Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from Johnny Lightning!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Citation

Received the shot samples of the new Chevy Citation and they look amazing. I have plenty of options planned too from the X-11 to the base model with optional hatch window louvers. There are two wheels options, two hood options and two chassis variations. I have plans for a Spoilers release but sorry Zingers fans, the Zinger was not in the budget. Look for this casting in Spring 2011.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Johnny Lightning

Here is the long awaited images of the upcoming Forever 64 release 12. The ambulance is all new tooling and I want to give a special thanks to the members of the National Hearse and Ambulance Association who we teamed with on this release. Thanks guys!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

JL Coming in 2011

I'm planning for some pretty exciting exclusives for 2011 and will be introducing the VW Transporter into the Forever 64 line. This casting will allow me to add some new depth to the releases. Look for police, rescue, Black with Flames and twist on Hollywood on Wheels using casting 916. The first release of the corpse delivery in Forever 64 is coming soon! This white with black vinyl top one is an exclusive I am working on with more details to come on the entire release.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

2011 Beat the Heat

Johnny Lightning has some awesome Beat the Heat releases lined up for 2011 and one of them is Jim Luckett's Oldsmobile from the Illinois Beat the Heat. Jim's car is always a crowd favorite on the track and at local schools in his community. I just finished the artwork and am pretty pumped about this release. Look for it in early 2011. Actually, you might hear it coming first!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Flying Dutchman

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with the Vanderwoude family about releasing some pretty cool funny cars that the "Flying Dutchman" Al Vanderwoude drove. This will add some pretty exciting releases to the JL2.0 line in 2011. Vanderwoude drove Dodge's for most of his career but later moved to Ford. This will add some great depth to our vintage drag lineup.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning
http://www.facebook.com/johnnylightningcars

Kustom Kon

If you're in or around Dallas make sure you drop in and visit Kustom Kon. CJ and his crew have many great event lined up...

Events include:
- How-to Seminars from Pro Customizers
- In-Room Trading
- RAOK Swap Event
- Kustomizers Dinner featuring special guest John D’Agostino
- Charity Auction
- Vendors and Dealers Area
- Customs Contest
- Sunday Toy Show
- Special Limited Edition Convention Cars

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

JL2.0 R5

I am very excited to show off this Mustang from JL2.0 R5. The actual car is owned and raced by Beat the Heat president, Tom Brown. Tom is the '99 and '06 BTH World Champion and it is an honor to work on his car. His 347cid Mustang has run a track best 10.29 @ 129mph. Tom, thanks for supporting Johnny Lightning and we hope for many Beat the Heat releases. We're all looking forward to this release!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Ready to Strike

This Hugger Orange COPO Camaro 396 is one of four Chevy's scheduled for R11 of Forever 64. There is a Beat the Heat '81 Malibu, '69 Chevy Impala SS, and '76 Corvette. As you can see there is also one Lightning Strike in the assortment. Good luck on the hunt!

Visit us on our fan page to see the Black Lightning Mustang Boss 429.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

JL Dirt Modified

I'm in the process of getting this casting ready to introduce into the Forever 64 line. This past week, I have been talking to a few different drivers who are excited to get their cars replicated and I really think this casting will sit nicely next to the Sprint car and vintage modifieds I have planned for the near future. Don't be suprised if you see a JL themed dirt modified put into the mix too but I really want to focus on up and coming drivers.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Dick Brannan

Working out the details to release a series of cars driven by Dick Brannan. Dick has had an amazing drag racing career and its an honor to be working with him again on some new Johnny Lightning releases. Dick worked at Ford in Dearborn during the sixties as a development engineer for the Special Vehicles Department and also helped form the Ford Drag Racing Team. His '63 Galaxie 427 was the first Ford in history to hold an NHRA record in the Super Stock class.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Forever 64 R12

Here is a preview of the 383 Cuda in F64 release 12. This Citron Cuda has painted elastomeric bumpers, white 383 stripe and all newly tooled 6-spoked rims. More photos coming soon of the rest of the assortment.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Johnny Lightning Ambulance

This '57 Chevy Ambulance sample hit my desk along with a few others this week. Its planned for release 12 of Forever 64. I know this casting will get a lot of use and I already have a Wicked Wagons release planned and a Black with Flames. Maybe an American Glory...hmmmm...not sure about that one yet.

