Johnny Lightning 1969 Chevy Impala SS

Over the years, the Johnny Lightning brand has been through many changes. The Forever 64 years, just prior to when the brand ceased production in 2013, were a time of cost-cutting measures that brought us simplified packaging and less-detailed models with plastic bases. Despite this, however, new castings continued to be introduced during this time. The JL 1969 Chevy Impala SS first appeared as a new casting in silver with a black top in the 2010 Forever 64 Release 10.

Johnny Lightning | 2010 | 53717JP | Forever 64 R10 | 1969 Chevy Impala SS | silver with black top

It appeared again that same year in the Black with Flames segment, Release 11.

Johnny Lightning | 2010 | 53717KP | Black with Flames Forever 64 R11 | 1969 Chevy Impala SS | black with flames

Another variation came out in the 2011 Forever 64 Release 17.

Johnny Lightning | 2011 | 53717JOP | Forever 64 R17 | 1969 Chevy Impala SS | gold with black top

Other examples of the JL 1969 Chevy Impala SS in my collection include the red chrome Holiday Classic Ornament from 2011, the gold version from the 2011 Classic Gold Release 19, and the only White Lightning in my collection from 2011 Editions Release 13.

Johnny Lightning Holiday Classic Ornaments

The Johnny Lightning Holiday Classic Ornaments series is a long-running line which began in 2000 as Holiday Muscle. The name change was made in 2002 and the series ran continuously up until 2007, reappearing in 2011 and 2016. Each car comes packaged with an ornament clip so the model can be made a part of your holiday decorating.

This 1969 Chevy Impala Convertible is from the 2006 series.

As you can see, the models have all of the detail and features you would expect from any Johnny Lightning diecast.

Johnny Lightning | 2006 | Holiday Classic Ornaments #3 | 1969 Chevy Impala Convertible | chrome green with white top, ornament clip

This 1969 Chevy Impala SS is from the 2011 Holiday Classic release.

Johnny Lightning | 2011 | 53717N | Holiday Classic Ornaments | 1969 Chevy Impala SS | red chrome with black top, ornament clip

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.

Johnny Lightning | 2008 | 53905 | Gold Series Muscle Cars R9 LE (1 of 5000) | 1965 Chevy Impala SS #39 | black

2011 Johnny Lightning 1969 Chevy Impala SS White Lightning

While on a family vacation to the Phoenix area over the holidays, I checked out a little place called Cubbiehole Collectibles. Tucked inside the Postal Plus More in a strip mall off 19th Ave. and Northern, the store is a classic example of collecting as a sideline business. The proprietor answers questions about his inventory of diecast vehicles while simultaneously helping customers with their shipping needs. The store is fairly well organized (I spent most of my time in the Chevrolet section) and offers an array of brands from Hot Wheels and Matchbox to Johnny Lightning, M2 Machines, Greenlight and more. There are either “more than 15,000” or “more than 25,000” items, depending which page of the website you refer to.

I could have spent a lot more time combing through the pegs full of packaged cars and cases of loose items if my patient family wasn’t waiting on me. Also, I would suggest going in with a specific want list to help from becoming distracted or even overwhelmed by the far-ranging collection.

For my part, I zeroed in on this white Johnny Lightning 1969 Impala SS. Information that I’m finding online tells me that the rare (2% of the production run) White Lightning version of Release 13 has a white engine and chassis. This is the only White Lightning I have in my collection of quite a few JLs.

53717MP | 2011 Editions R13 | 1969 Chevy Impala SS | white with white top, base and interior (White Lightning)

I also picked up a loose orange Hot Wheels Corvette Stingray from 1980. I already had one of these, but you can never have too many Stingrays.