September

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.

I love these questions about obscure cars in obscure movies. Following an extensive online search, I've come up empty too, with the exception of the movie still above. If anyone owns this movie and knows their cars, please e-mail me with an answer and I'll post it here.

I'm not quite prepared to make and sell display cases just yet. But taking into consideration the materials and time involved, I would probably sell display cases at: $80 for a 100+ car display and go down from there for smaller cases. Eventually, I'll make it possible to allow people to order display cases through my site, offering a wide variety of backgrounds.

I'll try to get an exact date for you, but based on Johnny Lightning's past behavior, you can expect the next wave of HOW on the pegs summer of 2005. To date, a new wave of HOW has been released every two years, with the exception of HOW 5, which were lame repaints of HOW4 and The Simpsons. So far, two cars have been confirmed: '70 Challenger from Vanishing Point and Nissan Skyline from 2 Fast 2 Furious. I would bet Christine, The General Lee, and a movie version of the Gran Torino from Starsky & Hutch may be included as well. It'll be interesting to see what effect the RC2 buyout of Playing Mantis will have on the Hollywood on Wheels line. Maybe we'll see 1:64 versions of The Deathmobile, The Car and Greased Lightning. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Sorry David. I've gotten this question before and no, I don't believe we'll ever see this car in die-cast form. I, however, agree it is a beautiful car. I tried watching this film on cable the other day and turned it off. It didn't hold my attention.

Hi Joe, I have a quick question for you. Was the mail-in "Mach 4" by Johnny Lightning a real car (meaning cartoon real) from an actual episode, or did Playing Mantis create this from imagination? If real, do you know which episode featured the car? I did a quick web search and turned up empty.

Thanks,

Craig

I contacted Mike Littlefield, webmaster of a Speed Racer website featuring a complete episode guide. Here is what he had to say:

"No, this guy was never in the series. There were a bunch of other race vehicles in the 1993 series, all suffixed with the ubiquitous "5". If Speed were ever elected president, I suppose they would change the name of the plane to Air Force 5."

And along the same lines:

Do you know if The Monkees van used in the JL diorama with the Monkeemobile was ever in an actual movie?

- Tim

This time, I turned to the experts at Monkeeland. Members of the forum agree that the VW bus wasn't featured in the series or either movie featuring the Monkees. However, I'm told a Woody Station Wagon was featured in the pilot episode.

Hey there! Do you have any updated info on when the National Lampoon's Vacation Wagon Queen Family Truckster is going to be released?

http://www.killertoys.com/prod_display.php?prod_id=55&search_var=National

Thanks in advance!

Jason

I hate to break this to you Jason, but I've been told RC2's 1:18 scale Family Truckster has been cancelled. To be honest, I would've been hesitant to add this car to my 1:18 scale collection, but I really would LOVE to add it to my 1:64 scale collection. If I hear any news about the future of the Truckster, I'll post it on my site.

Hi Joe, I like your site.
I got into die-casts about 2 years ago when I saw the 35th anniversary edition of the Mach 5 at an auto show. My preference is 1:18 size. I saw this car on a show on BBC America and wondered had you heard if they may be planning to make it in 1:43 or 1:18 size. It was called The Saint, this is the TV show Roger "007" Moore did before he did James Bond. The car he drives in the show is a 1962 Volvo 1800.

- LT

Unfortunately, LT, you can only find the Volvo P1800 from The Saint in vintage form from Corgi. A 1:64 scale Volvo was included in the Corgi Rockets line (above left) and Corgi also produced the Volvo in 1:43 scale (above right). If I get any more info, I'll post it here.

Hi. I was just wondering what kind of car was the Ecto 1. What is its real manufacturing name and where could I buy one?

- Kurtis Carlson

The Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters is a '59 Cadillac Ambulance, similar to the 1:64 version offered by Matchbox (above left). Browse eBay to see the ambulance in many die-cast forms. RC2 has made the Ecto-1 in 1:18 scale. Johnny Lightning has made the Ecto-1A in 1:64 scale. Both can be found at retail stores and hobby shops near you.

Your e-mails really make my day. Please keep them coming. Click on the e-mail link in the left column and I'll do my best to find the answer for you.

Q&A Archive:

9/03 10/03 11/03 12/03
1/04 2/04 3/04 4/04 5/04 6/04 7/04 8/04