Follow me on twitter and see Lightning Strike...in the form of a Ford.
http://twitter.com/TZLightning


Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning
http://www.facebook.com/johnnylightningcars

Johnny Lightning Derby

This Derby Caprice just hit my desk today. Its in R3 of JL2.0. Release 2 was a little delayed so R3 will hit almost back to back in late Oct.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Hearse

Get a look at the first deco samples of the new Hearse. Trying to decide if I should put a black vinyl top on the car. Let me know what you guys think.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Welcome Syty.net

Welcome to my new friends from SyTy.net.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Dick Harrell ZL1 Camaro

Spoke with the Harrell family earlier this week and plans are under way for a '69 Camaro ZL1 to be released in the JL2.0 line. Art has been completed on the car and the plan is to design a full custom packaging with photos of Dick and a history on the car. Looking forward to this one!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Tim Flock Hudson Hornet

Just got in some samples of JL2.0 release 4. This Tim Flock Fabulous Hudson Hornet is my favorite along with Billy Hill's '63 Galaxie. Billy was nice enough to bring his car to Lightning Fest this past July to show off his Beat the Heat car. Look for more photos of Billy's replica on JL's Facebook.
Trying to decide on some different wheels for the Hudson. I might use the stock rubber tires and rims I used on this car from the Mint line.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Johnny Lightning Ambulance

This is a future release in the Forever 64 line. Just finished it today after having to pull a car from an assortment. I am sure my new friends and collectors from the NHAA(National Hearse Ambulance Association) will be excited about the release. Look for this one in late 2010. Thinking about doubling up on this one in the cases. What do you think?

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Johnny Lightning Forever 64

Check out two of the releases from F64 release 9. The Beat the Heat release is a special tribute to Officer Henry Canales, who was killed in the line of duty, and the Ford Focus Yorkshire police is a standard patrol car. Look for these in stores later this month.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Dukes of Hazzard

Just received my production samples today! The long awaited release of Rosco's Patrol car is almost near. The new Monaco, with diecast body and chassis, will debut in JL2.0 R2. It features an opening hood with detailed 440 V8, new lightbar and new police wheels. Look for White Lightnings that have white rims and white tires.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

76 Corvette

By now, most of you have seen our new Rally wheel that was more recently used on the '75 Corvette in the Walmart exclusive set. The old Rally wheel, MC-4, will be retired.
We do have another new rim, a 8-slot mag, that will make it first showing in R11 of F64. This was the original aluminum wheel GM announced as being available in '73 but due to some quality problems GM recalled. The new wheel offered in '76 was the same design but was produced by Kelsey-Hayes.
In addition to the new slotted mags on this Vette is a luggage rack to haul around all those cases of JLs.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

JL 32 Ford Delivery

We'll commemorate release 50 of the 1:24 scale Muscle cars line with this '32 Ford Sedan Delivery. The 24 scale line was launched in 2005 and I am excited to be able to introduce some castings that have traveled along with me in my career. I first worked on this '32 Ford casting in 1997 and introduced into the Racing Champions Hot Rod line later in the year. It has a full diecast body and chassis with detailed chrome engine, chrome exhaust and suspension. The hood is also removable and reveals a 289 V8.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Johnny Lightning Blog '77 Monaco

