In April 2006, Mattel began releasing 1:55-scale die-cast models of characters from the Disney-Pixar film, Cars. Mattel has released these toys in a number of waves.

Series 1

While not the official name for the series, the initial wave in the Cars line has come to be known by many collectors as the "daytime," "desert", "orignal" or "classic" series.

Wave 1 - Series 1

Singles

• Chick Hicks
• DJ
• Doc Hudson
• Fillmore
• The King
• Lightning McQueen
• Lizzie
• Mater
• Sally
• Sarge
• Sheriff
• Wingo

"Movie Moments" multi-car packs

• Boost & Snot Rod
• Flo & Ramone (purple)
• Luigi, Guido & Tractor
• Red & Stanley

"Character Packs"

• Chick Hicks, Fillmore, Lightning McQueen, King, Sarge & Lizzie
• Doc Hudson, Sally, Ramone (purple), Sheriff, Wingo, & Rollin' Bowlin' Mater

Wave 1.5 - Series 1, Part 2

Singles

• Dinoco Lightning McQueen
• Leak Less (Claude Scruggs)
• Nitroade (Aiken Axler)
• Ramone (green)

"Supercharged" Series (Series 2)

Wave 2 - "Supercharged" Series

Due to their wide popularity, Mattel continued to release cars inspired by the film in a new series, widely referred to among collectors as the "Supercharged" series.

Singles

• Boost
• Brand New Mater
• Chick Hicks
• Cruisin' Lightning McQueen
• Dinoco Lightning McQueen
• Dirt Track Lightning McQueen
• DJ
• Doc Hudson
• Fabulous Hudson Hornet (red-rimmed and white-rimmed versions)
• Fillmore
• Hamm
• King
• Leak Less
• Lightning McQueen
• Lizzie
• Mater
• Nitroade
• Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen
• Ramone (green)
• Ramone (purple)
• Ramone (yellow)
• Sally
• Sarge
• Sheriff
• Snot Rod
• Wingo

"Movie Moments" multi-car packs

• Buzz & Woody
• Fillmore & Sarge
• Luigo, Guido & Tractor
• Guido & Luigi (Ferrari fans)
• Mike & Sulley
• Sally & Cruisin’ Lightning McQueen
• Boost & Snot Rod
• Flo & Ramone (purple)
• Red & Stanley

Wave 3 - "Supercharged" Series, Part 2

Singles

• Bling Bling Lightning McQueen
• Bob Cutlass
• Bug Mouth Lightning McQueen
• Cruisin’ Ramone (a.k.a. Old School Ramone)
• Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• Darrell Cartrip
• Dinoco Chick Hicks
• Ferrari F430
• Hydraulic Ramone
• Mario Andretti
• RPM #64 (Winford Bradford Rutherford)
• Tex Dinoco
• Tongue Lightning McQueen
• Yeti the Abominable Snowplow
• Fred

"Movie Moments" multi-car packs

• Mia & Tia
• Mr. & Mrs. The King
• Flik & P.T. Flea

Toys "R" Us Exclusive "Movie Doubles" packs

• Brand New Mater & Mater
• Ramone (purple) & Hydraulic Ramone
• Lightning McQueen & Tongue Lightning McQueen
• Doc Hudson & Fabulous Hudson Hornet (red rims)

"Easter Egg" singles

• Chick Hicks
• Lightning McQueen
• Sally

"Halloween package" singles

• Cruisin' Lightning McQueen
• Ramone (purple)
• Doc Hudson

"Christmas ornament globe" singles

• Mater
• Radiator Springs McQueen
• Ramone (green)

The "Dinoco 400" Target-exclusive set

Mattel released an eight-car set exclusively to Target in the "Supercharged" packaging style that featured three new cars that would eventually see release elsewhere as well. Entitled the "Dinoco 400" set, it included

• King
• Chick Hicks
• Lightning McQueen
• Leak Less (Claude Scruggs)
• Nitroade (Aiken Axler)
• Vinyl Toupee (Crusty Rotor)
• No Stall (Todd "The Shockster" Marcus)
• Octane Gain (Billy Oilchanger)

The Wal-Mart-exclusive series

In October 2007, Mattel released a series of singles temporarily exclusive to Wal-Mart in a unique style of packaging showing a direct image from the movie much like the Superchargered and World of Cars "Movie Moments".

• Cactus Lightning McQueen
• Ghostlight Ramone
• Al Oft The Lightyear Blimp
• T.J.
• Kori Turbowitz
• Piston Cup Pace Car (a.k.a. Charlie Checker)
• Barney Stormin
• Bruiser Bukowski

Sam's Club "10-Car Value Pack"

• Al Oft The Lightyear Blimp
• Brand New Mater
• Cactus Lightning McQueen
• Doc Hudson
• Fillmore
• Ghostlight Ramone
• Leak Less (Claude Scruggs)
• Nitroade (Aiken Axler)
• Snot Rod
• Wingo

3-Car Box Sets

• "Tunerz' Vehicles" - Boost, Snot Rod, & Wingo
• "Tractor Tippin'" - Mater, Tractor, & Lightning McQueen
• "Courtroom Crew" - Sheriff, Sally, & Doc Hudson

4-Car Box Sets

• "Radiator Springs Shopkeepers" - Mater, Ramone (green), Sarge & Fillmore
• "Cruisin' Couples" - Flo, Ramone (purple), Lightning McQueen & Sally

5-Car Box Sets

• "Radiator Springs Gift Pack" - Lizzie, Doc Hudson, Mater, Sally & Sheriff
• "Piston Cup Racers Gift Pack" - Nitroade, King, Chick Hicks, Lightning McQueen & Leak Less

6-Car Box Sets

• "Speedway 6" Gift Pack - Ferrari F430, King, Chick Hicks, Nitroade, Dinoco Lightning McQueen & RPM #64
• "Cruise Night" Gift Pack - Ramone (purple), Sally, Cruisin' Lightning McQueen, Mater, Sheriff & Doc Hudson

7-Car Box Sets

• "Meet at Flo's" - Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen, Sally, Lizzie, Sheriff, Doc Hudson, Ramone (yellow) & Flo

"The World of Cars" Series (Series 3)

Wave 4 - "The World Of Cars" Series

In December 2007, Mattel continued the die-cast line with a new series entitled "The World of Cars."

Singles

• Al Oft the Lightyear Blimp
• Axle Accelerator
• Barney Stormin
• Bling Bling Lightning McQueen
• Bob Cutlass
• Brand New Mater
• Bug Mouth Lightning McQueen
• Cactus McQueen
• Charlie Checker
• Chick Hicks
• Chuki
• Cruisin' Lightning McQueen
• Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• Darrell Cartrip
• Dexter Hoover
• Dinoco Chick Hicks
• Dinoco Helicopter
• Dinoco Lightning McQueen
• Dirt Track Lightning McQueen
• DJ
• Doc Hudson
• Dudley Spare (Octane Gain Pit Crew Member)
• Earl Filter
• Edwin Kranks
• Fabulous Hudson Hornet
• Ferrari F430
• Fillmore
• Fred
• Fred with Bumper Stickers (Chase)
• Ghostlight Ramone
• Hamm
• Hydraulic Ramone
• Kathy Copter
• King
• Leak Less
• Leroy Traffik
• Lightning McQueen
• Lightning McQueen with Bumper Stickers (Chase)
• Lightning Ramone
• Lizzie
• Luke Pettlework
• Mater
• Mario Andretti
• My Name Is Not Chuck
• Old School Ramone (a.k.a. Cruisin' Ramone)
• Petrol Pulaski (RPM pitty)
• Pit Crew Hudson Hornet
• Pit Crew Fillmore
• Pit Crew Guido
• Race Official Tom
• Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen
• Ramone (green)
• Ramone (purple)
• Ramone (yellow)
• Roman Dunes (No Stall Crew Chief)
• RPM #64
• Sally
• Sally With Cone
• Sheriff
• Snot Rod
• Spin Out Lightning McQueen
• Stacy (Leak Less Pit Crew Member)
• Tar Lightning McQueen
• Tex Dinoco
• Tongue Lightning McQueen
• Tow
• Van
• Wingo
• Yeti

Over-sized Cars

• Al Oft The Lightyear Blimp (larger than regular single)
• Barney Stormin (1st non-exclusive release, metal wings, same size as Wal-Mart exclusive single)
• Dinoco Helicopter (larger than regular single)
• Lightning Storm Lightning McQueen (non-metallic, no top rockets, less bottom rockets than SDCC version)
• Mack (new release)
• Marco (new release)

"Short Card" Singles

• Bling Bling Lightning McQueen
• Brand New Mater
• Chick Hicks
• Cruisin' Lightning McQueen
• Dale Earnhardt Jr.
• Dinoco Helicopter
• Dinoco Lightning McQueen
• Doc Hudson
• King
• Lightning McQueen
• Lightning Ramone
• Mater
• Radiator Springs McQueen
• Ramone (purple)
• Tongue Lightning McQueen

"Movie Moments" multi-car packs

• P.T. Flea & Flik
• Luigi & Ferrari F430
• Luigi, Guido & Tractor
• Rusty Rust-eze & Dusty Rust-eze
• Tex Dinoco & Dinoco Lightning McQueen
• Bob Cutlass & Darrell Cartrip
• Boost & Snot Rod
• Dinoco Mia & Dinoco Tia
• Mia & Tia
• Guido & Luigi (Ferrari Fans)
• Flo & Ramone (purple)
• Mr. & Mrs. The King
• Mike & Sulley
• Red & Stanley
• Sally & Cruisin' Lightning McQueen
• Gasprin & Tow Cap (Floyd Mulvihill and Rusty Cornfuel)
• Leak Less & No Stall (Claude Scruggs and Todd "The Shockster" Marcus.)

Toys "R" Us Exclusive "Movie Doubles" packs

• Dinoco Chick Hicks & Chick Hicks
• Cruisin' Lightning McQueen & Dinoco Lightning McQueen
• Guido & Ferrari Fan Guido
• Ramone (green) & Ramone (yellow)

"Pit Row Race-Off" car and launcher sets

• Lightning McQueen
• The King
• Chick Hicks
• Nitroade (Akien Axler)
• Leak Less (Claude Scruggs)
• Octane Gain (First non-exclusive release of car; Billy Oilchanger.)
• No Stall (Todd "The Shockster" Marcus)
• Trunk Fresh (First non-exclusive release of car; Dirkson D'Agostino.)
• RPM #64 (Winford Bradford Rutherford)

Racing 3-Packs

• "Dinoco Dream" - Bling-Bling Lightning McQueen, Gold Mia & Gold Tia
• "Dirt Track" - Dirt Track Doc Hudson, Sheriff & Cactus Lightning McQueen
• "Lightning McQueen's Crew" - Lightning McQueen, Flo & Lightning Ramone
• "Piston Cup" - The King, Lightning McQueen & Charlie Checker
• "Race Officials" - Tow, Al Oft The Lightyear Blimp & Race Official Tom
• "Team Leak Less" - Leak Less, Stacy & Earl Filter
• "Team No Stall" - No Stall, Shirley Spinout & Roman Dunes
• "Team Shiny Wax" - Shiny Wax, Nebekenezer Schmidt & Senior Trax
• "Team Sparemint" - Sparemint, Piccolo Perry & Ernest B. Raykes

5-Car Box Sets

• "Dirt Track Challenge Gift Pack" - Sally, Dirt Track Lightning McQueen, Doc Hudson, Flo & Ramone (purple)
• "Radiator Springs Friends Gift Pack" - Guido, Luigi, Doc Hudson, Cruisin' Lightning Mcqueen & Tractor
• Toys "R" Us Exclusive "Dinoco Blue Gift Pack" - Dinoco Helicopter, Dinoco Lightning McQueen, The King, Bling Bling Lightning McQueen & Dinoco Chick Hicks

Target Exclusive "Race & Chase" Gift Set

In May 2008, Mattel and Target signed another deal to release a new gift set with one new exclusive character.

• Lightning McQueen
• Chick Hicks
• The King
• Re-Volting #84

Toys "R" Us Exclusive Sidewall Shine

In 2008, Toys "R" Us offered a mail-in offer to receive an exclusive Cars character, Sidewall Shine, in special packaging. The offer was to buy 5 Cars at a participating Toys "R" Us, from the approved list of UPCs, between August 18th, 2008 and September 30th, 2008, and mail in the original receipt along with the 5 cardbacks and UPCs from the bought cars. The car was packaged in a clear display case, with a black base, "Sidewall Shine" sticker on the front, and the "World of Cars" emblem sticker on the right side.

"The World of Cars - Race O Rama" Series (Series 4)

Wave 5 - "The World of Cars - Race O Rama" Series

Singles

• Axle Accelerator
• Bug Mouth Lightning McQueen
• Chuki
• Dinoco Lightning McQueen
• Ghostlight Ramone
• Impound Lightning McQueen (Chase)
• Kathy Copter
• Lightning McQueen
• Mario Andretti
• Mater
• Pit Crew Member Fillmore
• Ron Hover
• Snot Rod
• Spin Out Lightning McQueen
• Stacy

Other

Playsets

• Dinoco Helicopter (Car carrier, includes a plastic Mater toy.)
• Flo's V8 Café
• Lightning Fast Speedway Track Set (With Lightning McQueen.)
• Luigi's Casa della Tires (A Kohl's-exclusive release includes Guido, Luigi, Sally, Lightning McQueen and Doc Hudson die-casts.)
• Mack Transporter (A Target-exclusive "Daytime" Series release includes Sally and Doc Hudson die-casts. Wal-Mart-exclusive releases have included Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks, & Leak Less ("Supercharged" Series) and DJ, Snot Rod, & Wingo ("World of Cars" Series).)
• Mack Truck Playset (Some releases include a Lighting McQueen die-cast.)
• Mater's Rollin' Bowlin' (With Rollin' Bowllin' Mater, a unique release.)
• Piston Cup 500 Track Set (With Lightning McQueen. A Toys "R" Us-exclusive release also includes Chick Hicks, Leak Less and The King die-casts.)
• Race Case and Track (A Kmart-exclusive release included Lightning McQueen and The King die-casts.)
• Race Case Launcher (With Snot Rod.)
• Radiator Springs Curio Shop
• Radiator Springs Mountain Challenge Track Set (With "Willy's Butte" McQueen, a.k.a. Dirt Track Lightning McQueen.)
• Radiator Springs Playmat (With Cruisin' Lightning McQueen.)
• Ramone's House of Body Art

Mattel exclusives

Here are some Mattel exclusives.

The "Motor Speedway Of The South" Set

This set was a Hot Wheels Red Line Club exclusive. Its release date was 20th May 2008 it had every race car in the opening scene. There were only a limited number of 1000 sets with a unique and random number on a letter that people that bought the set received. According to the information from the description of the set each set had a unique and random number on the packaging. None of the sets did and Mattel apologised for this problem and stated that the description of the set was incorrect. Mattel have also stated that some of the racers in this set will be exclusive to the set but this could easily change. The sale for this set sold out in 2 hours and 26 minutes.

Contents

• Lightning McQueen #95
• The King #43
• Chick Hicks #86
• RPM #64
• Nitroade (Aiken Axler) #28
• Mood Springs (Chuck Armstrong) #33
• Shifty Drug (Kevin Racingtire) #35
• Easy Idle (Ruby "Easy" Oaks) #51
• Transberry Juice (Lee Revkins) #63
• Apple Car #84
• Retread #79
• Gaskits #80
• Shiny Wax #82
• Bumper Save #90
• Lil' Torquey Pistons (Ralph Carlow) #117
• Clutch Aid #121
• No Stall #123
• Fiber Fuel (Brush Curber) #56
• Trunk Fresh (Dirkson D'Agostino) #34
• View Zeen (Ryan Shields) #39
• Faux Wheel (Johnny Blamer) #54
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8
• Octain Gain (Billy Oilchanger) #58
• Tow Cap #4
• n2o Cola (Manny Flywheel) #68
• Sidewall Shine #74
• Re-Volting (Davey Apex) #84
• Tank Coat (Eugene Carbureski) #36
• Leak Less (Claude Scruggs) #52
• Vitoline (James Cleanair) #61
• Gasprin (Floyd Mulvihill) #70
• Rev N Go #73
• Vinyl Toupee (Crusty Rotor) #76
• Sputter Stop (Murray Clutchburn) #92
• Sparemint (Ernie Gearson) #93
• Tac-o-Mint (Greg Candyman) #101

