Desert Island Cars Vol. 11: Panchito's Top Ten

Panchito Ponce de León from Peru

10) 1959 Cadillac Eldorado (by M2 Machines)

For me, this Caddy is one of the most important models of the 50's decade (next to the '57 Chevy Bel Air) and M2 did a great job making this casting. 

I hope they'll release more variants in the future (I have 8 so far).

P.S: I chose this chase variant 'cause what else than Gold is golder than the Eldorado name xD

9) 1963 Cadillac Series 62 (by Jada Toys)

I love this beauty specially for these 2 reasons:

a) This Cadillac is the one that Al Pacino used in Scarface, one of my favorite movies of all-time.

b) Do you see the interior? It's covered with velcrum (or something like that) that tries to look similar to the tiger skin that was p used for the real car.

8) Toyota AA (by Tomica Limited)

Known as the first Toyota, the AA was the one that made me look for TL (at the moment I had only regular Tomica)

It looks like a mob's car, right?

This and the DeTomaso are my favorite (and expensive) TL of my collection. 

7) 1981 Jeep Wagoneer (by Johnny Lightning)

When JL released the first edition of this Wagoneer I was thrilled 'cause It reminded me my uncle's red Jeep, but they released in tan with no wood panels.

This year JL finally, after a long break, released 2 variants, and this burgundy is what I called "a kickass comeback".

6) Nissan Skyline GT-R KPGC110 a.k.a. "Kenmeri" (by UCC)

I searched and searched like a hundred times to find the green & gold Kenmeri by Kyosho Beads and only once i had the chance to buy it, but the auction went to high for me (+US$150.00).

Then, this gorgeus new diecast maker appeared thanks to the japanese coffee called UCC. 

I know that their cars doesn't have the quality of the Kyosho Beads but for less than US$5.00, is a sweet deal, right? 

5) Enzo Ferrari (by Kyosho)

The iconic 2003 Enzo, is one of the most beautiful Supersport cars made by Ferrari and the first model to came to my mind when someone mention "Ferrari".

I have 4 variants so far, but the orange red is still waiting to be caught :/

4) 1968 Porsche 911 S (by Tomica Limited Vintage)

The one that made me fall for TLV.

It came as a "prize/gift" from the friend that introduce this brand to me, I already had Tomica but nothing like this.

Score TLV, score!!!

3) 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Woody SW (by Hot Wheels Collectibles)

Yes I know, another Eldorado, but why this time? 

This belongs to the Hard Rock Café set, and the whole set is a fine example when Hot Wheels wanted to do things right, they surely can do it.

I wanted this set specially for the lovely Hearse but when I have it on hand my love for the Woody surpass it.

I'm sad that these adult collector series (like 100% and Black Box) dissapeared for not so good replacements. (as Garage, Boulevard, Nostalgia, etc)

2) 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C #98   (by Kyosho)

Carrol Shelby it was and inspiration for many, and his AC Cobra, for me, was THE perfect creation.

Its rounded curves made by Carrol's hands and that gorgeous blue with white stripes paint scheme was and awesome.

 combo.

1) Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron  by AUTOart 

By far, this is my favorite sport car of the 00's era (I have the 3 variants), and AUTOart used all its resources to make a great replica.

It's a shame that they closed their 1/64 line, I hope it will return some day.

Minicar Pics 1/64:  I have some AUTOart in 1/64(including same Veyron) & I couldn't agree more.  Let us hope that they will get the itch to produce models in this scale again.  :D  Going over the list....... the gold Eldorado.  WOW.  Tomica Limited Toyota AA.  WOW.  Awesome list, but those cars really standout for me.  Also jealous of the Jada Caddy.  Very cool!

