first in black, then orange, then as a Kmart exclusive in red.  The black normally sported 5-spoke wheels, but was part of the huge FTE line in 2005/2006.  Hot Wheels actually released all-FTE cases instead of making a sub-line in the basic range, like they did later.  The FTE GTO was one of the hardest models to find, as many cases didn't even carry it.

Nonetheless, the FTE completely upstaged the 5-spoke version, and in our opinion is one of the best-looking Hot Wheels models ever made.  Period.

And damn, it looks good next to the Hako...

Just Released: Tomica Limited Vintage Nissan IDx Freeflow...

As we oooooo'd and ahhhhhhh'd over the fantastic Hot Wheels Datsun Wagon Super TH last week, another mini "Datsun" was released, and it may be coolest of all.

The Nissan IDx has been taking the promo tour since its introduction late last year at the Tokyo Motor Show, happily promoting the idea that it is the successor to the beloved 510.  And it does in fact appear to be.  We will have to wait to see what the consensus is when the production car hits the showrooms in a few years.

But until then, Nissan commissioned the best 1:64 diecast company around to create a mini version of the Freeflow Concept, and it is now available.  This has to be the first time that Tomica Limited Vintage has done a car of the future, but if they were going to one, the IDx is as good a choice as any.

We here at Lamley have a very long list of models we would like to see TLV tackle (it starts with a bone-stock C110 Skyline), but we will put that on hold to ogle over the IDx.  There are very few models that TLV have done that weren't essentially perfect, and the IDx appears to follow the trend.

But we will make that call once we have it in hand, and thanks to ebay seller crosssea222 and the Japan Booster store, we have one coming.  He sent us this photo last night, along with some other goodies we ordered:

You can bet we will be doing a First Look as soon as this model finishes its voyage across the Pacific.  Until then, you should check out the TLV available at Japan Booster Store by following the link below (and keep checking back, as the IDx will pop up quickly, and then probably disappear just as quickly):

Japan Booster Tomica Store

Or you can grab any of the TLV IDx's available at the moment:

TLV IDx on ebay...

We plan on showing a lot more TLV on Lamley in the near future.  Why not start with the newest?