Other releases

A variety of additional items have been released by Mattel as part of the Cars die-cast line, including repacks of previously-released cars in new packaging configurations for exclusive release at retailers such as Best Buy and BJ's Wholesale Club.

Rumored and announced future releases

These releases have been rumored from leaked images, solicitation information sent to retailers, and other sources. A few, such as Lightning Storm McQueen, have been officially confirmed for release by Mattel.

Singles

• Apple Pit Crew Member
• Apple Crew Chief
• Apple Hauler
• Brian
• Chick Hicks Crew Chief
• Chick Hicks Hauler
• Costanzo Della Corsa
• Dinoco Crew Chief
• Dinoco Hauler
• Dustin Mellows
• Easy Idle Pit Crew Member
• Easy Idle Crew Chief
• Easy Idle Hauler
• Elvis
• Greta
• Jay Limo
• Jerry Drivechain (Tank Coat Crew Member)
• Leak Less Crew Chief
• Mini
• Nitroade Hauler
• Nitroade Crew Chief
• Octane Gain Crew Chief
• Octane Gain Hauler
• N2O Cola Pit Crew Member
• N20 Crew Chief
• Not A Peterbuilt
• Pit Crew Member Sarge
• Polly Puddlejumper
• Random Highway Hauler #1
• Random Highway Hauler #2
• Richard Clayton Kensington
• RPM Crew Chief
• Spare Mint Hauler
• Surprised Dexter Hoover
• Sven
• Tank Coat Crew Chief
• Timothy Twostroke
• Todd (Pizza Planet Truck)
• Vitoline Pit Crew Member
• Vitoline Crew Chief
• Vitoline Hauler
• Wal-Mart Truck

"Story Tellers"

• Brand New Mater
• Doc Hudson
• Dusty Rust-eze
• Flo
• Red
• Retro Ramone
• Rusty Rust-eze
• Smell-Swell Lightning McQueen
• Sponsorless Lightning McQueen
• Tractor
• Wedding Day Ramone

"Story Tellers" 3-Packs

• Doc Hudson, Flo & Sponsorless Lightning McQueen
• Smell Swell Lightning McQueen, Fabulous Hudson Hornet & Fred (re-scaled)
• Dusty Rust-eze, Rusty Rust-eze & Retro Ramone
• Guido, Luigi & Red
• Wedding Day Ramone, Tractor & Brand New Mater

"Movie Moments" multi-car packs

• Fillmore & Whitewalls Lightning McQueen
• Lightning McQueen & Kori Turbowitz
• Mario Andretti & Patty
• Chick Hicks & Bruiser Bukowski
• Race Damage The King & Lightning McQueen
• Tumbleweed Lightning McQueen & Doc Hudson
• Doc Hudson & Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen

3-Car "Gift Packs"

• Boot Camp Gift Pack (With Murphy, Frank "Pinky" Pinkerton, and T.J.)

"Pit Row Race-Off" car and launcher sets

• Shiny Wax (Darren Leadfoot)
• Mac iCar
• Transberry Juice (Lee Revkins)
• Spare Mint (Ernie Gearson)

Kmart Cars Collector's Event

On October 18, 2008, At Kmart stores all over america, the 1st ever Cars Collector's Event will happen, including all of these new vehicles:

• Edwin Kranks
• Fred (re-scaled)
• Shiny Wax
• Sparemint
• Sputter Stop
• Transberry Juice
• View Zeen

Fillmore Popularity Shoot-Up

In June 2008, due to the death of actor George Carlin, voice of Fillmore in Cars, People eveywhere were & still are looking for the Fillmore die-cast, This popularity shoot-up is similar to the Batman, The Joker action figure after the death of actor Heath Ledger.

Lightning Storm Lightning McQueen

At Comic-Con 2008, Mattel offered a specially packaged version of a metallic Dinoco Blue "Lightning Storm Lightning McQueen". A version similar to this is planned for release in stores, in regular "World of Cars" Series packaging.

Darth Mater

At Comic-Con 2008, a special "out of this world" car was shown, & that car was called "Darth Mater". Soon one of these will be auctioned off to help Children Affected by AIDS.

Blu-ray Lightning McQueen

In October 2007, Disney released a limited-edition Lightning McQueen free to purchasers of Cars on Blu-ray. According to the Disney redemption website, there was a total of 15,000 units to be redeemed. This promotion finished on January 28, 2008. Note: This car never appears in the movie.

2007 UK promotion

In the UK, Mattel placed stickers on some of its Cars merchandise as part of a promotional campaign that encouraged customers to purchase Cars items, collect stickers and redeem those stickers for free items:

• 1 sticker = sticker book
• 6 stickers = Vinyl Toupee (Exclusive single-car release previously only available as part of Target-exclusive "Dinoco 400" set in the U.S.)
• 12 stickers = Race Case and Track

This promotion ended on December 31, 2007.

Children Affected by AIDS

On October 27, 2007, the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation auctioned off many items as part of a fundraising effort, including a one-of-a-kind set of Cars die-casts in a specially-designed case signed by Cars creator John Lasseter. The set included a Blu-ray Lightning McQueen, the as-yet-unreleased Richard Clayton Kensington, and a unique metallic red Lightning McQueen.

Red Ransberg Lightning McQueen

Mattel only produced an extremely small number (possibly as low as 50) of the Red Ransberg Lightning McQueen die-cast, made distinctive by its red metallic paintjob in the style of "Ransberg" paint application process. Aside from the sample included in the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation auction, it is believed (though not verified) that all remaining copies of the toy were given to staff members of Mattel, Pixar and/or Disney. Because of the small quantities produced and the internal distribution of the die-cast, authentic samples of the Red Ransberg Lightning McQueen have become highly sought-after collectibles and are quite unlikely to be found at present on the secondary market.250 customs were made.

Sarge recall

On August 14, 2007, Mattel recalled Sarge die-casts released in the "Supercharged" series because of lead-based paint used in their production by the die-cast's Chinese manufacturer. This was part of a major series of recalls for Mattel and one of numerous recalls of Chinese products in 2007. Sarge has not yet been released again within the die-cast line.

Trivia

• Some cars such as "Leak Less", "Nitroade", "RPM #64", "Lightning McQueen" & "Race Official Tom", Are re-painted to make new cars.
• Some of "The World Of Cars" car have a yellow & red route 66 sign that says "New!"
• Dudley Spare is a repaint of My Name Is Not Chuck.
• Chuki is a remake of P.T. Flea (painted pink, minus Flea's hat, and with a different mouth and eyes.)
• Fabulous Hudson Hornet originally had white rims, but they were changed to red rims on later production runs.
• Mario Andretti has yellow rims although in the film he has red rims.
• Darell Cartrip has " DWstore.com" printed on the back of the car.
• There is proof on a YouTube Video that there are 217 different Cars.
• Bob Cutlass's license plate say RSN, instead of our FSN

See also

• Scale model
• Die-cast toy
• Cars (film)
• Pixar
• Disney
• Mattel
• Disney Pixar Cars Mini Adventures
• George Carlin (Fillmore)
• Paul Newman (Doc Hudson)
• Hot Wheels

External links

• Cars - The Toys Fan site for the Disney-Pixar film and Mattel toy line.
• Cars Drive In Gallery Reference guide for the Mattel die-cast line and characters from the Disney-Pixar film.
• Cars Diecast Online Checklist Spreadsheet Checklist of the Mattel 1:55 scale diecast line.