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What Happened to Cars at Toy Fair 2008?
— February 27, 2008 6 Comments
Now that Toy Fair 2008 is behind us, it’s time to reflect and address the question that is on Cars collectors minds, what the hell happened to Cars at Toy Fair 2008? Okay, maybe that’s just the question on my mind. But after San Diego Comic Con last year and the upcoming list of Cars we got this year, I admit I was expecting big things. I even made some grandiose predictions that were nowhere close to coming true.
To be fair to Mattel, they did show some Cars this year, Mini Cars that is. They are trying to push that line big time. After all, not having to worry about movie continuity, they can really pump out the character variations there. But of the diecast Cars being shown, only 17 new Cars were on display, with 5 of them being Pittys and 2 more Lightning McQueen variations.
So what happened here? Well, according to Mattel, out of 123 Cars that will be available this year, only 18 of them are new, in the single card line. In addition, there are 12 new Movie Moments 2 packs, 6 3 packs and 3 launcher sets. Those however have been mostly comprised of reissues in the past. There was no mention of the Speedway of the South Piston Cup race car set that is supposed to be out this year. This is way off of the list we got at the end of last year, so I guess you can throw that out the window now. This also follows in line with the recent assortment changes we have seen.
What does all this mean? Well, it’s very possibly that retailers are cooling off on the diecast line right now, and are wanting more of the Cars mini line. If that is true, unless you are into the Mini Cars, get ready for a slimmed down 2008 for Cars collecting.
Mattel needs to cancel or scale back the whole Mini Adventures line, they are the biggest peg warmers and they take up shelf space the regular line could use.
I figured as much. It seems strange. I would look at an items marketability before the ones that are available. As a prospective designer in toys and imagineering I tend to view things as the public would. “Would I want that toy?” or “Would I ride on that?” What is excitable, not how many variations there are of it. But that’s just me.
Most toy companies give those lists out as solicitations to retailers, so they can see what is coming out and place their orders based on that. However, they are always subject to change and frequently do, usually based on the orders they receive from retailers.
That’s true. I am hopefully optomistic that we will see more. I also never understood why they would even give out a list?! That seems backwards. I would make a list after I produced them, But I don’t run Mattel. LOL
You have a point. I know they don’t always go by the lists they put out, and those are mainly for the retailers. I am simply going by the info that was reportedly given out at Toy Fair and what was shown there.
Don’t give up so fast. Sesh, I don’t remember seeing the Dinoco Gift pack last year on the list of production and I also don’t remember seeing Double pack exclusives from toys r us. Nor do I remember pictures of Pit crew launcers…. And yet we see all of these in stores…. I am guessing they are saying that as a starting point. Don’t give up hope. Seriously.