2005 Johnny Lightning Chevy High Performance R1

Similar to their Cover Cars and Primedia Magazine series, the 2005 Johnny Lightning Chevy High Performance series was another line of cars co-branded with a magazine masthead. The series, which only lasted for a single release, presumably featured cars from the magazine and included a collector card. Of the seven cars in the series, I have four.

Bob Burko’s nice 1965 Chevy II Nova SS is the #1 car in the series. I don’t know much about Chevy High Performance, but I’m going to assume the little “Your Car is the Star” badge on the collector card means that the featured car was sent in by a reader of the magazine – in this case, Bob Burko.

2005 | Chevy High Performance R1 #1 | 1965 Chevy II Nova SS | black with metalflake gray top, collector card

This 1967 Chevy Nova SS is #5 in the series. I’m always a little confused when the color of the model doesn’t match the color of the car on the collector card.

2005 | Chevy High Performance R1 #5 | 1967 Chevy Nova SS | black with collector card

All of the cars in the Chevy High Performance series are represented by only one color variation – all except for #6 in the series, which is Tony Karamitsos’ 1969 Chevy Impala convertible. In a fun surprise, the Impala could be found with in both top-up and top-down modes. Even more surprising is the fact that I found both versions.

2005 | Chevy High Performance R1 #6 | 1969 Tony Karamitsos’ Chevy Impala Convertible | red with white top up, collector card

2005 | Chevy High Performance R1 #6 | 1969 Tony Karamitsos’ Chevy Impala Convertible | red with white top down, collector card

The back of the card lists the other castings found in the series.

 

 

2016 Johnny Lightning Muscle Cars USA 1967 Nova and 1968 Impala

Back in July, I showed a ’68 Impala from the Johnny Lightning 2017 Musclecars U.S.A. series. Just a few days later, I found these 2016 Musclecars U.S.A. models at Walmart. I find it interesting that in 2016 the series included a collector’s card and came sealed in a plastic clamshell, while the 2017 series uses a simpler blister card. Could this be a cost-cutting measure? Is our favorite on-again, off-again brand struggling once again?

I have to say, I’m just speculating. During the RC2 era, packaging seemed to vary depending on the series. And personally, I prefer the simpler blister cards to these plastic encasements – even though, as a collector, I should probably prefer them for the protection they offer.

Another interesting note is that these two packages have a red sticker over the top of the blue bug that says “Exclusively at Walmart”. Apparently, whatever exclusive deal JL had with Walmart has expired.

Regardless of the packaging, I really like the cars inside them. The paint on this ’67 Chevy Nova SS is similar to the green gold metallic of the ’73 Nova that was my first car.

JLMC002 | 2016 Musclecars USA R2, Version A | 1967 Chevy Nova SS | metallic green

I love the wheels on this 1968 Chevy Impala.

JLMC002 | 2016 Musclecars USA R2, Version A | 1968 Chevy Impala | red