Lamley News: An update on the Hot Wheels Flying Customs Nissan Skylinevariation from Mattel designer Steve Vandervate...

After we learned about the interior variation on the Flying Customs Nissan Skyline, we reached out to Mattel Project Designer Steve Vandervate, who has a hand in many of Hot Wheels' premium and collector lines.  

We asked Steve about what he knows about the variation, and he was as surprised about it as we were.  But Steve was kind enough to do a little research, and we was able to find out a few things.

His answer:

The Basic tool set was modified for use in Flying Customs, adding a DC chassis and single-seat interior. It appears that the Flying Customs pieces that are using the stock interior must have been early-runs that used the basic tool set interior piece, and this was corrected as a running change. There were no plans for a roll cage - if there were, it would have been a live hinge on the interior piece.
Per tool plans: 
Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R #X0092 - Basic tool set, ABS chassis, stock right-hand drive interior.
Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R #X8219 - Flying Customs tool set, DC chassis, single-seat right-hand drive interior.

So there you go.  The Skyline moving forward has two different interiors.  One racing and one stock.  We have no idea when we will see the Kenmeri again (hopefully soon), but when we do we will have to see if the variation shows up again...

(Trying to find it?  Here are all the listings.  Hard to tell what is what, but I am sure you can ask the sellers...)

Lamley Deal of the Week: The elusive final batch of HW Flying Customs is on sale at Wheel Collectors, including the Texas Drive 'Em, Nissan Skyline, and Chevy Chevette...

Popping in to give everyone a heads up on this week's Lamley Deal of the Week at Wheel Collectors.

Matt and the folks at WC have discounted the final batch of Hot Wheels Flying Customs, which in our opinion was really the only great batch of the series.  And just like the final batch of Hot Wheels Racing the year before, the last batch is the hardest to find.

It has only made its way to smaller store chains in the US and other countries, as well as a few hobby dealers.  Wheel Collectors was one of those lucky dealers, and they are making these models available for cheap this week to Lamley readers.

Just follow the link to grab those models you have been after:

Lamley Deal of the Week

Variation Alert: Hot Wheels Flying Customs Nissan Skyline with two different interiors...

We like a good mystery, and this is a great one.

This variation was first pointed out on HWC, and as always, anything related to the Skyline IMMEDIATELY caught our attention.  Apparently the Flying Customs Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R was being found with two different interiors.  One with the standard two front and two back seats, and another with one racing bucket seat.

This model is hard enough to find, as the last, and in our opinion best, batch of the slow-moving Flying Customs line didn't make it to big-box stores.  Now add to it two different interiors, and you vari and Skyline collectors have a task ahead of you.

We made our way to our stash of Flying Customs and were happily surprised to find that we had two of each.  So too the photo studio we went to try and figure it out.

We started with side-by-side shots...

...and they didn't help at all.  As much as we like our little photo setup, getting details on black interiors is not its strong suit.

So we moved to silhouette shots:

Racing interior:

Standard interior:

Better, as you can see the difference, but not good enough.

So we did something absolutely crazy.  We used the sun!  Insane, I know.  We are very daring here at Lamley.  Out of the studio and to the desk in front of a window.

Now you can see it:

Racing interior:

Standard interior:

So now that you see the difference, what are we looking at?

Wrong interior errors happen with Hot Wheels.  The last significant interior error was, ironically, the silver '92 BMW M3, which was found on several occasions with the interior of the Nissan Skyline 2000GT-X, with its full roll cage.

That got us thinking.  The First Edition of the Kenmeri 2000GT-R Skyline had the standard interior, so that would be the normal issue.  But where did the racing interior come from?  The obvious guess would be the 2000GT-X Hakosuka Skyline, which has a racing interior just like what we see on the Kenmeri: the low-slung bucket set with an empty interior.

So we compared:

All you need to see is the dash board.  They are different.  So that idea is eliminated.

But here is the most important detail, and one that really creates the mystery.  The plastic interior of the Kenmeri 2000GT-R extends to the front and rear, and serves as the models headlight and grill, as well as its tail lights.  So this has to be a deliberate variation.  This racing interior had to be made for the Kenmeri.

We have put our feelers out, and are waiting for an answer from the HW Skyline designer himself, Jun Imai.  As soon as we hear something, we will pass it on.  Our guess?  That the racing interior was made for the premium Hot Wheels Racing version that was never made.  If we remember correctly, the Skyline was part of the last batch of Hot Wheels Racing that included the Toyota 2000GT.  So this interior was molded for that, but never made.  Hence, a few were now put into the Flying Customs version.

Incidently, the base codes on these is different.  For the racing interior, F22:

And for the standard, F28:

That is consistent in the HWC post, but we want to know what you have.  Let us know the base codes on the variations you have.  Let's figure this out.

What we don't know is which one is more rare.  All we know is there are two.

Now, for some fun...

The Flying Customs Skyline is part of this week's Lamley Deal of the Week at Wheel Collectors.  They have put their stock of Skylines and the other Flying Customs up for sale at a discount this week, so it your chance to grab the vari.  We have NO IDEA what variations they have, so I would ask.  Follow the link and have at it:

Lamley Deals of the Week

Let's figure this mystery out...

First Look: Hot Wheels Flying Customs 1976 Chevy Chevette...

I don't know much about this car, but am I supposed to?

The Chevette is a car that I have never given a second thought.  For that matter I don't think I have given it a first thought.  It's a Chevette.

But the fact it is a Chevette makes this model awesome.  Don't get me wrong, this is not a model I will add to the collection, but that does not mean it isn't pure awesome.  Some complained when they learned Hot Wheels was doing a Chevette, but why?  Was a Ferrari on the docket and was scratched to do a Chevette?  No.  Hot Wheels has hundreds of tools, can one be a Chevette?  Yes.

So enjoy it, and celebrate it.  Hot Wheels made a Chevette.  By the way, I have typed Chevette seven (now eight times), and my Macbook has each word underlined in red.  It has no idea what it is.  More reason for Hot Wheels to let the world know that the Chevette is still a player.  I guess.

(Find the Chevette along with the other models of Flying Customs Batch E on ebay...)


Hot Wheels 1976 Chevy Chevette (2013 Flying Customs):

First Look: Hot Wheels Flying Customs Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R...

It is so nice to have Ken & Mary (Meri) back in my life.

As I continue to work my way through my recent descent into all things classic Japanese automotive, looking like Alice falling through the rabbit hole, breezing by Mazdas painted orange and green, Toyotas called Crown, presidential Nissans, tiny Subarus, and Mitsubishis not called Evo, I have finally landed at the place I started.  The Kenmeri.



There is a lot to appreciate about nostalgic Japanese cars, and what I like best is standing back and taking in the design.  And Japanese cars design-wise are to the automotive world what Tropicalia is to Brazilian music.  A little of this from there, a little of that from over there, and the result is pure unadulterated Japanese.  The fastback Celica might have borrowed from the fastback Mustang, or the Toyota 2000GT from the Jag E-Type, but the results scream Japan.  And the Kenmeri, like the Hakosuka before it, may be the most Japanese of all.

So that is why 2011 was such a great Hot Wheels year for the JDM lot.  Two new Skyline models, both iconic, looking like the racers and cruisers so many ogle over today.   2012?  Nothing (at least from those two models).  But both made a return in 2013, both adorning metal bases and the Hot Wheels premium treatment.  The Hakosuka jumped right in at the beginning of the year as part of the Boulevard line, but the Kenmeri took its sweet time.  So much time in fact that we started wondering if we would ever see it, especially since the line it is in, the Flying Customs, is a legendary pegwarmer, and one that I am sure the Mattel number-crunchers are happy to ditch.

And ditched it was.  This last batch won't see the inside of big box stores, but at least hobby dealers and some smaller retailers have it.  It means I get my Kenmeri.  This specific model came from Hong Kong, thanks to good Lamley friends Leon T, Ha Mo, Andy, and his son Bryan, who scoured local Toys R Us stores to find me one.  That may have been a little too much trouble, but better safe than sorry when pursuing one of my favorite Hot Wheels castings...

(While I got mine in Hong Kong, it will be much easier for you.  Just head over to ebay...)


Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R (2013 Flying Customs):