Johnny Lightning JD release

Head over to your local John Deere dealer to get your hands on the newest assortment of John Deere 1:64 dealer vehicles. This assortment features the '50 Oldsmobile, '80 Ford Bronco and '93 Ford Pickup. All feature a die cast body and chassis and the Ford pickup even includes a small removable load of Tomy cases. Look for White Lightning chase cars too!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Don Garlits & Johnny Lightning

Don Garlits has been racing Drag Pack Challengers for awhile now but last year at SEMA he debuted his new Drag Pack 800HP drag strip king. Wow! When I spoke to Don about the car I just jumped at the chance at replicating in the Johnny Lightning line. Garlits was the first drag racer to officially surpass the 170mph, 180mph, 200mph, 240mph, 250mph, 260mph, and 270mph marks in the quarter mile. I think Don's recent racing career needed to be officially recognized in diecast and we think this a great way to salute him.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Johnny Lightning & Cherry Bomb

Johnny Lightning will teaming this year to release a replica of Cherry Bomb's "Disturbing the Peace" 1968 Project Camaro. It blends today's radical technology with 60's Muscle. We are pretty excited to be working with such a great brand that shares the same passion for muscle cars as we do. Hoping to include this Camaro in Forever 64 release 22.
Below are the specs on this beast!

Engine: Mast Motorsports

GM LSX 427ci V-8

830 hp with 10 pounds of boost and 93 octane

Transmission: American Powertrain

Modified Tremec T56 Magnum

Brakes: Baer

GP six-piston calipers, 14” discs, front;

Four-piston T4 calipers, 13” rotors, rear; Hydratech

Hydra Boost assist, Wilwood master cylinder

Wheels: Year One

Prototype slot mag, 18x8, front; 18x12 rear

Tires: Nitto

245/40R18 NT555, front;

345/30R18 NT55-R Extreme Drag, rear

Exhaust: Cherry Bomb

4” Glasspack side pipes, 3” dual exhaust,

Vortex Mufflers, and custom electronic cutouts

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Camaro IROC

Working on some new vehicle plans for 2013 today and planning for some new featured vehicle skus. Hoping to include some new castings from the 80s and 90s and since I was stripping my IROC for paint this week, I thought I would shoot and measure the entire car in hopes to replace casting #484. This casting is planned for JL2.0 R13, which will be a Beat the Heat release. Other castings I am looking to redo are the '70s Challenger, and C4 Corvette. Of course, we'll add new castings to the mix but want to get to a lower price point and some of the olders castings are too expensive. Retooling them gets us a more accurate casting as well as a lower price.

Happy Holidays!
Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Johnny Lightning Jeep Wagoneer

Just received shot samples of the new JL Jeep Wagoneer. Wow, this casting made my jaw drop when I first saw it. I think it turned out amazing and I want to send a big thank you out to Wagonmasters for giving us access to their trucks. The Wagoneer will be released in the JL2.0 and F64 lines but I am going to hold the first release for the JL2.0 line. This casting has an optional roof rack and opening tailgate. Looking for suggestions on color schemes for the first release.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

JL Bruce Larson Dragonsnake

Just received production samples today on Bruce Larson's Cobra. The Costilow/Larson "Dragonsnake" was driven by Hall of Famer Bruce Larson and competed in NHRA's A/SP, AA/SP, B/SP and C/SP classes. It set all new records in the '65 season and won the NHRA Springnationals, Winternationals and US Indy Nationals in '65.
This will be the only car in release 11 that will have a Lightning Strike.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

International D-Series Pickup

Check out the test shots I just received today on the new Johnny Lightning International Pickup! Like the new #951 Ford Lightning SVT casting, this model has a separate cab for future bed configurations and loads. Look for the first release to be in Forever 64 R23 or R24.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning