Just Unveiled: Hot Wheels Datsun 620 Pickup in red...

The fun keeps coming.  Yesterday we showcased images of the first recolor of the Honda Civic EF, and it continues today with the second recolor of the Datsun 620 Pickup.

Just as the first recolor of the 620 in blue is hitting, we have our first images of the second recolor, thanks to our friends at Volta Garage, as well as others.  And not only that, but instead of the 5-spokes we have seen on the first two versions, this one sports gold-lipped MC5's.

It might have a sporty new look, but it happily still sports the Japanese Nostalgic Car inkan, which means we should see a thorough showcase from them very soon.

While we could easily say the teal Civic takes the cake over the red, this one is a little harder.  Once we have all three side-by-side we may be able to come up with a favorite.  Or maybe not.  We are cuckoo for the casting, still our favorite new model of 2014.

Model of the Day: Hot Wheels Walmart exclusive Sam Walton '79 Ford F-150 Truck...

I didn't know if we would ever show this model here on the Lamley Blog.

Call it the 16th Super TH.  Call it a chase.  Call it whatever you want.  We can all call it rare.  The Sam Walton Ford Truck can only be found with the latest batch of Jukebox cars, exclusively in Walmart stores.  Whether or not it will continue to appear with future batches of Jukebox, I have no idea.

I was just surprised to find one.



I occasionally get lucky and find a Super TH.  Maybe it was missed in a frenzy, maybe a random case was put out right before I got there, maybe dumb luck.  But this model was not one I anticipated finding.  The Jukebox cars are hardly ever refilled at the Walmarts around here, and they aren't necessarily flying off the pegs.  They are in fact keeping the pegs nice and toasty.

And while more and more toy managers are becoming wise to the overnight Hot Wheels collector and filling the basic pegs during the day, most non-basic cases are put out overnight with all the other toys.  Because of that I figured all the Sam Walton trucks would be gobbled up well before my arrival at a Walmart.

So I was shocked to walk into a Walmart last Saturday at about 11 am and find a dump bin that had clearly been cracked that morning (lots of models, no hunts), full pegs, and the Walton Ford just a couple of cards back in the Jukebox section.  I think in the earlier visitor's frenzy to grab the hunts, they forgot to check the other sections.  Whatever the reason, I now have a model I thought I would never see.

So here is a makeshift showcase of the model.  You all know we like to show the models here at Lamley in all their DLM glory, but this is not a model to open.  The package is surely part of the charm, considering the exact same truck was released 14 years ago as.....are you ready.....a Walmart exclusive. (Shocking!)

The 1999 version was released in a diorama-style package, with the same deco and same real riders.  I actually much prefer this version in a Hot Wheels blister.  So I won't open it.

This will always be a unique exclusive, especially considering its small numbers and random Walmartian tribute.  Next we need to see a model paying tribute to the yoga-pants-wearing moms at Target...

(Find the Sam Walton Ford F-150 on ebay...)


Hot Wheels Sam Walton '79 Ford F-150 Truck (2013 Walmart Exclusive):

Just Announced: Upcoming Majorette models for 2013...

Thanks to our good friend Christian Falkensteiner of Austria, we have the first images of some of the models Majorette is working on for 2013.

As we documented a few months ago, Majorette went through the ringer as a company, but they have emerged here at the beginning of 2013, and the models they have had slated to release for awhile are starting to make their way to the stores, particularly in Europe.  (You can find some of them on ebay right now.)

There are still a few 2012's yet to come, like these beauties:

I am particularly looking forward to the Merc and the Honda, and I hope to have them in hand at some point for a little Lamley treatment.  Let's hope.

But we have known about those models for awhile now.  It was what Christian discovered at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in Germany that has us very excited.  A few catalog images of what Majorette is working on for 2013:

I have a feeling that a few of these models will instantly go on collector's want lists.  That Silverado might even get some American collectors a little tickled.  I am not much of a full-size pickup guy, but I have to admit that Silverado looks spot-on.  In fact, I think all of these might have to make it into the collection.  The GT-R has been done a lot, but based on this image, this might be the best version I have seen.

Some more details from Christian:

Regarding the Toyfair display, I was actually delighted to see so many castings which had been announced for the last two years in real life at last. All of those were shown in their finished form, ready to be delivered to the stores. The date labels on the bases ranged from 11/12 to 01/13, so they had all been produced fairly recently.

This also has enabled me to fill some gaps in my list of model numbers in the 200 series, as those numbers are still found on the baseplates (albeit nowhere else - neither on the packaging nor in the catalog). So I have compiled this little list of new castings introduced since 2011, grouped by introduction years and with their numbers:

2011:
(unknown) Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
209B Porsche Panamera
209C Porsche Cayenne Turbo
209D Porsche 911 GT3
220B Honda CR-Z
225A Dacia Duster
237C Audi A 5 Coupé
239A Renault Master
239B Renault Trafic
244F BMW Z 4
282B Red Bull RB 6 F1 Racer

2012:
(unknown) Ford Fiesta WRC
203A VW Beetle
203C VW Amarok
205I Peugeot 508 SW
209E Porsche 911 / 991
219C Lamborghini Reventón
219D Lamborghini Gallardo
221F Renault Scénic III
237D Audi R 8
237E Audi A 1
245A Citroën DS 3 WRC
279A Chevrolet Camaro SS
292H Mitsubishi ASX

2013:
(unknown) Genty Akylone
(unknown) Mini WRC
(unknown) Nissan GTR
(unknown) Renault Clio III Sport
204A Ford Mustang Boss
217E Chevrolet Silverado

The two models from 2011 and 2012 with "unknown" numbers are the only ones which I did not see in the Toyfair display. Of the 2013 introductions, the Mustang Boss and Silverado were already shown in their finished production form. The Genty Akylone was shown as a pre-pro mockup with a blank base (looking very similar to the catalog picture); the other three new castings were not shown at all.

Christian

So, what models might you pursue?