The Great RLC Backorder Fiasco of 2013/2014: What happened??

Yesterday this post went up on HWC from HWC Anita:

Hi everyone -  

We know you are patiently waiting for updates about your backordered cars. Here is the latest information regarding expected shipment dates. 

Y0450 - Long Gone sELECTIONs - 6/28/14

Y0445 - S12 Buick Grand National - 7/30/14

Y0449 - 69 Mustang sELECTIONs - 7/30/2014

Y0453 - S12 Blown Delivery - 8/08/2014

Y0454 - Gulf Racing VW Drag Bus - 8/18/2014 

BLR12 - S13 Drag Dairy Chrome - 10/17/2014

BLR13 - S13 Drag Dairy Red - 10/17/2014

BLR14 - S13 Drag Dairy Blue - 10/17/2014

BLR15 - S13 Drag Dairy Purple - 10/17/2014

BLR10 - Beatnik Bandit - 11/14/2014

Mattel sincerely apologizes for the delays you've experienced in receiving orders from the Hot Wheels Collector site and we appreciate your understanding and patience throughout this process.

The topic was closed, not allowing for replies.  But to Mattel's credit they have allowed for other threads to start and remain open.  You can imagine there have a been a few harsh words from collectors regarding the situation.

Those are some pretty lengthy delays, considering most of those models were purchased in mid to late 2013.  We agree that this is very frustrating, but more than that we just want to know what has happened.  There have been some very curious events in the last few months, leaving many of us baffled.  We see no need to speculate, as corporations have every right to adjust how they do things (to a certain extent), but being left in the dark on some of it has been a little odd.

So why all the designers went silent, we don't know.  Why HWC Chris was let go, we don't know.  Nor do we really need to know.  But why some RLC models are being delayed 6 months to a year?  It would be a good thing to at least hear something from someone.  Especially since these models are part of a membership that collectors pay to be a part of.  We are at the mercy of retail, but membership models directly from Mattel is another thing entirely.

It could be something as drab as a manufacturing issue, which we would be fine with us if it ensured good quality on each of these expensive models.  That is our guess.  But silence leads to speculation, and I know quite a few people who wonder if all these backorders mean the end of the RLC is near.

We don't see how that would happen, and we sure hope it doesn't.  There are some great models on the RLC docket for 2014, including the Gulf '67 Camaro, hot pink '55 Gasser, '83 Silverado 4x4, and Shelby Toyota 2000GT.  Wouldn't it be ironic, that as soon as the RLC started catering to a wider variety of collectors, it shuts down?  Seems like we have seen that pattern before.

So count us as those who think this is just a glitch, and the show will go on.  But we say that cautiously.  Mattel has not put its best foot forward in this situation, and we hope that might change.

We welcome your thoughts.  What do you think about this great backorder fiasco?  We will let you say what you want.  Go ahead and let it out...

Lamley News: The most valuable Hot Wheels RLC car...ever?

If you weren't tracking it and didn't see what happened, the #13 of 46 Hot Wheels RLC BRE Datsun 510 autographed by John Morton sold for a whopping $760 on ebay late last night.

It is crazy what a little frenzy can create.  Before the 46 autographed models were discovered, buzz on the RLC BRE began to grow as collectors received their models and saw both the stunning model and card artwork.  But it was the 46 autographed models, signed by John Morton at a Mattel event and randomly sent out with the other 3000, that has sent this model's value into the stratosphere.  Combine the scarcity of the model with the autograph and the fact that this is an actual Mattel-issued "easter egg", and you have a very valuable model.

Whether or not another First 46 will garner that same amount is hard to know, but any Mattel-issued model with a count less than 50 is bound to be valuable.  In fact, two 1-of-25 Matchbox Hazard Squad models made exclusively for a collector Line Preview sold for $500 each at the Matchbox Gathering Charity Auction, so there is a precedent.

Nonetheless, from what we know the signed First 46 BRE is now the most valuable RLC model on the secondary market, even surpassing what the red Blown Delivery fetched when it hit its peak (and by double at that).  Who would have thought the most valuable RLC model would not be a Blown Delivery, or a Drag Bus, or a Dairy Delivery, but a Datsun!

JDM forever baby.

(They may not be the signed first 46, but there a handful of RLC BRE listed on ebay for the taking...)

Two Hot Wheels BRE Datsun 510's autographed by John Morton...

There was a treat waiting for me the mail on Monday.  (Well, kind of waiting for me, considering it was UPS and the shipping address was wrong, but that is a stress-inducing story for another time.  Needless to say it eventually got to my door.)

While not a surprise among the Lamley set, the recently released Hot Wheels RLC BRE Datsun 510 has garnered a lot of attention.  It has surely introduced many collectors to Peter Brock and John Morton, and there is no denying how intoxicating the BRE racing livery is.

But besides all that, Mattel went and had a little fun with the model.  As told by Hot Wheels designer Steve Vandervate, Mattel held an event celebrating the release of the RLC 510, and John Morton himself was there.  Mattel had the first 46 numbered (you just need to look at the model to know why that number was used) models shipped to them and had Mr. Morton sign them.  They were then sent to their distribution facility and randomly mixed in with the other 3000 to be sent out.

So among the lucky collectors that were able to get one of the 3000, 46 were surprised to find an autographed version as well.  These special 46 have mostly been kept by the collectors, but a few have changed hands.  Two have been sold on ebay, and a third is up right now, and they are fetching extremely high prices.

#44 has changed hands as well.  It is now in the Lamley collection, thanks to a trade I was able to make with a great collector named Rob out of South Carolina.  Rob is not particularly into Japanese cars or BRE, and after chatting with me for a bit decided the autographed #44 would find a much happier home at my place.  So we were able to agree on a trade that brought some models his way that he has struggled to find, and here we are:

This takes a special spot in the Lamley collection, right next to another BRE Datsun, autographed by Mr. Morton when I met him at JCCS in 2012:

And there is a third coming.  As many know, Mattel sent 100 RLC models to BRE, and they decided to have them signed by Peter Brock and John Morton and sold on their site.  Those 100 sold out quickly, but I was able to get one.  They have not been sent out yet, but once I have mine I will be sure to post it.

We all have special parts of our collections, and this is surely one of mine.  I am truly indebted to Rob for being willing to part with his, and making this collector very happy.  Isn't collecting great?

Lamley News: Hot Wheels RLC Membership details, including the Drag Dairy, announced. Who is joining?

One of the most common questions we get here at Lamley is in regards to the RLC cars, and how to get them.

And when Hot Wheels releases a BRE Datsun 510 as nice as the RLC model just out, the questions really ramp up.  The fact is there is no guaranteed way to get these cars, but the best way is to be an RLC member.  And the limited 2014 memberships are being made available in a week, on January 28th.

There are a lot of reasons to be an RLC member, pointed out here, but the main reason most join is to have first access to the limited RLC releases.  Mattel always makes these releases available to RLC members for the first 24 hours, and then to the general public thereafter.  Sometimes models are so popular that they sell out in minutes.  Other times there are plenty for the public.  Just know that if the words Drag, Bus, Dairy, Blown, or Delivery are involved, it will sell out in minutes.

To be honest, most RLC releases are really not our cup of tea, but models like the BRE and last year's Gran Torino make being an RLC member completely worth it.  I just finished my first year as an RLC member, and my experience was enough to convince me to do it again.

One big gripe, though.  We know many of our Lamley friends come from overseas, and the RLC is not offered to those outside of the US.  Mattel has said that they are working on the logistics of making the RLC worldwide, but that hasn't happened yet.  We at Lamley will always make it known that the RLC should be worldwide, as the collecting community is worldwide.  In fact, the excitement we see in other countries many time eclipses what we see here.

In the meantime, we hope many of you join.  Not only to enjoy what is coming yourselves, but to possibly be a means to get some of these models to our collector friends elsewhere.

Here is what we know about the RLC in 2014 so far:

• The membership car will be the Drag Dairy, coming in four colors.  The color you get depends on when you sign up (current RLC members have first dibs, and that means the chrome model will most likely sell out then).

