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

2006 Johnny Lightning Impala Parade

The 2006 Johnny Lightning Impala Parade – dedicated to Chevy’s full-size model that was “big on performance and bigger on style” – is probably the only complete series I have in my JL collection. While other series featuring a single model (Camaros or Corvettes, for example) were produced in more than one release, Impala Parade was a one-time issue. Each of these came packaged with a bonus disk (drink coaster?) emblazoned with the Impala emblem.

All four castings in the series are really sharp. I love the blue on this 1969 Chevy Impala SS Convertible.

2006 | Impala Parade | 1969 Chevy Impala SS Convertible #1 | blue with white top, bonus disc

The 1959 Chevy Impala Convertible is a very regal combination of black paint with a red top.

2006 | Impala Parade R1 | 1959 Chevy Impala convertible #2 | black with red top, bonus disc

This 1958 Chevy Impala is a very satisfying two-tone gold over cream.

2006 | Impala Parade R1 | 1958 Chevy Impala #3 | cream and gold with bonus disc

And finally, a very clean cream green with white top 1959 Chevy Impala.

2006 | Impala Parade R1 | 1959 Chevy Impala #4 | cream green and white with bonus disc

Johnny Lightning Chevy Thunder

The Johnny Lightning Chevy Thunder series was produced from 2004 until 2007 featuring “all of your favorite Bow-Tie rides,” including many Novas and Impalas. Sometimes the cars in this series were packaged with extras, and sometimes not. The 2005 Release 2 – from which I have the 1970 Nova SS and the 1959 Impala – included a Chevy ignition key.

2005 | Chevy Thunder R2 #13 | 1970 Chevy Nova SS | black with stripes & ignition key

2005 | Chevy Thunder R2 #18 | 1959 Chevy Impala | tan with ignition key

The back of the card lists the different castings available in Release 2.

2006 Chevy Thunder Release 5 was a simple blister card with nothing extra. From this release I have the 1969 Impala SS Convertible and the 1966 Nova SS.

2006 | Chevy Thunder R5 #26 | 1969 Chevy Impala SS Convertible | black with white top

2006 | Chevy Thunder R5 #27 | 1966 Chevy Nova SS | gray metallic

The back of the card lists the different castings available in Release 5.

2006 Release 6 brought back the ignition key. This lovely dark green metallic 1965 Impala includes a key stamped with the famous Chevy 409 emblem.

2006 | Chevy Thunder R6 #29 | 1965 Chevy Impala | dark green metallic with black top, regular wheels, ignition key

The back of the card lists the different castings available in Release 6.

For 2007 Release 7, the packaging became much more complicated and the extra was a collector card. Here’s a fun ’65 Impala convertible from R7.

2007 | 53905E | Chevy Thunder R7 #1 | 1965 Chevy Impala convertible | brown, Cragar wheels

The back of the package lists the different castings available in Release 7. It also has a window to view the back of the collector card and the other side of the vehicle.

And finally – probably my favorite of my Chevy Thunder collection – this nice yellow 1970 Chevy Nova SS from the 2007 Release 8.

2007 | Chevy Thunder R8 | 1970 Chevy Nova SS #4 | yellow with white top, collector card

The back of the package lists the different castings available in Release 8. It also has a window to view the back of the collector card and the other side of the vehicle.