This unmarked '77 Monaco in light metallic brown will join the two Beat the Heat releases in R11 of F64 I showed you a few days ago. I always say you can never have enough police cars in an asst so R11 will have three and R12 will also have three, along with a '57 Chevy ambulance.
R12 will have one BTH release, a '71 Chevelle owned by Jim Harris. Jim's Chevelle is black and white with a flaming pro stock scoop, red roof mounted lightbar and big rear slicks.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Sprint for Johnny Lightning

The sprint will be on shortly for the next Walmart exclusive set, which hits stores in about 2 weeks. This new sidekick assortment includes 12 cars and each are packaged in a new black packaging with the JL logo. There are 36 cars in each sidekick and will be available at all Walmarts, including some that do not normally carry the regular JL Forever 64 line. Some of my favorites in the assortment are the the JL Sprint, yellow AMX, a bright orange '70 Chevelle and a '70 Cuda race car. White Lightnings have white tires and white rims. Good luck with the hunt!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Johnny Lightning & Beat the Heat

Check out these two new Beat the Heat releases, the '71 Buick GS and the '81 Chevy Malibu. Both will make their debut in Forever 64 R11. The Buick is covered in metallic orange paint with black stripes, a pro stock scoop and clear lightbar. The Malibu is painted in classic black and white, a blue interior and blue lightbar.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

The Junkyard

Made a trip to the junkyard yesterday looking for some Project in Progress inspiration as well as look for some parts for my Camaro. The postal Jeep was a suprise and they wanted $1500. My favorite discovery had to be the '78 Dodge Trans-Van. Most of the interior was complete too! The red GTA was a suprise to see because it could of been saved so I couldn't leave behind the 16" wheels that were laying there next to the car so I picked them up for $25 bucks each. They need a good home, not a burial.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Johnny Lightning on the Farm

Check out these two new sets. The JD set is only available now at JD dealerships and the Ford set can be found at New Holland dealerships. The '55 Ford Panel Delivery matches the paint on the Ford 640 tractor perfectly and the '59 El Camino has a two tone green and white paint scheme to match the JD 630.

Tom Zahorksy
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

International Scout

Got a lot of comments on the release 10 Scout so I thought I would show you the White Lightning. Make plans to release all of the cars and trucks in the assortment from their plastic prisons because the White Lightning traits are white engines and a WL logo on the underside of the hood. The hoods are closed in the packaging too. Good luck with the hunt!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Hummer H2

Working on a new Hummer H2 to replace the yellow release on our Collect N Play racks. This Hummer has a diecast body and chassis with flat army green paint and rubber tires. These racks can be found at TSC stores, Farm and Fleet and your local hobby stores. These have no packaging just a hangtag. Look for White Lightning too!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Forever 64 R7

Several collectors and customers of ours have noticed that cases of R7 were resealed so I wanted to personally address this issue. The reason each carton of R7 was opened was an age grade and component number sticker had to be added to the corners of the packaging before the product shipped from China. No White Lightnings were removed or added so I hope you can be understanding when purchasing sealed cases from your local hobby distributor. This was just a little printing mix up and we apologize when you see these cases retaped. Thank you and we appreciate your support.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Johnny Lightning Delivers

I showed you the Scout in release 10 and now this is the Goodyear Panel Delivery. Speaking of deliverys, make sure that you sign up for a JL subscription at 1stopdiecast.com to get your exclusive panel delivery. The truck is only 1 of 100 being produced for 1stopdiecast.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

15% Lightning Fest Discount

If you did not take advantage of the Carney Platics Lightning Fest discount you have till tomorrow. Go to carneyplastics.com add items to your cart and enter coupon code JLFEST10 and receive a 15% discount on your order. The discount applies to standard car and truck display cases.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

International Scout II

This new Scout was shown at Lightning Fest and looks minty fresh. You'll see it in F64 R10. However, this one will fight for attention with some other cool releases. There's a Black with Flames Monte Carlo SS, Goodyear Panel Delivery, an Army '50 Olds and a 70 Mustang Mach 1 painted bright red. The Mach 1 has a Lightning Strike release that has bright red molded tires.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning