August 7, 2020 by marcboz

2009 Johnny Lightning 40 Years Series

2009 was a milestone year for the Johnny Lightning brand, and they celebrated by offering the 40 Years series. One of the things I liked about this series was the packaging. After a few years of JL releasing models encased in indestructible plastic, I really appreciated the return to a simple blister card. As a collector, I probably shouldn’t feel that way, as these are much more susceptible to wear and tear. But I find them a lot warmer and friendlier – and I’m sure this is because this is the way cars were packaged when I bought them as a kid.

From the 40 Years Release 2 I have this nice dark red metallic 1970 Chevy Nova SS.

2009 | 40 Years R2 | 1970 Chevy Nova SS | dark red metallic

40 Years Release 4 featured this sharp flamed-out 1965 Chevy Impala SS.

2009 | 53905MP | 40 Years R4 | 1965 Chevy Impala SS | black with yellow flames

40 Years Release 6 included two Impalas; a custom ’59 convertible and a metallic purple ’65 SS.

2009 | 53727RP | 40 Years R6 | 1959 Chevy Impala | black, no hood

2009 | 53905NP | 40 Years R6 | 1965 Chevy Impala SS | metallic purple

And finally, from 40 Years Release 8, I have this maroon 1965 Chevy Impala SS convertible.

2009 | 53905PP | 40 Years R8 | 1965 Chevy Impala SS convertible | maroon with Cragar SS rims

July 20, 2020 by marcboz

2007 Johnny Lightning Head to Head 1965 Chevy Impala SS vs 1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2

The Johnny Lightning Head to Head series was released in 2006, featuring two well-matched cars in a toolbox-shaped display box. Release 1 included a metal coin printed with images of both cars. My example, from 2007 Release 3, pits a 1965 Impala SS against a 1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2, and includes a Christmas tree starting light.

While the real-life 2+2 was only a special trim option for the 1964 Pontiac Catalina, in 1965 it became a true performance package, with a 421 V8, heavy-duty springs and shocks, a 3-speed manual transmission and dual exhaust. Along with special badging, the 2+2 had distinctive exterior features such as faux louvers on the fenders, pin-striping, and metal trim running the length of the lower body. All of these details are faithfully reproduced on this Johnny Lightning model.

Johnny Lightning | 2007 | Head to Head 2-Pack R3 | 1965 Chevy Impala SS (vs. 1965 Pontiac Catalina 2+2, gold) | blue with black top

July 15, 2020 by marcboz

Johnny Lightning Gold Series Impalas

The Johnny Lightning Gold Series, which featured highly accurate models with rubber tires and painted detail on the chassis, was first released with 12 castings in 2003. The series was revived in 2006, with the cars now packaged in a mirrored display case, and it continued through 9 releases up until 2008.

This nice ’69 Impala SS Convertible is from the 2006 Gold Series Release 3. Even though the clamshell is reclosable, mine is still sealed up in the original Johnny Lightning branded tape.

Reflected in the mirrored base of the included display case, you can just see some of the nice details on the underside of the model.

The back of the package shows the other castings available in Release 3.

Johnny Lightning | 2006 | Gold Series R3 Muscle Cars #15 | 1969 Chevy Impala SS Convertible | green with black top

My only other Gold Series model is this ’65 Impala SS from 2008 Release 9. It is also still sealed shut.

Curiously, the back of this package does not list the other castings in Release 9, but it does have a window to view the other side of the model.

June 12, 2020 by marcboz

Johnny Lightning Classic Gold

Since about 1998, the Classic Gold series has been a Johnny Lightning staple. Originally billed as “Replicas of History’s Greatest Classics,” the series leans heavily on American cars but spans a variety of decades. This 1971 Chevy Nova is from the 2002 Classic Gold II R12. It has been out of the package for many years, but I still have the original collector card.

Johnny Lightning | 2002 | Classic Gold II R12 | 1971 Chevy Nova | calypso coral, opening hood

The next two Classic Gold models are Impala convertibles, fully-encased in the RC2-era plastic packages which allowed a view of both sides of the vehicle and the included collector card. This ’59 Impala convertible is from R41.

And a ’68 Impala convertible from R40.

Next up, I have two Classic Gold models from the Tomy era, when the packaging reverted back to a much simpler blister card. This ’65 Chevy Impala SS is from 2011 R19.

And finally, a 1969 Impala SS convertible from 2002 R27.

Johnny Lightning 2012 | 53717RP | Classic Gold R27 | 1969 Chevy Impala SS | orange with white top

I also have a Johnny Lightning Classic Gold 1965 Chevy Impala SS from 2012 R23.

May 15, 2020May 16, 2020 by marcboz

Johnny Lightning Muscle Cars

The original Johnny Lightnings from Topper Toys (1969-1971) were a mix of Detroit cars and fantasy castings. When Tom Lowe of Playing Mantis revived the brand in 1994, Detroit muscle cars became a mainstay of the brand.

The 1994 Muscle Cars U.S.A. series included 10 different castings, each available in a variety of 16 different paint colors “mixed from GM, Ford & Chrysler’s original paint formulas.” These models had slightly exaggerated proportions and over-sized wheels. A plastic collector coin was include in each package. I have a couple of examples of the 1972 Nova SS from this series – a Glacier Blue model still in the package and another loose version in Aspen Green.

Johnny Lightning | 1994 | Muscle Cars USA Series 7 | 1972 Chevy Nova SS #210 | glacier blue with coin 11303

Johnny Lightning | 1994 | Muscle Cars USA Series 11 | 1972 Chevy Nova SS | aspen green with coin 14733

It’s interesting to compare this 1972 Nova casting to the Playing Mantis Speed Rebels series from about the same time. The casting is nearly identical, although the Speed Rebels are a slightly smaller scale.

By 1999, the Muscle Cars U.S.A. series included the accurate and detailed castings that the Johnny Lightning brand would become known for. The packaging now featured photos of the real cars and each still included a collector coin (now made out of cardboard instead of plastic and printed on only one side). I have several color variations of the 1965 Chevy II Nova from this period.

Johnny Lightning | 1999 | Muscle Cars USA 3 R4 | 1965 Chevy Nova | mist blue, opening hood, with #4 coin

Johnny Lightning | 1999 | Muscle Cars 3 R5 | 1965 Chevy Nova | black, opening hood, with #50 coin

Johnny Lightning | 1999 | Muscle Cars 3 R6 | 1965 Chevy Nova | dark blue, opening hood, with #54 coin

The 2000s brought a cleaner look for Johnny Lightning packaging, with a mostly red card used for many series, including the Muscle Cars U.S.A. line. The bonus in this 1966 Chevy Nova package from 2005 is a Johnny Lightning window cling.

Johnny Lightning | 2005 | Musclecars USA R9 #53 | 1966 Chevy Nova | dark red with window cling

In 2004, Playing Mantis was bought by RC2 Corporation (mainly known for their Racing Champions brand stock car diecast models). By 2006, the Johnny Lightning logo was updated and the packaging became an impenetrable plastic clambshell. “U.S.A.” was dropped from the series name and “Musclecars” was now one word. The extra included in the package became a trading card which featured photos and information about the featured vehicle. This ’65 Chevy Impala SS convertible is from the Musclecars Release 12.

This 2007 ’65 Chevy Impala SS from Musclecars Release 14 included an extra set of wheels along with the trading card.

Although I bought it mainly for the 1965 Chevy Impala SS, this Toys ‘R Us exclusive Musclecars 10-car box set from 2007 – which includes a 1987 Buick Regal and a 2005 Ford Mustang GT – gives a nice sampling of the range of castings available in the Johnny Lightning Musclecars series.

Johnny Lightning | 2007 | TRU Exclusive Musclecars 10-car box set | 1965 Chevy Impala SS | red with black top

And finally, the Johnny Lightning 2008 Musclecars series introduced a new tool, the ’61 Chevy Impala SS.

The Race Case JL

My Johnny Lightning die cast car collection.

Tag / 1965 Chevy Impala SS