A TRUMP BATMOBILE!?$!

Thanks to the enthusiasm for Hot Wheels on Moonbase Central plus the brief interest shown by my grandson I have tried to keep an eye open for a few of the models that reappear with different paint schemes from time to time such as Custom Otto & Cockney Cab II.

The easiest way to keep up with releases seems to be via eBay and it's here that a 'Hot Wheels Custom' search lead to finding these creations.

I stress that in this case it's politics neutral, there have been no Biden items that I have seen and these will join my small collection of political ephemera. Buses are part of political campaigns, so is appropriate. The Batmobile, well this adds a whole new dimension to that character.

These are well done with custom header cards and it brings back memories of Dinky Toys back in the 60's/70's that issued unpainted kit form models of some of their die casts.

I wonder if Mattel will one day do a similar range? Disassembling and paint stripping small models is tiresome especially when the parts are riveted.

Terranova47

USA

Man O' Man: The Manta Ray

 I'm in love again.

This time with the Studebaker Manta Ray from 1951.

God, what a car!

The Batmobile for the home, only two hundred plus were made. I adore that turbine and the three rear fins!  

Is the Manta Ray one for you? Is there a toy or model?

D R E A M A C H I N E S

TV cars often form the gleaming chrome of my Sixties dreams.

Here are a few dream machines I spotted online with a zingin' Batmobile Green Hornet vibe at the fore:

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First I give you the spectacularly wondrous Batmobile pedal car 

[I soooooo want to be small enough to fit in this!]

https://foter.com/vintage-ride-on-toys 

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A totally sleeked Black Beautied cruiser art concept. This is the future!

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/777645060633547224/?nic_v2=1anKcOKcK

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Another Black Beauty-like slickster. Oh My God, I've fainted!

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/20758848269163332/?nic_v2=1anKcOKcK

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and last but not ...

The Lancia Stratos HF Zero. Good Greif!

I had to include it. Its sooooo UFO!

Do you like any of these readers? Have you got a dream car?

Ed's Toy Custom Cars

I have quite a few 'customized' vehicles in the collection. Most of them are civilian types meant for toy train layouts but a couple are military. 

I like that some youngster (or who knows - maybe it was an adult?) wanted something unique for their toy train layout or whatever. The Ideal Panel Van was probably meant to be placed in front of a mirror making it appear as if there were two separate trucks in a scene.

That was a technique pioneered by John Allen, the so-called Dean of Model Railroading back in the '50s. Do you guys modify off-the-shelf toys to make them your own?

Cheers

Ed

Las Vegas

USA

You can see more of Ed's amazing toy collection on his own blog Toys n Stuff. Just look in the right side bar and click on Ed Berg's icon.

The Other Nova

I've always been fascinated by the Boy Racer phenomenon. Not so much the teens themselves but rather their cars.

I suppose it began in the States in the Fifties with the first dawn of the teenager and their love pf Hot Rods.

Hot Rods became a staple of popular culture there and influenced music, fashion, toys and models, art and films. Just look at the movie poster for the Giant Gila Monster!

Looking closer to home I have been admiring the vehicles of boy racers since the 80's.

I think what has always appealed to me is the fact that all the trim and fuss on most cars is stripped away from them tp create a minimalist look.

I'm not sure why boy racers do this. I assume its to create a non-branded brand by removing the makers' marks and any other lettering.

The cars themselves were always sort of low-slung boxy hatchbacks and as such only certain makes would make the cut.

The one that sticks in my mind is the Nova.

I can see it now with its darkened windows, low-suspension, fat exhaust and a body bereft of any lettering. They were also customised to create a road-hugging look.

Now I'm not condoning the racer culture, the rat runs, the fast driving or the meetings, 

Its the simplicity of the vehicles that appeal to me. I suppose its the last gasp of customising cars in the UK, which was once so popular.

I wonder if this type of custom car ever made it as a model or a die-cast toy?

Have you come across custom cars readers?