2008 Johnny Lightning Johnny Retro 1970 Chevy Nova

The Johnny Lightning Johnny Retro series ran for 5 releases from 2007 to 2008. Other than the “Johnny Retro, Since 1969” collector card included with each model, I’m not exactly sure what makes this series retro. This ’70 Chevy Nova from 2008 Release 4 is a striking orange-chrome with a white top.

The back of the package has a window to view the other side of the model and the reverse side of the collector card. Interestingly, in place of the usual list of castings in the series, there is an ad for American Collectors Insurance.

2008 | 52895N | Johnny Retro R4 | 1970 Chevy Nova #1 | orange chrome with white top, collector card

2007 and 2008 Johnny Lightning Calendar Cars

Building on the popularity of the Lightning Girls, who made their debut in the 2006 American Beauties series, the Johnny Lightning Calendar Cars series “replicated our Lightning Girls’ actual car or dream car.” Each car in the series prominently featured one of the Lightning Girls on each card and was packaged with a miniature stand-up calendar picturing the girl and her car, with a short description of the car on the back. “So get to know our Lightning Girls and why they love the cars they do.”

From the 2007 Calendar Cars series, I have this sharp 1969 Chevy Nova.

Johnny Lightning | 2007 | Calendar Cars | 1969 Chevy Nova #11 | dark blue metallic with calendar card

The 2008 Calendar Cars series included this nice ’65 Chevy Impala.

If you read the back of the stand-up calendar, you will find that Missy was fortunate enough to receive this sweet Impala on her 16th birthday! Well, I should mention that I have a birthday coming up …

Johnny Lightning | 2008 | 53905J | Calendar Cars | 1965 Chevy Impala #5 | gray with black top with Missy card

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

Johnny Lightning Coca-Cola Impalas

Johnny Lightning has done a variety of series co-branded with Coca-Cola, in range of themes and featuring lots of different extras. The four models that I have in my collection represent a very small sample of the Coca-Cola vehicles that can be found.

This sharp 1959 Chevy Impala is from the 2006 Coca-Cola Trays series, which includes a miniature vintage serving tray.

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

Johnny Lightning | 2006 | Coca-Cola Trays | 1959 Chevy Impala | black with red convertible top, Coca-Cola graphics, miniature Coke serving tray

From 2006, I have the ’68 Chevy Impala from the Family Fun series, which includes a bonus Coke six-pack sticker.

The back of the package lists the other cars in the series and has a window to view the opposite side of the model.

Johnny Lightning | 2007 | 53904H | Coca-Cola Family Fun R4 #6 | 1968 Chevy Impala | pale yellow with black top, sticker

Also from 2006, a ’68 Chevy Impala Convertible from the Sports Cars series. This one is packaged with a sticker as well.

The back of the package lists the other cars in the series and has a window to view the back of the sticker as well as the opposite side of the model.

Johnny Lightning | 2007 | 53904G | Coca-Cola Sports Cars R2 #6 | 1968 Chevy Impala Convertible | green with sports trim, sticker

And finally, from 2008, I have the ’61 Chevy Impala SS from the Coke Winter series. The model includes an ornament clip so the snowflake-covered car can be hung on your Christmas tree.

The back of the package lists the other cars in the series and has a window to view the opposite side of the model.

Johnny Lightning | 2008 | 53958B | Coca-Cola Winter 2008 R2 | 1961 Chevy Impala SS #3 | red with white top, white Coca-Cola graphics, ornament clip

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.

Johnny Lightning | 2008 | 53727O | Classic Gold R41 | 1959 Chevy Impala Convertible | dark blue

And a ’68 Impala convertible from R40.

Johnny Lightning | 2008 | 53904J | Classic Gold Limited Edition R40 | 1968 Chevy Impala Convertible | black with white top

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.

Johnny Lightning | 2011 | 53905TP | Classic Gold R19 | 1965 Chevy Impala SS | gold with white top

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.

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 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.

Johnny Lightning | 2006 | 53905C | Musclecars R12 | 1965 Chevy Impala SS convertible | white with brown top, collector card

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

Johnny Lightning | 2007 | 53905H | Musclecars R14 | 1965 Chevy Impala SS | pale yellow with black top with wheels and 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.

Johnny Lightning | 2008 | 53958A | Musclecars R17 | 1961 Chevy Impala SS | chrome silver with card