The Forgotten Datsun: Tomica Limited Vintage Snake Motors Datsun Fairlady 2000 Roadster...

A few months ago I was having a pleasant chat with one of Hot Wheels' main designers.  The subject naturally went to JDM models, and we shared the mutual opinion that the selection of JDM in various lines has been a great thing.

So I asked about possible future JDM castings.  He said he didn't know if there would be any new castings in the next few years, as many of the iconic and internationally recognizable Japanese cars had been done - Celica, 2000GT, Hakosuka and Kenmeri Skylines, AE86, 240Z, 510, etc.  The list is long.

I appreciate that the Subaru 360 or pig's butt Laurel might a little difficult to pass off to an international crowd, but there are also some great potential Hot Wheels JDM models yet to be done.  The Mazda Cosmo quickly comes to mind.  Unique silhouette ($1 diecast dudes love the value of a good silhouette), recognizable marque, and quickly joining the Toyota 2000GT as the most collectable of Japanese cars.

The other that would make perfect sense was actually sitting a few feet away from that designer and me while having the conversation.  It was at JCCS, and the car is the Datsun Roadster:

Those are only a few of the Roadsters that I was drooling over that day last September.  Hopefully the designer was too, because this car would make a perfect Hot Wheels.  Hard top, soft top, it doesn't matter.  I have rightfully gone gaga for the Datsuns numbered 510, 620, and 240, but the Roadster may be the best looking of them all.  That shape!  That stance!  That grill!  Oh, that grill....yummy...

And don't forget there is a heritage to this car, and not just in Japan.  BRE had a few, and John Morton drove them, and we all know how BRE can turn certain Hot Wheels collectors into mush.

That is why the Datsun Roadster by Tomica Limited Vintage is a no-brainer addition to the Lamley collection.  There are a few in the collection, but none has the flare as the special Snake Motors special edition.  We love the deco and the wheels, and yes, that tasty grill is there too.

Snake Motors is a company in Japan, but as far as I know the actual car never existed.  Looks to be a promotional model.  Whatever it is, it is a beauty.

So keep collecting your Hot Wheels JDM, and clamor with us for a Roadster.  In the meantime, pick up a few TLV Datsuns (including the HTF 510 Wagon, which is on ebay right now, and you won't be disappointed...


Tomica Limited Vintage Datsun Fairlady 2000:

Model of the Day: Tomica Limited Vintage Subaru 360 Custom...

"Custom" means "Wagon".

Probably a good thing to know when looking at this model.  Subaru used the term "Custom" in the 60's for it's "Wagon" version of the 360, and that is probably helpful to us Americans.  Use the term "Wagon" here and we picture something else entirely.  The little 360 could practically ride in the back back of one of those wood-paneled boats we grew up with.

So how small is the 360?  We will show you how small the the 1:64 scale model by TLV is in a minute, but the 1:1 360 is tiny.  Here is the standard 360 kei car displayed at Nade Wade Subaru in Salt Lake City:

The Outback behind it looks like it could eat for lunch.  The chairs in the nearby office appear almost as big.  This car is small, and clearly not very conducive to today's expanding waistlines in the US.

But that is today.  Unfortunately no one here in the US wanted them back in the 1960's, either.  Several thousand were imported to the US with much fanfare, and no one bought them.  Some sat in dealerships, others on boats, and there is even the famous unconfirmed report that several sit at the bottom of LA Harbor, after being dumped overboard instead of being shipped back to Japan.

Now, the 360 is a classic.  It gets its fair share of attention at car shows like JCCS, and there frankly is a lot to love in that tiny contraption.  We dig the 360 Custom especially, and are more than thrilled TLV decided to make one.

And yeah, it is tiny too.  Let's put it next to a Hot Wheels car:

Small enough for you?

(Find the 360 and other TLV Subarus on ebay.  Be prepared to pay a little...)


Tomica Limited Vintage Subaru 360 Custom:

Just Unveiled: Tomica Limited Vintage Nissan IDx Concept, BMW E30 318i & 325i...

Still in Denver, still insanely busy, but this news is just WAY too good to hold back...

Tomica has announced its latest models under the Limited Vintage Line, and there is a major surprise.  As far as we know, TLV is doing their first completely current models, and current they are.  So current, in fact, they are just concepts.  The Nissan IDx created a huge stir last year at the Tokyo Motor Show with the 510-inspired street and BRE-inspired Nismo racing versions, and the hype has grown since.  Both cars have toured Los Angeles, and the IDx's production has been announced.

Now we in the diecast world can get excited about the May/June 2014 release of the TLV Nissan IDx Freestyle and Nismo Concepts in mini form.

We don't know why Tomica decided to release these two as TLV's as opposed to in their standard minicar line, but we won't argue at all.  No diecast maker can duplicate the looks and quality of TLV in 1:64, and the IDx deserves that kind of attention.  Based on these preproduction models, we are in for a major treat:

But that is not all.  (Queue infomercial excitement!)  We already knew TLV was doing the BMW E30, but now we have the first images of what the models will look like.  There will be two castings, a 325i 4-door, and a 318i 2-door, and will come in two colors each.  Look for all four to be released this summer:

All four BMW's are tremendous-looking models, and all four, along with the two IDx's, will surely join the Lamley collection this summer.  Who else is in?

Just Unveiled: Tomica Limited Vintage Neo BMW 3 Series (E30)...

This was a bit of news that got the Lamley offices buzzing...

No need to get into our unhealthy obsession with Tomica Limited Vintage, as that will be very clear in the weeks and months to come.  These little 1:64 models have totally taken over, and while we will always love our Matchbox and Hot Wheels, TLV is occupying a hefty little chunk our collection.

Part of it is of course the fact that TLV is JDM-centric, as the majority of what they do are Japanese cars.  But another part is the amazing quality of the models.  These cost considerable more than what most collectors are used to, but they are worth every penny.  So when TLV starts applying that quality to non-Japanese cars, we are all in.

We hope that TLV keeps going back to its bread and butter, classic Japanese, and even stretches to more well-known JDM cars like the Kenmeri and 2000GT, but we love that they have been looking across the Pacific and Atlantic for more models to do.  We have seen the Porsche 911, Golf GTI, Audi Quattro, and even a Mercedes E-Class.

Now, thanks to photos posted by kidbox.com of Tomytec's display at a recent convention, we know that 2014 will bring a BMW 3-Series E30 to the line.  We...cannot...wait.

From what we know, there will be a 2-door and 4-door version, and we assume some will be civilian even though we these prepros with police lightbars.  Whatever color, version, or livery they get, we will most likely buy them all.  When these we will actually be out we don't know, but as soon as we know we will pass it along.

(In the meantime, the latest TLV can be found at the ebay shop of our friend patocar, who currently has all TLV at 33% off...)

There were plenty of other models previewed at this convention, including a mind-blowing motorhome, and TLV first streetcar, which should be fantastic.  Some things to look forward to: