May/June 2005

Each month I go through the most recent e-mails I've received and pick a few to share with you.  I try to personally respond to every e-mail I receive, but I also post a few here in my Q&A column.

Looks like Sun Star is doing an 1/18 version of the pink  6 wheel-car from the Thunderbirds movie. This car is an actual  car (not just CGI) I read about it in Autoweek magazine.

Dj89sse@xxxxxx

Thanks for the heads-up.  I never saw this movie, but the car is pretty cool.  I, however, am partial to the original Fab1 from the classic TV show. 

Hey again,
After some months of silence (but of course watching your page any day) I decided to contact u again ;)  Your page rocks and all those events are totally stunning...even if I can only read what fun u had. ;)

So, the reason I am writing is, I browsed your TV collectibles again. I clicked CHiPs
(I clicked 'em a thousand times already, like any other car I don't have)... now the day has come... I need these for my collection too, hehe.  So I tried eBay... without success.  Still some CHiPs items in, but no die-cast vehicles.  I wonder how old these toys are and if they are still available in shops (which I don't think).  Maybe u can help by answering these questions or tell me an internet shop which is still selling CHIPs items.

And for a reason I bought Friday the 13th Matchbox character car... now I want 'em all. But eBay doesn't have 'em all...now... so maybe u know another solution how to get all at once? Because its getting a little expensive to order each single one from the US. ;)

Also, I  just acquired the new JL Hollywood on Wheels series via german eBay for decent price.  It was still in original package and with awesome cars.  Sure the General Lee is a bit out of...whatever...its cool to have em. :)

p.s.  I got more than 300 film/cartoon cars now...great feeling...just because I
accidentally visited your site some years ago. ;) Thanks!

Thanks for reading,
Volker

Nice hearing from you again Volker.  First of all, I, too, have noticed it's getting more and more difficult to find vintage die-cast vehicles, including the vehicles from CHiPs.  They occasionally show up on eBay, but there's usually a frenzy of bidding, unless you're lucky enough to find a "Buy It Now" auction.  Unless you have a flea market or die-cast convention near you, eBay remains your best bet.  Be patient and be prepared to pay the price.  The same thing applies to Matchbox's Character Cars.  I once tried to bid on a complete set up for auction on eBay, but the price got way beyond my means.  You'll have to put this set together piece by piece, and hope the rare ones show up for auction.  Good luck!

I guess I've been lucky.  I walked into a hobby store one day, hoping to find RC2's 1:18 scale KITT, but instead stumbled across the 1:18 Aston Martin DB5.  I've never seen KITT OR the DB5 in stores since.  The 1:18 Batmobile by Mattel was most commonly spotted at Toys R Us.  At one time, there seemed to be plenty to go around, now the supply has pretty much dried up.  Same thing applies to 1:18 Herbie.   At one time, there were plenty, now I never see them in stores.

As for the 1:64 scale Herbie, I don't think Johnny Lightning realized the demand that existed for this car when they got the rights to produce it.  When it was originally released, it was VERY tough to find.  And now, even though there are TWO in the new Hollywood on Wheels series, I have yet to see this series in stores (I got mine through hobby shops).  Hopefully, demand will be met and more will ship to major retail stores.