— September 21st, 2009
The exclusive Kmart CARS Collector Event is back, and will be in-stores on Saturday, October 17th at 11:00 am. Collectors will also be able to pre-order a limited quantity of this special case of Pixar CARS Character Cars on-line at Kmart.com starting on 9/27 at 10am.
Each 24 pack case* contains 19 Kmart exclusive racer vehicles with Real Synthetic Rubber Tires (7 different characters), 2 new to market vehicles and other highly demanded vehicles as well. The Kmart exclusive
vehicles with real synthetic rubber tires include:
#84 Re-Volting
#52 Leak Less
#68 N2O Cola
#58 Octane Gain
#73 Rev-N-Go
#76 Vinyl Toupee
#34 Trunk Fresh
*Quantities are while supplies last, and the assortment may vary.
Update: There are 5 lenticular Cars in the assortment.
Brand New Mater
Chick Hicks
Lightning McQueen
Ramone (Yellow)
Sheriff
Since it is the first release of Yellow Ramone and Brand New Mater as lenticulars on card, we assume that those are the 2 “new to market” Cars. So yes this is very disappointing. I will be going to get the rubber tire racers and nothing else, and I won’t be pre-ordering a case.
— September 14th, 2009
In a few months, the holidays will be upon us, and this year we will see holiday Cars for the first time. They are part of the Mater Saves Christmas series, complete with the Mater Saves Christmas storybook. There are 6 Christmas Cars, Mater, Sheriff, Lightning McQueen, Sally, Ramone and Doc. There is also a boxset, and I don’t know if these will be sold separately or just in the boxset.
Here are some photos of the Christmas Cars.
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Holiday Hot Shot Lightning McQueen
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Reindeer Mater
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Snow Day Sally
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Decked Out Doc
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Cruiser Ramone
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Spirit Sheriff
These are just starting to show up on eBay overseas.
Christmas McQueen
Holiday Ramone
Holiday Sally
Holiday Sheriff
Reindeer Mater
Santa Doc
The storybook is available now, also called “Mater Saves Christmas.” Here it is on Amazon.
— September 13th, 2009
Update: Official release date for these is October 11, 2009.
Final Lap Cars have finally been found at Target. New Cars in this first assortment are Skip Ricter, Polly Puddlejumper and Blowing Bubbles Mater. See them on eBay here. I believe these were found in California. It will no doubt take some time for them to make their way across the country to the different distribution centers. In addition, there could be a street date, although I haven’t heard of one, which would have been ignored in this case.
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Final Lap Cars Skip Ricter
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Polly Puddlejumper
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Blowing Bubbles Mater
I don’t really have any more information at this time. Anyone else finding these yet? Be sure to write in if they are showing up near you.
— August 22nd, 2009
Mater the Greater Super Stunt Show Playset is now being found at Toys R Us. It is also available on their site for $24.99. I believe it is the same price in store.
Here is the description.
Inspired by the Cars Toon animated short, the Mater the Greater Super Stunt Show playset lets kids play out the fun of the animated adventure! Playset includes 3 amazing mid-air stunts! Roll down the ramp and up and over “Carburetor Canyon!” Whoa you made it! Good job! Or shoot Mater the Greater from the cannon to catch air and go through the fire hoop–phew close one! Then get set with the launcher to jump in true daredevil style, just like in the Cars Toon short!
Although, if you are thinking about buying this set, you may want to read Patty’s review first. In short, she didn’t like it.
— August 18th, 2009
Mater’s Tall Tales diecast have arrived. Rescue Squad Mater is showing up now at Toys R Us across the country. Except for my Toys R Us, as I haven’t seen them yet. Here is the checklist again. There are singles, 4 packs and Mega Size.
