New additions : 14 january 2011

Here's my january edition of new additions! Lots of new Hot Wheels, and a few others that were missing for a long time. I want to thanks folks from MCCH who helped me to find these cars!

Maisto Dodge Ram 1500

Quite a great casting for a Maisto! Nice wheels, great tampos and a cool color. Only actual 1:64 latest Dodge Ram. 

Maisto Scion xB

Again, an awesome new casting from Maisto. This one is missing a few tampos on the front, and wheels could be a little better. As every Maisto, windows are badly black. But it's the only 1:64 new Scion xB replica, and quite rare :)

Matchbox LesneyRover 3500

A long long time wanted that i finally found at a reasonable price on eBay. This casting has only been produced once in this cooper color (a few can be found in yellow, but they're sold around 350$ each), and is quite elusive. Even more, having one near mint is even more harder to get. With a working sunroof, it's definitly one of my favorite casting, of a quite rare england car. I'm a huge fan of these old 70's-80's sedans!

Matchbox Nissan Fairlady Z

Casting coming from 1979, this one is for filling a hole in my collection. I already had the 300ZX of the same years (Kidco), but didn't have the japanese version. As a old Matchbox, it is an awesomely done casting, with opening doors. Those wheels are quite strange for a Matchbox though, they are really small.

Johnny Lightning Plymouth Fury '67

A high wanted one, already got the Police version a few weeks ago. This is one of the longuest 1:64 i've seen! As every JL, it is very high detailed, with tampos and opening hood. Those wheels are new (or rarely used). The driving wheel is huge! Color fits really well for the car.

Corgi Junior Citroen Dyane

The Dyane always intrigued me.Kind of a rip-off of a 2CV.... This one is also a quite rare casting, one of the older Corgi(s). Pretty much well done but lacking a bit of details, such as lights or black bumpers? It is a big too big for a 1:64 though, as it is the small size of the Ram 1500.

Hot Wheels Dodge Charger R/T 2011

First of a few HW castings i was missing.Clearly not one of the best of 2011s, but still not bat. Problem is, it doesn't look like so much the real car... And tampos are in the wrong place. I mean, those black stripes are cool, but where are the lights? Front calander is awesome though.

Hot Wheels Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca

Awesome casting of an awesome car. Definitly my style. This black & red combination makes it look a bit evil, and the front bumper is indicating some racing in the air. Red wheels makes it look agressive. Tampos would have been welcomed though... but it's definitly a needed one.

Hot Wheels Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Now this is clearly one of the best looking cars of 2011. Style was already announced with the Reventon and the last editions of the Murcielago, but this one is stunning. Lines are so much agressive but well-balanced, and the orange color looks like it's burning hot. Hot Wheels reproduced it very well, and is clearly one of the best add in this batch. YOU NEED IT!

Hot Wheels BMW M3 GT2

This new casting of 2012 is the racing version of the M3 introduced in 2011. It's a neat reproduction of those LM racing cars. Racing tampos are greatly applied, but a few lights could have been added (although racing cars don't always have these). The rear wing is somewhat cheap and plastic, but was needed. A great new casting for 2012 overall.

Hot Wheels Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The new Camaro ZL1 is a stunning car, looking soooo powerful. With this huge bumper, agressive hood, hidden headlights and red/black paint, it's ready to burn down some rubber. Problem with the HW casting is its cheapiness... it looks like fragile! Rear tampos could have been added too. Still a neat addition to my Camaro collection.

Hot Wheels Ferrari FF

The Ferrari FF is one of the strangest looking car released in 2011. The "chase break" style has already been used a few times in the history (Volvo P1800es), but it's the first time that it's applied to a Ferrari. The result is... quite good, but still strange. The front calander is also quite strange, looking "vulgar" for a Ferrari. But although i'm not sure about the real car, the diecast replica is admirably well done by HW, and is needed in any collection!

Hot Wheels Volkswagen Sunagon

Released in 2011 as a re-tool in the "Hot Ones" serie, the Sunagon has been one of the most elusive Hot Wheels in the market. The original ones (from the beginning of the 80's) are sometimes the most expensive Hot Wheels regulars you can find. This new edition offers brighter colors than the original one (that was brown). This is a great classy HW, with the opening roof and motorcycle at the back. A casting that i needed for a long long time.

Hot Wheels Ford Falcon Race Car

Finally, this is one of the first Hot Wheels introduced in 2012. Aussies are quite happy with this one, although it isn't a great casting. Looks plastic, the interior is quite horrible (what's with that big plastic rollcage?). The design tampos are not bad, but are missing on lights. I'm not sold on this one, but australian cars are rare, so it's welcomed in my collection.

Which one is your favorite? Thanks for looking! :)

[Japanese Moderns] Nissan's luxuous brother : Infiniti

This article will focus on the "japano-american" brand Infiniti, created in 1989. First years were quite hard for the brand, it was constantly behind Acura and Lexus in terms of sales. Models weren't so much attractive, but things turned around in the beginning of 2000's. With the introduction of models such as the QX4 or the I35, the brand gained a reputation of fiability. The model that put Infiniti on the top of sales was clearly the G35 (copy of the japanese Skyline) introduced in 2003. This article will mainly focus on this model. Actually, Infiniti's lineup is made of lot of variations of the G37 (sedan, coupe and convertible), the M, Ex and FX crossovers and the huge QX56.

G37 Coupe

Unveiled at the 2007 New York International Auto Show, the Infiniti G37 Coupe is the first coupe of the brand. It was given a brand new V6 of 330 hp paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The Infiniti G37 Coupe is clearly a "gran turismo" coupe, less sportier than its cousin the Nissan 370Z. The focus is more on being luxuous while offering a decent level of performance. Since 2009, it is offered as a convertible, and since 2011, in "IPL" version (Infiniti Performance Line) with an improved V6 engine offering 348 hp. This model quickly became one of the reference of the category, but is challenged by the Hyundai Genesis, that is offering a similar performance for a much lower price.

The G37 Coupe has been reproduced two times in diecast, and is actually the only real Infiniti made in 1/64 (to my humble knowledge). The first one has been done by Hot Wheels, introduced in 2010 in the regular casting line. Since then, it has been produced 4 times, and i own the first one, in a blueish silver. It is clearly a slightly tuned version, with a midly aggressive body-kit and a great spoiler. Strangely, the steering wheel is placed on the right, but the Infiniti is an american car... Tampos are great, especially on the rear of the car. Side mirrors are clearly missing again though. For a Hot Wheels, wheels are quite good for the car, and they give a nice sporty look. Clearly one of the good first editions in 2010.

Evaluation : Hot Wheels Infiniti G37 Coupe

• Accuracy (looking like the real car?) : 7/10
• Details (mirrors, wheels, other stuff)  : 7/10
• Color : 7/10
• Quality of the fabrication :  8/10
• Personal factor (is it a must for my collection?): 6/10
• Total : 35/50

Mattel's orange brand, Matchbox, also introduced the G37 in the 2011 regular casting line. Strangely, it was first offered with a similar color as the Hot Wheels one. It is a more regular version though, with normal bumpers and normal exhausts. It looks more luxuous, with nice attention accorded to the sunroof. Tampos are so well done, and it even features side mirrors. Sadly, it was a big peg warmer, because it is quite unattractive for kids. Even more, with new 2012 Matchbox's orientation, the future of the casting is quite uncertain. Personally, it is clearly one of the best new 2011 Matchbox, and deserves a place in any collection!

Evaluation : Matchbox Infiniti G37 Coupe

• Accuracy (looking like the real car?) : 9/10
• Details (mirrors, wheels, other stuff)  : 9/10
• Color : 7/10
• Quality of the fabrication :  9/10
• Personal factor (is it a must for my collection?): 8/10
• Total : 42/50

Which one do you prefer?

Nissan's few relatives

G37 Sedan

I call them relatives because those are models that are offered under the brand Infiniti in US, but under Nissan label in Japan. We'll first start with the G37 Sedan, that is the american version of the Skyline sedan. The G37 sedan was unveiled in 2009 and replaced the G35. A smaller version named the G25 was also introduced in 2011, with an engine of 218 hp only.  This Skyline appeared in Japan on 2008, and is known as the V36 generation.  The 370GT sedan is the japanese version of the G37. It is offered with the same engine as the Coupe. This sedan is well reproduced by Tomica, the japanese diecast maker. As any Tomica casting, it is very high quality with interesting features such as opening doors and a working suspension. The black color suits it very well, looking like a "Mafia" car. I would say that mirrors could been a nice add, and that front headlights would have been better with a few more details. Still a pretty nice casting there!

Evaluation : Tomica Nissan Skyline

• Accuracy (looking like the real car?) : 9/10
• Details (mirrors, wheels, other stuff)  : 7/10
• Color : 8/10
• Quality of the fabrication :  8/10
• Personal factor (is it a must for my collection?): 8/10
• Total : 40/50

Infiniti EX37

Based on the Infiniti EX, that is a premium-type crossover, the Nissan Skyline Crossover is another interesting one. It is identified as the 370GT in japan. The EX37 was first introduced in 2008 in the USA, with  a 320 hp V6, similar to the Skyline's one. It is also known to the first production vehicle featuring an "Around View Monitor", that is used to show the entire vehicle to the driver while driving backwards or parking. Even more, the crossover features a special "Scratch Shield" paint, that self-repairs fine scratches! It is quite magical. Again, Tomica reproduced the car in its regular lineup. It features an opening rear hatch and working suspension, as well as detailed lights and front calander. The paint is quite classical, but fits the car well. Side mirrors *again* would have been needed, but it's a pretty nice car.

Evaluation : Tomica Nissan Skyline Crossover

• Accuracy (looking like the real car?) : 9/10
• Details (mirrors, wheels, other stuff)  : 8/10
• Color : 7/10
• Quality of the fabrication :  8/10
• Personal factor (is it a must for my collection?): 8/10
• Total : 40/50

Enjoy the pics!