Friday, January 26, 2007
New Dukes of Hazzard Johnny Lightning - Icon Collection
Johnny Lightning has just released a new set of Dukes of Hazzard cars in their Icon Collection. Johnny Lightning has revamped their logo and packaging to maintain the die-cast lineups retro feel. And the addition of clamshell packaging in this new design provides better protection for the products.
This assortment is slated to contain
Three of the following:
1969 Charger General Lee
Two each of the following:
Daisy's Jeep CJ
Daisy's 1972 Roadrunner
General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger Dirty Version
Cooter's 1970 Camaro
One each of the following:
Dodge 1977 Monaco Police Car
Available at Movie Car Mania
Sunday, January 21, 2007
New James Bond 1:43 Scale Car Collection
Recently, a new series of 1:43 scale James Bond cars was released by the James Bond Car Collection. Each vehicle is perfectly reproduced in 1:43 scale. Every model is set in a 3D movie scene, cast in metal and include Bond gadgets. The James Bond Car Collection will include 4 different models beginning with the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger. Future sets will include the Die Another Day Aston Martin Vanquish, The Spy Who Loved Me Lotus and BMW Z8 from The World is Not Enough. In order to add these cars to your collection, you will have to subsribe through The James Bond Car Collection.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Bad News For Model Car Collectors and Retailers
RC Ertl, a major force in the model car hobby just announced that they will discontinue their automotive collectibles lines. This is bad news for car collectors and retailers like me. Below is an excerpt from a January 11, 2007 press release.
As previously announced, the increased cost of zinc, which is a key component in die-cast products, is expected to result in lower profit margins during the fourth quarter of 2006 compared with the fourth quarter of 2005. Increased zinc costs will likely continue to negatively impact margins in the first half of 2007. The Company intends to partially offset these increases with selective price increases in 2007 and continued product design and supply chain cost management efforts.
During December 2006, the Company made the decision to discontinue its Racing Champions(R), JoyRide(R), Ertl(R) and AMT(R) die-cast and model kit automotive collectible product lines that on a combined basis generated approximately $36 million in net sales in 2006 and approximately $60 million in net sales in 2005. Discontinuing the automotive collectible product lines is consistent with the Company's strategy to focus on sustainable, organic growth and on allocating resources to its higher growth infant products and children's toys categories. Excluding these discontinued collectible product lines, preliminary net sales from continuing operations increased approximately 12% for the full year of 2006 compared with the 2005 year. As a result of discontinuing certain of these product lines, the Company expects to record in the fourth quarter a non-cash impairment charge in the range of $6 million to $9 million, net of estimated income tax benefits, to write-off undepreciated tooling costs and unamortized intangible assets and to provide inventory and royalty reserves. The Company plans to continue its agricultural collectibles business, which has been a relatively solid performer and has not been as impacted by the overall declining collectibles market. The Company will continue to invest in its strategic long-term relationship with John Deere. In addition, the Company plans to continue with its strategy to reposition its Johnny Lightning(R) brand targeting younger consumers.
As previously announced, the increased cost of zinc, which is a key component in die-cast products, is expected to result in lower profit margins during the fourth quarter of 2006 compared with the fourth quarter of 2005. Increased zinc costs will likely continue to negatively impact margins in the first half of 2007. The Company intends to partially offset these increases with selective price increases in 2007 and continued product design and supply chain cost management efforts.
During December 2006, the Company made the decision to discontinue its Racing Champions(R), JoyRide(R), Ertl(R) and AMT(R) die-cast and model kit automotive collectible product lines that on a combined basis generated approximately $36 million in net sales in 2006 and approximately $60 million in net sales in 2005. Discontinuing the automotive collectible product lines is consistent with the Company's strategy to focus on sustainable, organic growth and on allocating resources to its higher growth infant products and children's toys categories. Excluding these discontinued collectible product lines, preliminary net sales from continuing operations increased approximately 12% for the full year of 2006 compared with the 2005 year. As a result of discontinuing certain of these product lines, the Company expects to record in the fourth quarter a non-cash impairment charge in the range of $6 million to $9 million, net of estimated income tax benefits, to write-off undepreciated tooling costs and unamortized intangible assets and to provide inventory and royalty reserves. The Company plans to continue its agricultural collectibles business, which has been a relatively solid performer and has not been as impacted by the overall declining collectibles market. The Company will continue to invest in its strategic long-term relationship with John Deere. In addition, the Company plans to continue with its strategy to reposition its Johnny Lightning(R) brand targeting younger consumers.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Pixar and Mattel Do It Again
Just when you thought that the interest was waning on the Pixar CARS, Mattel releases two new Movie Moments car sets. These two sets may prove to be my favorites in the series. The first is the two car set of Mike and Sulley, inspired by Monster's Inc. These two cars were seen very briefly at the end of the movie when the townsfolk from Radiator Springs go to the local drive-in to see the latest blockbuster movie, Monster Trucks, Inc. Mike is a small three wheeled car with his distinctive one eye and horns. Sulley is a true monster truck with over-sized wheels and tires, blue spotted paint job and horns.
The second set and my personal favorite, is the two car set of Luigi and Guido decked out in their Ferrari racing fan gear. These two cars are from the big dirt track race scene between Lightning McQueen and Doc Hudson. Luigi is wearing his Ferrari visor and has two Ferrari flags, while Guido has two Ferrari shields and a huge green, white and red Afro with a Ferrari banner.
Both of these sets are available at Movie Car Mania.
