Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy Holidays


Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Take a look at the JL 2012 Holiday car(truck). This 1965 IH 1200 D-Series Pickup is painted in green chrome and has an opening hood, fold down tailgate and a die cast body and chassis.

Looking forward to bringing more great releases in 2013.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

JL '72 Ford Torino



This '72 Torino Sport is a new addition to the Forever 64 line. It's coated in translucent green pearl and it has a great sheen to it. I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to shoot the Torino and accent the fine lines and body details. This has to be my favorite in the assortment!
Look for this Torino and the rest Release 24 at Walmart stores and hobby stores in early September. White Lightnings in Release 24 have a white chassis and "WHITE LIGHTNING" stamped on the chassis.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Johnny Lightning Off-road




Some of the new JL Forever 64 releases will be some of the most popular with the upcoming off-road releases planned. The feedback that I have been getting is that you want to see more demo derby and off-road vehicles so here is a little preview of our dirty little friends. I am planning an Off-road release for the next six assortments.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Coming Soon



The new 2012 Tomica line will be hitting stores at the end of the month. These are the new Hero with Vehicle packs. Each pack includes a vehicle, hero and accessory pieces to recreate daily senarios in Hypercity.
The Nissan Fairlady Z has to be my favorite as it sports a removeable top.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Sunday, June 24, 2012




Hope you're making plans for the Nashville DCS show. I will be there from Thursday through Saturday. On Friday, June 29th, I will be holding a forum where I will be showing off some of the latest JL releases and Tomica releases I have been working on over the last year. The new Tomica line hits Toys R Us retail and hobby stores in August.
The forum will be open to all, but the first 100 will receive this exclusive Nashville JL Event Jeep Cherokee. The Cherokee is painted gloss white with black rims and the DCS Nashville logo on the roof. This Cherokee is loaded with a front bumper winch and fender snorkel.

Hope to see you in Nashville!


Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Johnny Lightning Jeep Wagoneer



Still looking for ideas on the first release of the Jeep Wagoneer. If you want to be heard, now is the time! Right now, I am leaning toward the teal with white top and wood panel detailing.

Thanks!
Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Jeep Cherokee


The new Johnny Lightning Jeep Cherokee will be making it's debut in Forever 64 Release 22. Sprayed in gun metal metallic, the Cherokee will be fitted with a roof rack, matching spare tire, fender mounted snorkel and grille guard with winch. White Lightnings will feature white tires and white rims! Good news if you're a Cherokee fan because we have two planned in Release 23.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

2012 Super Convention


Join us at the 2012 Super Convention in Las Vegas for a power packed weekend of die cast! On Friday, I will be holding a JL Forum and giving an update on the current direction of JL as well as Tomica. See ya there!

http://diecastspace.com/vegas

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Monday, February 13, 2012

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

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

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

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

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