May … we impress you with twenty-eight new photos? PLUS two free high-resolution images to download? For FREE?

Oh, and we’re all sold out of 2014 Club Vehicles. Sorry.

(Please read this post for an explanation for the late posting for May. ~WM)

May 2014

May starts off with this humble l’il hauler, the GMC Wrecker, by Matchbox. Recalling that Ken had purchased a couple of other Getty-logoed models, I pointed this one out to him, which was in Bob’s fiddy-cent box. Ken explained that this was the more-rare version, with the phone number. Surprisingly, Ken turned it down. He already has one, in better condition. True, it’s missing its lightbar and other parts; the boom no longer stays up; and the hook is mangled. Nonetheless, for four bits (plus the rare phone number) I adopted this one myself.

Big Tractor Mike goes Big Camaro with this 1:18 monster. The “service bay” display isn’t just “for display”, by the way. The lift arms swing and extend, and the frame actually cranks up and down.

Irony of ironies. When I Bing’d “marx toys miami”, the listings (all company profile-type on business sites; no actual web presence) which I read show the company as inactive. One might not be able to keep a good man down, but apparently neither can one keep a Marx company up: the original Marx toy company went bankrupt and closed in1980. Sigh.

Still, BTM did get hisself a nice, retro fuel truck … which only adds to the irony, as Eastern Air Lines is also defunct.

I’m not sure, I think Tom bought this. Regardless, it sure is pretty!

I know for a fact Tom did not buy this one … because it’s a RAOK from me to him. Picked one up for myself at Dollar Tree and, after drinking in how nicely rendered the model is, I said to myself, I have to get one for Tom!

Tom definitely picked this up: very accurate VW Bus model, with rare White Lightening tires.

From BTM, Tom acquired this VW/Kombi combo by Jada. It’d be impressive even if the bed didn’t operate.

I know, I know: you’re aching for a close-up of that sweet engine. Well, here ’tis.

This is Tom’s Big Amazing Purchase for May. An outstanding tribute the Earnhardt racing family and legacy. The whole thing stands nearly twenty-four inches tall, and from its heft it has some serious, high-quality wood in its structure. I say “structure” rather than merely “frame” because those aren’t photos of cars — they’re actually 1:24-scale miniatures in a display-within-a-display arrangement.

Ken bought a variety of various different things, the most interesting and curious of which is that Eastern 757. (Eastern Air Lines again!) It’s by a company called Schabak, which has some interesting history behind it.

Ken continues to vary in the varying things he buys. Here, he has a Treasure Hunts ’55 Chevy; two Garbage Gulpers which are festively decked out in holiday green and red; and the rare Formula 5000 and Soopa Coopa.

Whilst cleaning up my garage and going through the many boxes therein, I set aside each Batman-related item into a group, knowing that Krista is Suncoast Diecasters‘ Official Bat-Collector®. I brought the box to the May meeting, and offered her the choice of any item, any several items or the whole thing. She choosed the whole kit & Bat-boodle. (Yes, including Happy Meal “Super Bugs” there.)

More Happy Meal Bat-prizes: Penguinmobile with spinning radiator grill/Umbrella of Doom; two Catmobiles (the ones with the waggley tails); and two Batmobiles which launch/convert into Batpedoes.

Krista found the (Corgi) Penguinmobile and Jokermobile Bat-buried in Bob’s budget Bat-box.

No, that’s not just a Batman action figure. That’s actually Bruce Wayne as Batman. The boots, gloves, and cowl/cape are removable, revealing a rather smartly-sculpted Michael Keaton. (Which I suspect is the real reason Krista took it — she just wanted her very Micheal Keaton action figure.) Yes, that’s Hardnoze Batmobile there, along with a Bat-signal ring which was a decoration on a Publix cupcake.

Much to my surprise, Krista also decided to b*snarrgl* *warrful* *BUUURP* *growwwl* *snarrfl*

You can download a larger version of the above image (ya’know, if you’re into that sort of thing).

Bob brought some amazing rarities to our May meeting. Here we have two Rrrumblers. No, I did not misspell that. All Rrrumblers are rare, but some are more rare than others. These two are among the rarest. This first one is Bone Shaker. No, I did not mis-type that. Yes, the li’l Bone Shaker rat rod you’ve bought so lovingly (and no doubt in several variations) has indeed taken its name from this retro — and, as it were, somewhat more literal — rolling rider.

Something I never thought about, and indeed never noticed until I was prepping these photos, is how well the faces on the Rrrumblers’ riders are sculpted. The two-shot below is made from the same original full-size photos from which the above two pics were made.

Here is what is probably the most rarest of the rare: Ghost. Yes, straightforward and simple, just Ghost. Note the bony hands which form the hub for the front wheel. Also, have you realized the handle bars and fork are actually a sword?

Yes, yes, I’ll be nice this time, and offer you a close-up of the Ghost’s ghost.

Now these … these are simply outstanding. These are beyond ultra-cool. These … are Gran Toros. Gran Toros are 1:43-scale Hot Wheels models which were sold mainly in Italy. I don’t recall how I discovered them (probably I was looking for other Hot Wheels sites to add to our Links). And yes, some Gran Toros were replicas of more “recognizable” Hot Wheels models, such Twin Mill. Gran Toros are that type of exceptionally rare item that one usually sees only in catalogs or in someone else’s collection. To have had real Gran Toros show up at a Suncoast Diecasters meeting, and to have actually held them in my own hands, is a wonderful experience for this humble collector.

It’d be one thing to borrow some other collector’s Gran Toros photos for the site just to illustrate the text. But, for one of our own club members to have brought in his own models, so I could provide our own photos here on the Suncoast Diecasters website, I cannot begin to describe to you how proud I am of that.

Outstanding. I’ve actually had the opportunity to hold genuine Gran Toros models in my own hands. There can be no doubt that these outrageously rare Mattel giants are our May 2014 Find of the Month.

Feel free download this larger version of the above image.

See you at the June meeting!

~WM