December

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.

Please settle a bet between two good friends: What kind of car was Ace driving in that movie?

I've gotten this question once before. After doing a little searching online, I've discovered that Ace Ventura drove a 1972 Monte Carlo. The car pictured above is a custom job done in 1:25 scale. I found it at: http://www.bigredwolf.com/projects/aceventura/acemonte.htm

Hello Joe,

Again and again I have to write you some text. :) My collection is still growing and sometimes there are biiig JL auctions on German eBay...this is where my money goes. Via a German online shop I got the Matchbox "Lasers" (they got laserwheels)...you know them ? Anyway, my goal is to collect movie cars. So I cant understand why I bought one of them... ;)

Whatever, I just wanted to ask you something... :)

Did you ever heard of 1:64 diecast toys like :

-Automan
-Saber Rider (Red Fury Racer/Road Leon)
-Equalizer
-Stingray
-V (Visitors)
or
-Tremors ?

To have such models would make me happy and my collection complete. :) I
know there are much more to do like Christine and that stuff...but those would
be a funny addition.

Greetings,
Volker

I'm not aware of any die-cast produced for the shows you list except for V. Recently, one of my visitors Craig Mueller e-mailed me a TON of photos, including some photos of die-cast from V. These vehicles were produced by Galgo of Argentina. Click HERE to see them.

Wow, sounds like quite a find. A 1:64 mint-on-card sample of the Corgi Rockets Volvo from The Saint (pictured above) recently sold on eBay with a winning bid of 127 Great Britain Pounds. This translates into $226.54 American dollars! Congratulations!

Joe,
I just recently obtained the 1:64 100% Hot Wheels Batmobile (just the car, not "Shields Up"). I had learned of it from your website and just obtained it from an online vendor. I actually had to dump the first vendor I placed an order with who couldn't produce it and went to another vendor who was much more responsive and productive. Thanks for providing the heads-up.

I just visited your site again today & I find it surprising that the "Shields Up" Batmobile actually has a base and wheels. At a recent toy show I attended, at least two vendors assured me that the "Shields Up" was hollow and sat over the Batmobile. I realize now they were b.s.'ing me.

I was wondering if you know whether 100% Hot Wheels will also be issuing a 1:64 die-cast replica of the Batmobile from the 1960's TV show. If so, what might the timeframe be? Can I expect that it will also be a limited edition, hard to find commodity?

Thanks for your time.

Sean Sullivan

This is one of the most common questions from die-cast collectors: "Will we ever see a new die-cast version of the 1966 Batmobile?" The answer seems to be "Not anytime soon." I'm told so many parties want a piece of the pie that the manufacturer would never be able to turn a profit. Now that Mattel has the license, I'm sure they're trying to negotiate some sort of deal. With the outstanding work we've seen since they've gotten the Batman license, I'm sure they would do a spectacular 1966 Batmobile. Will we ever see it? Possible, but unlikely. The Batmobile pictured above right is a custom made from Johnny Lightning's 1955 Lincoln Futura.

This is just the kind of site I've been looking for! A complete resource for Movie and TV based die-casts! Add the bigger scale cars and I'll be even happier! ;)

Anyway, I was looking at the picture for the prototype Ecto-1 1:18 die-cast by ERTL, and I realized that it's not the Ecto-1 at all, but the Ecto-1A! Being a Ghostbusters fan, needless to say, I was angry. Looks like that unless they're re-doing the car from it's proto form, we're getting another version of the GBII vehicle!

And the actual question I have for you is this: I seem to remember there being some die-cast Terminator vehicles tied in with T2. Am I just hallucinating?

Best wishes,
Flynn Cook

Every promo I've seen for ERTL's 1:18 scale Ghostbusters vehicle has shown Ecto-1 from the first film and not the Ecto-1A from the second film. But after receiving your e-mail, I took a closer look at the prototype pictured in the Previews Catalog, and it seems you are right. The prototype apparently includes the scrolling marquee featured on Ecto-1A. I think the Ecto-1A is a great movie car and I will definitely be adding it to my personal 1:18 scale collection, but I just don't understand why nobody has produced a die-cast version of the vehicle from the FIRST film. The Fuji Film promo, Johnny Lightning's versions, and now the ERTL 1:18 version all depict the version with the sequel's logo of a ghost holding up TWO fingers. I feel the FIRST film is a classic and FAR superior to the sequel, and I hope we get a die-cast version of the ECTO-1 someday.

By the way, the T2 vehicles you are thinking of were part of Hasbro's Micro-Machines line of toys. There were two collections I believe. I don't include Micro-Machines because the scale is too small and they are made of plastic, not die-cast metal.

Have you ever heard of a movie car called "The Texas Widow Maker" ? It is a 1956 Chevy but I do not know the name of the movie it was used in.

Thanks, Bill

I've searched and searched online and could not come up with any information on this car. If anyone out there has any info, please e-mail me and I will forward the info to Bill.

...and finally, one of the MANY photos sent to me by Craig Mueller showed an unusual version of the Corgi Jr. Lotus from The Spy Who Loved Me. Craig said he was told it was a rare mail-away. I had never seen it before, so I turned to Corgi Jr. expert Bill Manzke for some answers. He responed with this:

I believe the Seller is incorrect, but I wouldn't challenge him except to ask him to show you a copy of the mail-away advertisement. If I am wrong, I will admit it! The model with open wheels was made after Mettoy's receivership at a time when Corgi Toys Ltd. had temporarily lost the license to the James Bond trademark. (That is one of the legal things that happens when a company goes bankrupt.) Also, consider the hood label is available as a reproduction part. I know that Mettoy produced the last finned Elites with a Tampo printed hood graphic rather than a label. (I have one.) All of the Mettoy finned models have their wheels hidden by the fins. Also, Corgi Toys Ltd. produced a number of plain white open wheeled models that were included in Bumper Sets. These would be all too easy to modify with a reproduction label.

Let the buyer beware.

Bill

So, according to Bill, it looks like someone took a common Corgi Jr. Lotus and slapped a 007 decal on the car and sold it as a rare mail-away. It's a great looking car, but as Bill says, "Buyer Beware."

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.