First Look: Hot Wheels RLC Exclusive Gulf Porsche 917K, by JohnRino...

Lamley contributor and photographer extraordinaire JohnRino is back with a look at one of the stunning 4-car Hot Wheels RLC Gulf Series.

These models are amazing, and if you can find them here...

(Thanks John.)


Hello my fellow die-cast enthusiasts,

Just received the Porsche 917K, and it's going to be another exclusive piece to add to my ongoing collection.  I can only imagine what it would be like to strap yourself
in to a race car producing 620bhp and dominating the World Sportscar Championships in the early 70's. The closest I'll ever get to achieving that is this 1:64 scale version of it, and I'll let my imagination do the driving. Enjoy the pics and thanks for stopping in at The Lamley Group (a wealth of diecast pictures and information).

Respectfully,

JohnRino

DiecastDemon  (www.scoomer.com/diecastdemon)


Hot Wheels Porsche 917K (2013 RLC Gulf Series):

Model of the Day: Hot Wheels 2013 RLC Exclusive Honky Tonk Hot Rod, by JohnRino...

After a short hiatus, our favorite photographer, JohnRino, is back with a look at the RLC Honky Tonk Hot Rod.  Look for more coming soon.

Enjoy...


Hello my die-cast friends,

My apologies for my elusiveness, my photo setup has been collapsed and boxed away for a pending move.

But I started having camera withdrawals, and set it back up again (forgot what a pain that was).  Shot photos of the Honky Tonk Hot Rod, just a unique cool little piece.  The color and design is just killer cool on this, not to mention the cowboy with with with his hand gripping the outside gear selector.  You know he's rounding up some big Texas steer.  Every time I come across this casting, I'm proud to have it in my collection, a great acquisition!

Stop on by my store at: www.scoomer.com/diecastdemon and thanks for swinging in at the Lamley Group.

Respectfully,

JohnRino


Hot Wheels Honky Tonk Hot Rod (2013 RLC Exclusive):

First Look: Hot Wheels RLC Commemorative Shelby Cobra 427 S/C, by John Rino...

Lamley contributor John Rino is back with his look at the latest RLC model, this time the Carroll Shelby tribute Shelby Cobra 427 S/C.

Be sure to visit John's store if you haven't already at www.scoomer.com/diecastdemon.

(Thanks John.)


Hi friends,

First off, I want to wish all my collector friends a safe and happy 4th of July!



I'm not a car buff by any means but the name Shelby stands tall in the automotive industry. Just uttering the words Shelby Cobra brings some type of menacing muscle to mind in a small but mighty package.  I for one will never be able to afford to own one, but my imagination puts me behind the seat in one.  It's just pleasure to see the real deal up close, let alone running.  I could only imagine what it would be like to run the Cobra through the gears in some rural winding road, that would be a premium day.

Mattel and its designers did a beautiful job on this Shelby Cobra in a Hot Wheels kind of way.   I really like the card, a nice dedication and remembrance of an automotive legend.

Thanks for visiting Lamley Group and please stop in at my store: www.scoomer.com/diecastdemon.

Respectfully,
JohnRino


Hot Wheels Shelby Cobra 427 S/C (2013 RLC):

First Look: Hot Wheels RLC HWC Original 16 Custom Mustang, by John Rino...

New Lamley contributor John Rino is at it again, this time shooting the just-released HWC Custom Mustang.  John has agreed to be our RLC model expert, but looking at his photos, you know what expertise we envy.

Enjoy the photos, and be sure to visit John's store at www.scoomer.com/diecastdemon.

(Thanks John.)


My take on it:

Gotta' say, the opening in the hood scoop is fantastic! This exclusive club car screams old school muscle, and many of us wish we could own something like it, least I do.
Mattel's designers really made this gem a must have for any collection.  Wasn't sure about the Spectraflame Gold at first, but it really shines well with this car. Yes, I had to tear in to a collectible black box and a replica 1968 blister...was it worth it? Yes!  You really can't appreciate these beauties until they are loose. Great job to all involved in this exclusive.

Everytime I see an older mustang fastback always reminds me of my youth.  My father took my sister and I for a vacation in Arizona. My father rented a White Mustang Fastback, and headed out to some ranch to do some horse back riding with us.  I believe I was 13 years old at the time.  Never forget, as we started to come back from our trail ride, my sister's horse saw the ranch.  Because of that, her horse decides to go in to a full gallop and head back home.  She got thrown and broke her arm needless to say, we city slickers are only good at riding a city bus.