• The subscription plan is once again being offered for 2014.  This guarantees at least one of the following models:
• Neo-Classics '58 Plymouth Belvedere
• Neo-Classics '64 Dodge 330
• Neo-Classics '64 GMC Panel
• Neo-Classics Olds 442 Staff Car
• Real Riders '83 Chevy Silverado 4x4
• Real Riders Breakaway Bucket
• Real Riders Thunder Roller
• Real Riders TBD

• There will be several other models not available in the Sub plan.  For example, in 2013, the BRE 510 was a separate release.  We don't know what those models for 2014 will be, but we anticipate some gems.

All the details are here.

So, who is in?

First Look: Hot Wheels RLC exclusive BRE Datsun Bluebird 510, along with its Vintage Racing brother...

What is it about the BRE Datsun?  In our little corner of the diecast world, that iconic BRE racing deco shows up everywhere.  Customizers love it, and we have seen the deco on the obvious choices (Datsun cars, wagons, and trucks), to the less obvious (Skylines, Toyotas, the Mad Manga), to certainly not-obvious-at-all (Kool Kombi, Camaros).  Nissan used an obvious tribute to the BRE deco when it unveiled its 510-inspired IDx in November.  If you are at any event Datsun, the slanted red, white, and blue will most likely be somewhere.

This BRE infatuation is an interesting one.  Part is history.  The little Datsun that could is a classic American racing story, as the racing team with the wimpy Japanese car zipped by all of its Euro-competition.

Part is design.  I would challenge anyone to come up with a better racing design than what Brock Racing Enterprises did.  It is perfect.  Bright, fast, and easily recognizable.  And it looks great almost anywhere, including as we have just learned, on a diecast replica cardback.

Which brings us to the RLC BRE Datsun 510.  Those reasons above may be what motivated Hot Wheels to do a second BRE 510, this time as an RLC exclusive, after putting one in the Vintage Racing line in 2011.  The model looks so nice, why not do it twice?

Another reason?  Just look at what the Vintage Racing version commands on ebay.  In just the last few days, several sold for an average price of $87.  That is a lot for a model that was on the pegs just a couple of years ago.  Appreciation for Japanese cars continues to skyrocket, and many just discovering Hot Wheels' mini versions are kicking themselves for passing on the Vintage Racing version.  So Mattel released another, albeit even more limited.

It has been fun to see the reaction of collectors as the RLC model arrives in their mailbox.  It is clear that those who may not be as enthused about j-tin as we here at Lamley are happy they bought one.  And there are others that passed on it that are now regretting they did.  Neato.

The model looks fantastic, and even the Neo's don't bother us too much.  In fact, they look a lot like the hubcaps we saw on tons of Datsuns from that era (just not on racing cars).  But one of the biggest surprises is what might be the best packaging we have ever seen on a Hot Wheels car.  We will let the photos do the talking:

The artwork is superb.  That alone makes this model worth it.

And Mattel has done something to drive collector frenzy even higher.  Apparently numbers 1-46 were shipped directly by Mattel, signed by driver John Morton, and randomly dispersed with the other 3000.  A few lucky collectors have opened up their mailboxes to find one, including this one found by HWC member Budman340:

How cool is that!?!  If it weren't for the special John Morton/Peter Brock signed edition we have coming from BRE themselves (arriving soon), we would be knocking down doors to get one, especially since this one below is already in the Lamley Collection (signed by Mr. Morton himself when we met him at JCCS a couple of years ago):

Alright, on with the pics.  We could talk about this model forever, but we know you want to see it.  We sacrificed the amazing packaging on one of ours so you could see it up-close, so we hope you enjoy.

We hope many of you can get this one.  We are trying to get a few RLC members to hook up with overseas collectors who could not get one, and those updates are coming to those who inquired, but now the best bet is ebay:

Hot Wheels RLC BRE Datsun 510

Good luck...


Hot Wheels BRE Datsun Bluebird 510 (RLC Exclusive):