Singles
Burnt Lightning McQueen
Nurse GTO
Nurse Kori
Orderly Pittys
Rescue Squad Trooper
Rescue Squad 4 packs
Rescue Squad Mater, Dalmatian Mia and Tia and Rescue Squad Chopper
Burnt Lightning McQueen, Dr. Mater and Nurse Mia and Tia
Mega Size
Rescue Squad Ambulance
Rescue Squad Helicopter
Rescue Squad Mater
— August 17th, 2009
The Cars launchers series, now known as Lightyear Launchers, has arrived. From what I can tell by looking at the cardbacks, there are at least 2 assortments showing up right now at Toys R Us. One series has Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks, Clutch Aid and Lil Torquey Pistons on the cardback. The second series has Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks, Rev N Go and Bumper Save.
That is all the information I have right now, and the full case assortments are not known. Are there anymore showing up out there?
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Lightyear Launcher Lightning McQueen
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Lightyear Launcher Back
— August 16th, 2009
I had no idea this was available until last week, but the Disney Store is selling an exclusive diecast Frank that is HUGE. It’s a good price too at $19.99. If I happen to see it, I may pick it up.
The scale seems to be much more accurate to the movie when compared to the other diecast. Here is a photoset from jadafiend on Flickr. I am reposting these here with his permission. Included are 2 shots of the Disney Store Frank with Mega Size Frank so you can see the scale. It looks to me about twice as big as Mega Size Frank. What does everyone else think of this?
I’ve heard that you can only get this in store too, not through their online store. If there is not a Disney Store near you, there are a few up for sale on eBay right now.
— August 15th, 2009
I’ll be honest. I have no interest at all in the lenticular “Look My Eyes Change” Cars, except for the chase Cars. So the only reason I am posting this is for the chase Chick Hicks with Piston Cup. Even then, it’s not like you need another Chick Hicks. The only reason you are buying it is for the chase label or perhaps for the cool Piston Cup inside. But if you already have the chase Dinoco McQueen from the last wave, then you already have that too. So there isn’t that much incentive to buy this one.
Update: It was pointed out to me that the Piston Cup may be unique in that it has the specific character’s name on it. The print is so tiny though it hard to tell what it actually says on the Cup. It doesn’t change my opinion, but I just wanted to let you know.
Sorry to be so blunt, but the lenticular Cars was not a good move by Mattel in my opinion. Neither is the fact that so many of the other Cars are going to be Target exclusives. Anyway, does anyone know which of these are new? I have trouble keeping track of these now since they have all been released before. Here is the full case assortment for those who are keeping score. I really hope these go away soon.
Chick Hicks (2)
Chick Hicks Chase w/ Piston Cup
Dinoco Lightning McQueen (2)
Doc Hudson (2)
Flo
The King (2)
Lightning McQueen (4)
Lightning Ramone
Luigi and Guido (2)
Nitroade (2)
Radiator Springs McQueen (2)
Snot Rod
Wingo (2)
— August 14th, 2009
Hello Cars fans! I am back. I took an unintended but much needed break from the site for the past couple of weeks. My apologies, but after Comic Con, there was not much news, and then I got busy with other things. But now I am back, and there is lots of Cars news to talk about so here we go.
Mattel has just announced a 1:24 diecast Lightning McQueen exclusive to MattyCollector.com. It goes on sale on Monday August 17th, probably at 12 PM is my guess. Now before you get all excited, this McQueen is priced at $45, which may be too expensive for some if not most. But for the price, this McQueen is 1:24 scale, highly-detailed diecast, mounted on a special plastic display base and riding on synthetic rubbers tires with tread pattern on them.
Again, this is available only on MattyCollector.com starting on Monday. It’s a very interesting item, but my opinion is that the price is too high. Your mileage may vary. BTW, the SDCC 2009 exclusive Rescue Squad Mater is still available on MattyCollector.com for $30. Mine finally came this week, and it is very nice!
— July 25th, 2009
This is the last gallery I have from this year’s Comic Con. Hope you enjoyed it! Photos are courtesy of Michael Crawford at Michael’s Toy Review.