I have connected with Panchito on Malaysia Tomica Limited Vintage Club page on Facebook(closed group, must be logged in).  What  a great bunch of guys.  Friendly & laid back.  If you like TLVs, I recommend looking into joining.  :)

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Desert Island Cars Vol. 10: a6m5's Top Ten

Yours truly: a6m5 from Japamerica

This "Desert Island" list was my idea.  If collectors could keep just ten cars, which cars survive the cut from their collection?  Very first post in this series debuted in March.  The very guy who came up with the idea(me), I'm now finally getting around to sharing my list.  You know exactly what that means:  It was a very strenuous process for me......  narrowing down the list to just ten cars.  Yes, it also means I'm a very lazy person, but we don't need to get into that right now.  In no particular order:

#1 Hot Wheels Vintage Racing John Morton's BRE Datsun Bluebird/510

This thing looked unbelievable to me at first.  I had just begun collecting, and pretty much at awe whenever I saw Real Riders(rubber tires).  Plus, 510/Bluebird was one of the castings that got me into Hot Wheels, and this BRE livery....  It's a "ten".  It's worth way over $100 today.  I got mine years ago & hated having to pay $9 for it(shipped).  lol

#2 Tomica Limited Vintage NEO LV-N24a Hino TC343 Ladder Equipped Fire Engine

I doubt it's the most coveted TLV, but it is one of the largest & one of the most well detailed.  Also happens to be an fire engine from my childhood(in timeline & geographically), so it scores more points there.  Add to it that I'm a big fan of TLV's "working" vehicles(you'll see two more in this post lol), this Hino makes the top ten.  Oh, and I paid $139 for it.  :D

#3 Hot Wheels Red Line Club "Real Riders" Custom Mustang

Real Mattel fan would scoff at this, but when I think of an ideal vintage style of "Hot Wheels", this car is what I think of.  While it's not popular, it isn't worth a lot($15-ish on a good day?), its livery alone may carry it to the Top 3.  It's a jewel of toy car if you ask me.

#4 Kyosho Mazda Rotary Engine Minicar Collection - 1991 Le Mans Winner Mazda 787B 

I'm not a Kyosho collector, but there were two I had to have.  One was Circuit Wolf Lotus Europa(from vintage Japanese manga), other was this.  Only Japanese car ever to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  I'm also a big fan of the livery & the sound it makes.  It was actually a close call, but it makes my Desert Island list.

#5 Tomica Limited Vintage LV-92a Nissan Diesel 3.5 Truck Coca Cola Route Car 

One of my first TLVs, and it still ranks very high in my collection, obviously.  Coca Cola logo, hand-truck, crates of coke bottles, they all do it for me.  Tomytec put lot of effort into this model, and the final product in my opinion is something very special. 

#6 Kyosho Circuit Wolf Lotus Europa SP

It sucks to be the Hot Wheels RLC Baja Bruiser right now.  Let me explain.  One: There is no Baja Bruiser post in all of this blog(it is now on the blog, check it out!).  Not because I don't have one, or that I don't like it.  I have it & I liked it enough to put it in my Top Ten Desert Island list.  However, while posting the Kyosho Mazda 787B couple spots above, I remembered this Kyosho Lotus Europa from very old, but very popular manga called "サーキットの狼"(Circuit Wolf).  Think of it as the Japanese 70's version of the Initial D/Fast & the Furious.  It's that awesome.  Yeah.

#7 Hot Wheels Red Line Club "Real Riders" '83 Chevy Silverado

It was a love at first sight.  Initially, I think I found out how much the going rate for this truck was & it was like "forget it".  Eventually, I think I ended up paying around $80 & change for one.  I had to have it.  Good news:  It's worth lot more than that now.  I think it's the bright green Spectraflame paint job + the chrome stripe.  Love this unique & unusual look.  

#8 Tomica Limited Vintage LV-N49a Shell Hino KB314 Tank Lorry

Cost me $123.  Really wanted it though.  Shocking that I haven't written a post on this one yet.  I used to have the Idemitsu version as well, but I preferred this one(same with the Tomicarama sets).  Like I said for the TLV fire engine also on the list; I like 'working' vehicles a lot, when it comes to 1/64.  :D

#9 Playart Lamborghini Miura

This is one of the handful of items from my childhood that survived.  It even has store price tag on on the bottom of the car which instead of the price, it says "Lamborghini Miura" handwritten in Japanese.  By my late-grandfather.  She's a keeper.  ;)

#10 Tomica Limited Vintage - Tomica Skyline Super Silhouette(1983 Early Vers.)

In the early days of collecting, I hated spending $20 on Super Treasure Hunt Hot Wheels, so I never thought I'd be able to own on of these TLV Super Silhouette cars.  Not exactly sure how it happened, but basically my taste got more expensive.  As a kid, I thought Super Silhouette race cars looked cool(never followed racing though), also liked this gen Skylines in red & black, so I definitely had soft spot for this thing growing up.  While I have in my collection all six existing TLV Super Silhouettes(just released 7th model is on the way from Japan), this Early-1983 version is my favorite.  I think it has the coolest headlights.

Thank you for checking out my Desert Island list!!!

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Desert Island Cars Vol. 9: Ramanujan's Top Ten

Ramanujan from Netherlands

1) Konami signature model Honda S2000 (With road and guardrail.)

This one has cost me years to get. Hunting ebay, looking on auction sites. Until i finally found it with a seller who had almost the complete series available in an obscure online shop. I took the gamble and everything was well.

2) Aoshima Spoon S2000 in Blue/Yellow.

Very nice little car which fortunately only got expensive after i got it.

3) Champion Honda F1. These model cars are very well made for the time they came on the market.  I picked the nicest i have.

4) Cm's lancia stratos with dirt. Just great they made the effort to get their 1/64 cars even more realistic.

5) Cm's Lancia Delta with the great Repsol livery. Just great colors on a rally car.

6) Joyride (ertl) Formula Drift S2000. Got one after searching for a long time, it got a bit messed up in transport, but still a nice addition to the collection.

7) Trackstars Alfa Romeo 155. These came in nice metal containers and are very colorfull. I picked one with a nice color combo.

8) Tamiya Honda S2000. I like this one just better than the autoart, the wheels are very nice, and the doors open as a bonus.

9) Crazy Wheels Zylmex Honda F1. Old model car with a funny twist, i think it is great and silly all in one.

10) Cm's special color edition of the Lancia Delta in yellow. Who doens't like a nice road like version of the old Grale?

Hope you like the list.

As you probably can tell, there is some theming going on in my collection. :D

Minicar Pics 1/64:  There are some cars in here I've never seen, or even heard of before.  On this loaded list, one casting that really stands out for me is the Crazy Wheels Honda F1.  Wacky in a really awesome way.  Very special. 

While the list is dominated by Lancias & Hondas, it's the farthest list from being boring, or predictable.  Great work!

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Desert Island Cars Vol. 8: RCKakashi's Top Ten

RCKakashi14 from Philippines

Top 10 1:64 scale models in my collection:

10. Hot Wheels Hall of Fame, Riley & Scott Mk. III:

See? A Hot Wheels casting made it in the list. Ever since then, I always have reservations on buying HW cars because of the cartoonish proportions of real-life cars. Replicating real-life cars must be done in detail, including the right lines. But of course there are quite a few castings that stood out, such as this Riley & Scott Mk. III. Oh look, rubber tires! I am a big fan of Le Mans Prototypes, and because of that, I must have at least a scale model version of them. Those purposeful lines always attract me, and always shout to the world that they are to be taken seriously. 

Oh, do you know that I got this for dirt cheap? Hehe...

9. Hot Wheels Japan Historics Mazda RX-3:

Another Hot Wheels car has made it. Because Rotary. Brap Brap Brap... and because rubber tires. AND BECAUSE FENDERS.

8. Tomica Premium Lamborghini Countach LP500S Walter Wolf:

Oh look, a bull just prowls its way here. Tomicas are, in my opinion, a hit-and-miss cars. There are some that are worthy of a place in my collection, and there are some that just had to be left on the shelves in toy stores. But this Countach belongs to the former. Why? It's a revamped casting, because the early models look awkward, even the red Tomica Limited version. In this one, while it doesn't have the rubber tires (boo!), the proportions are done right and the fenders are on the correct width along with the proper choice of tire width. Not too keen on that camber, though... and the fact that it had to don plastic tires despite being a "Premium" model.

7. Norev BMW i8

A dealer edition BMW i8. While the package doesn't state what brand that made it, I still managed to find out thanks to the deities of Google. Amazing detailing for cheap, and could be the next brand to be taken seriously since Kyoshos are getting a lot more expensive nowadays. Interestingly, the car is bolted on by screws, and the roof is a separate panel. Though why would I mod something this great?

6. Kyosho Mercedes Sauber C9:

Yep, another Le Mans Prototype. I just love them. Bought this on the last day of 2015, and that was the best way to end the year. Incredible paint quality, and stance is just right. Why can't new Kyoshos be this perfect?

5. Kyosho Porsche 911 Turbo (991)

I will never ever say no to a Porsche, even if that is the Cayenne. It's a brand that had proven everything in its racing history which, in turn, garnered the most victories in motorsport. Naturally, I love each and every variant of the 911, and my favorite is the Turbo simply because of its all-around capability. Upon seeing the 991 Turbo, I felt that I have to get one in scale model form, and voila!

4. Kyosho Bentley Flying Spur W12:

Superb casting and detail. The same can be said about the paint quality. One of the few new Kyoshos that are actually great. Plus, it's a badass, autobahn missile Bentley. Who wouldn't want to have one? 

3. Kyosho Mazda 787B:

Here's what I can call a "lucky" buy. Due to Kyosho's "blind box" system in Minicar collection sets, it's hard to get the desired model provided you're paying the same amount for each of the models. When the Mazda Rotary Collection set arrived in the store, I immediately picked up one and upon opening it, this baby greeted my eyes, that green and orange RENOWN livery.

And along with its legendary status in real-life, it's one total badass racer. Still the one and only Japanese car to win Le Mans, something that bigger companies such as Toyota and Nissan can't seem to follow. Of course, my love for Rotaries earned it enough zing to be placed in the Top 3.

2. Kyosho Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series:

Aggressive lines, perfect paintjob, and impeccable detail. Yep, this is what I call Kyosho's finest casting of this decade. Looks are subjective, I know, but this one really takes the cake. The rims could have been darker, though. But nah, that's not a deal breaker considering the precision done on this casting. The molded side mirrors may divide opinion, but this car deserves that treatment.

And the top spot belongs to...

The Kyosho Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid!

​

Okay, the wing may have a weird angle, but... it's a Porsche racecar for goodness sake! It showed incredible performance in its career and proven to the world that hybrids are badass. The paint quality? It's like gods have taken charge of putting the livery. When you hold the casting, it may seem that the body is wrapped, but actually the base color is matte orange, and the tampos are the white, silver and black stripes. The stance and its wide sexy rear end make me drool every time I look at it at the front row of my display cabinet. And look at that smiling front end, eager to say "hi" or "hello" but deep inside the car demands attention. I didn't mind the price tag, I just purchased it and off I go. 

So that's my Top 10 cars. Truth be told, it took me a long time to decide which ones are to be placed on the list, because I love every model in my cabinet. It's just that these 10 models stand out the most.

A piece of advice before ending this:

Each model in your collection is a KEEPER. Therefore, if you want it to keep it that way, take some time decide which one to buy, and which line of collection to take.

And be proud of what you have. Share it to the world regardless of what it's made of.

Minicar Pics 1/64:  Hybrid race car is absolutely gorgeous.  I can see why that one stands out the most for you.  Very thoughtful advice to conclude the post as well.  Thank you for sharing the list Kakashi!  :)

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四月馬鹿: Desert Island Cars Vol. 69: a6m5's Top Ten **April Fools Edition!!!**

a6m5 - USA

 Hot Wheels Pizza Vette

I like lot of things.  Very rarely though I get to experience the fusion of so many things I love in life, like:  Pizza/Corvette/Hot Wheels.  This casting should be called "Heaven", or "Perfection", not Pizza Vette.  It's more than that.

Hot Wheels Road Rocket

On the basketball court, I used to pretend that I was Michael Jordan.  No, I wasn't dunking from the free throw line, I just took all the shots(I was my go-to-guy).  Anyway, now that I'm old, closest thing to sports I experience is morning commute where I pretend that I'm Ricky Bobby from the motion picture "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby".  Look at this car.  Read its name.  It screams "I wanna go fast".

 

Hot Wheels Chevy Citation

Back in the 80's, evil corporations like Honda & Toyota would bribe car magazines like Road & Track, Car & Driver to make Civics & Camrys look good while putting down much superior cars like Chevy Celebrity, Mercury Topaz & yes, you guessed it, Chevrolet Citation.  Thank god Mattel could see through the corruption & pushed the release of the Citation ahead of the likes of inferior imports like RX-7 or BMW 3-Series.  Citation so much gooder.

Johnny Lightning Mysterion

No naming ever truer.  WTF is this?  It's a Mystery... on.

Hot Wheels Turismo

One thing we've discovered through the "Desert Island" series:  It's not always about the best looking casting, or the most valuable.  Sometimes, nostalgia can score 100 points.  That's where this car comes in for me.  While I never customized, or painted toy cars when I was two, if I had, this is the exact combination of colors I would have picked.

Hot Wheels Arachnid

I love this casting, no it's not a custom.  I was fixing sandwich in the kitchen when I caught this hot wheel car from the corner of my eye.  I f*#ing killed it.  I'm sorry my favorite toy car, I honor your sacrifice with a spot on my Desert Island car list.  RIP, spider car.

Hot Wheels GMC Motorhome

Please, hold on.  Please.  Before you head off to eBay looking for this RV, you need to know that this is a custom hot wheel made by me, a6m5.  What?  No, I wasn't riding on the back of a dune buggy when I painted it.  I don't own any paint brushes, so I used the next closest thing I had in my arsenal:  Electric Toothbrush.  Yes, I should have turned it off first.  I know that now.

Hot Wheels Ratmobile

It's little embarrasing, but I'm not gonna lie, I am a HUGE fan of Mickey Mouse.  Imagine my shock when I saw this casting for the first time at 7:45pm, November 15th, 2013 in aisle six of Woodburn Walmart Super Center.  Clearly, it's a exact replica of Mickey.  To quote myself from that fateful evening: "I finally meet you Mickey, I love your movies!!"  Yes, it was so realistic, I was fooled to think that I had finally met my super icon Mickey Mouse. 

Also, my favorite curse phrase happens to be "You rat mother #$^@#%", so it's pretty much meant to be.  

Hot Wheels Hot Seat

When I drive, sometimes it's fast, sometimes slow.  *fart*  Sometimes, the drive is smooth..... or it can be rough.  Kinda like on the toilet seat.  *grabs toilet paper*  This car was inspired by life.  Life itself.  *flushes*

Jada Scion xB

I have a soft spot for Scion xB, and many of my friends know this, including online hot wheel/minicar collector friends.  I have many Scion xB/Toyota bB casting, but what's so special about this one?  Well, you'd be blind not to see the realistic driver figure in the driver seat of this casting.  I've always said that only one thing better than cancer cure, or world peace is a red car with blue wheels & white tires.  On like Donkey Kong.  Mission accomplished.

Minicar Pics 1/64:  Clearly, this was an April Fools list.  For the real Desert Island lists, please click on the link below.  :D

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