HOT WHEELS
MYSTERY MODELS

No. 12 PIKES PEAK TACOMA

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KYOSHO / TOKUMA

A couple of Lexus LFA models made by Kyosho are available in Japan from the publisher Tokuma.

The white car, which comes in a packaged set (with brochure and dvd) is available at bookstores in Japan and from Amazon.co.jp

The yellow Nurburgring version was available at the recent Winter Wonder Festival (a garage kit show) in Tokyo, beginning on February 24th, this car will also be available online direct from the Tokuma website. This model will not be sold in stores – it will only be sold online via the Tokuma website.

I’ve already ordered both models and as soon as I receive them I will post actual photos. Actual delivery to me may take some time.

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CHORO-Q

Many readers of my blog are probably familiar with Choro-Q ~ I’ve written about them a few times before. For those readers unfamiliar with Choro-Q, they are small pullback-action, ‘deformed’ toy cars. Perhaps some collectors remember these small pullback toys as Penny Racers when they were sold in the US in the 1980s. They were called Penny Racers because you could place a one cent coin (or more appropriately a ten yen piece) into a slot on the back and the car would perform wheelies and other stunts across the floor.

For a few years now it seemed that Choro-Q dropped off the face of the earth. Old ones could still be found, but no new ones were being made. Thus, after what seemed like a long absence, Choro-Q has returned. Back in April or May of 2011, Takara Tomy announced a re-launching of Choro-Q as Choro-Q Zero through their Tomytec line. The first four models released are the Nissan Skyline Silhouette, Toyota Soarer, Nissan Caravan, and Honda City R. The first four cars were released September 30, 2011.

Intended for the collector, Choro-Q Zero will be priced a bit higher than past Choro-Qs (¥1029 vs ¥360).

JOY HOBBY CAR CHORO-Q ZERO

Since their rerelease I have acquired several versions of the Toyota Soarer. There are currently three versions of the Soarer with a fourth on the way.

Why Choro-Q Zero?
With a 30 year history Choro-Q is still famous, and in order to appeal to the adult collector, Choro-Q Zero is a return to Choro-Q origins.

Z-02a
TOYOTA SOARER 2800GT (brown)

Z-02b
TOYOTA SOARER 2800GT (white)

Z-02c
TOYOTA SOARER 2800GT LIMITED (beige/brown)

Coming soon!
Z-02d Toyota Soarer 2000VR Turbo

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JADA 

Here is another Toyota diecast that my friend Ben from JNC tipped me off to – a 2006 Toyota Tundra sporting the TRD logo. Thanks to Ben for getting me one of these back in July 2011, and I was finally able to find one myself around December 2011. Now I could have one loose and keep one packaged! I wonder if we can expect any other variations?

BIG TIME 4 WHEELIN’
2011 WAVE 2
#009 2006 TOYOTA TUNDRA
JADA TOYS INC.
MADE IN CHINA
SCALE 1/64

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HOT WHEELS

Team Hot Wheels is something new that came out in late 2011. According to the back of the package the vehicle ”…represents the latest in high-tech performance. The combination of a nickel-plated axle with low-friction all-acetal wheel creates a smoother surface and less resistance.”

The model I have has red wheels, but I have heard that some of the other cars in the series are available with various colored wheels – blue, white, green, yellow. I haven’t seen any other colors for this Toyota yet, but if I do I buy them!

Thanks to Ben from JNC for making me aware of this model and getting me one of the trucks!

MATTEL
TEAM HOT WHEELS
TOYOTA OFF-ROAD TRUCK
©2003 Mattel, Inc.
Made in Thailand

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PLAYART

TOYOTA 2000GT
Made in Hong Kong

I have a few Playart models, but this is my first Toyota 2000GT which I recently bought from someone on a diecast forum for a resonable price. Playart were produced during the 1970s and 1980s. The scale is in the 1/64 range and there were countless color variations.

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