Cya' around everyone and thanks for stopping by the Lamley Group and please visit my store at: www.scoomer.com/diecastdemon.

Respectfully,
JohnRino


Hot Wheels RLC HWC Original 16 Custom Mustang (photos by John Rino):

First Look: Hot Wheels RLC exclusive Datsun 240Z, by John Rino...

Hello friends...

We are very excited to let you all know that master-photographer John Rino has agreed to join the Lamley Group as a contributor.  If you are a member of HWC, you have probably seen John's extraordinary work for the last few years.  John has always been one of our favorite photographers, and we always look forward to seeing his photo essays on the latest RLC models.

A few weeks ago we asked John if he was willing to share his work here on Lamley, and he agreed.  John collects mainly RLC exclusives, and opens them all to photograph.  Since we don't get all the RLC models, we thought it would be a great idea to have John feature them here, especially for those Lamley readers who aren't HWC or RLC members.

If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out John's store at www.scoomer.com/diecastdemon.  He has a wide array of Hot Wheels, including many of the RLC models he features.  

Also, if you are looking for it, you can find the RLC Datsun on ebay...

(Thanks John.)


Hello friends, JohnRino here.  The Datsun 240Z just came in today and it's another spectacular addition to my ongoing loose collection of exclusives.  I'm really digging the fun colors the designers put together on this, it's perfect.  Mattel seems to pick some cool castings for the exclusives, and I'm seldom disappointed. 

I'm middle aged now, I grew up at a time when the Buick Grand National, Monte Carlo SS, and the 84 Hurst Olds (which I owned new at 19) was desired by most young men in my younger days.  

In closing, we all had an older brother or sister, either them or some friend of theirs pulled up with a new one of these beauties, it was a real head turner, you just wanted one or admired the person driving it. 

Thanks for stopping in at Lamley group and please visit my store at: www.scoomer.com/diecastdemon

Respectfully,
JohnRino
DiecastDemon

Hot Wheels Datsun 240Z (2013 RLC Exclusive):

First Look: Hot Wheels HWC Special Edition '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport...

For those of you who frequent the HWC, you will know that this is technically not the first "First Look" of this model.  That distinction belongs to the legendary John Rino, whose photographs motivate a lot of people to take up the hobby.

Taking photos like those that John does (second to none), and those we try to do, takes a lot of trial and error, a lot of patience, and the ability to adjust.  Some models don't want to cooperate, others don't come out right at all, and others take a little doctoring to show what they really look like to the naked eye.

But then are models like the HWC Special Edition Gran Torino Sport.  We haven't dealt with a lot of the RLC models, in their amazing spectraflame finish, but now that we have one...uh, wow.  The paint on this model is astounding.  You don't want to touch it, get fingerprints on it, and blemish it in any way.  So we photographed it and put it away, in its new home with all the other HW Gran Torino Sports.  And we bought a second to keep carded.

This Gran Torino Sport is a brand new casting, with quite a few modifications from the basic version.  The metal base and opening hood are the most obvious, but there are others as well, as you look closer.  The stance is slightly higher, which is fine with us.  It gets to show off its GT Real Rider shoes that way.

We have talked about this model before, and it is one of our favorites.  In fact, I am very comfortable saying the Gran Torino Sport is personally my favorite Hot Wheels American muscle car casting (although some would argue it isn't a muscle car at all).

Getting this version was a no brainer, which has not happened with us and RLC cars much in the past.  A lot of Hot Wheels collectors who are RLC members like the nostalgic Hot Wheels castings.  Those from early on.  It has been nice to see other castings mix in lately, like the IROC Camaro, 240Z, and Shelby Cobra, which makes us hope we might see even a higher variety of models as RLC exclusives in the future.

In the meantime, enjoy the pics.  They practically took themselves.

Wait, one other thing.  It frustrates me that the RLC is not available to overseas collectors.  We hear rumblings that Mattel is looking into the logistics of a worldwide RLC, and it is our hope that changes soon.  Hopefully soon, whoever in the world that wants to acquire one of these models can.  In the meantime, here are some that are available on ebay for anyone to snag.  Click on the link below:

Hot Wheels RLC '72 Gran Torino Sport


Hot Wheels '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport (2013 RLC Special Edition):

With this year's Super Treasure Hunt: