DIE CAST VEHICLES GENERAL INDEX

Around Town Observations, finds and comments on die cast vehicles in our little corner of the world.   ANOMALIES New! (see below) Bizarre variations, errors and just plain unexplainable phenomena in die cast cars.   What's New New 2000 Tomart Guide Find out where to get the best deal on this popular guide to Hot Wheels collecting!   Featured Vehicle Order Online! Milezone's Limited Edition Custom Track T is here, and you can order it now!   1999 Canadian Hot Wheels Check out what's scheduled for 1999, and see LIFE SIZE PICS as we find them!   1997 and 1998 Canadian Hot Wheels A listing of First Editions, series cars and gift packs in International packaging, including some variations you may not be aware of!   The Exchange Buy, sell or trade your Hot Wheels or other die cast vehicles, old or new with a FREE ad!   Links Manufacturer web pages, and links to other collectors' web pages. Submit your site!

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ANOMALIES

ODDS & ENDS   Donny has spotted a '99 HW Street Art series Mini Truck with no windshield! 03/07/00  Juan has a slightly cramped '00 HW FE Lincoln driving on its spare! 03/02/00  CAumaug427 found a 50's Cruisers Scorchin' Scooter with a gold engine! 02/21/00  Bsbets found a '98 HW FE Whatta Drag at the grocery store with no back wheel! 01/05/00

*Find a weird die cast vehicle? Want to win prizes? We'd like to hear about it and share it with other collectors! Send us pics of your variations, errors, or just general oddities for our new "Anomalies" section . Prizes will be awarded monthly for the most unusual entries! Send your picture and a brief write-up to:  planet@canada.com

Careful when parking in this neighbourhood... November 30, 1999 Alert collector Ben Pede of Summerland, BC spotted this one sitting on a shelf at his local Wal Mart. It's a 1999 "Classic Games Series" Super Modified. As Ben puts it: "It's done for the evening." Why, you may ask? It's missing all its wheels and axles! He's correct in saying that someone was asleep at the desk. "I have the original one, so the comparison is bizzare. I have had package errors, upside down cars, but never a 'missing parts' car." Ben adds that this Super Mod is not for sale, as he is a huge Hot Wheels collector. Let's hope this one is truly an error, and not one of Mattel's latest cost-cutting measures!

	U.S. Name: International Name:	Super Modified (same)
	Manufacturer:	Mattel
	Series:	Hot Wheels 1999 Classic Games Series (1 of 4)
	Product#:	21329
	Variations/Errors:	a) No wheels or axles (shown)
	Limited Editions:	None yet
	Finder:	Ben Pede

*Find a weird die cast vehicle? Want to win prizes? We'd like to hear about it and share it with other collectors! Send us pics of your variations, errors, or just general oddities for our new "Anomalies" section . Prizes will be awarded monthly for the most unusual entries! Send your picture and a brief write-up to:  planet@canada.com

Let the weirdness begin! March 31, 1999 Aside from the usual assortment of backwards-packaged cars, there haven't been too many truly strange anomalies so far this year. Mattel seems to have the Hot Wheels assembly lines in pretty good shape. But once in a while, you just have to scratch your head and wonder "How could that have happened?" That's exactly what the finder of this '50's Cruisers Gift Pack was thinking as he stared in disbelief at the oddity before him. Cars end up in the wrong package once in a while, and this year is no different. But what makes this error so special is the car ­ a 1998 '57 Chevy Treasure Hunt! As bizarre as it seems, you can see how it could happen. The car that belongs there is a metallic blue version of the '57 Chevy. Even the tampos are similar, with gold-accented art deco style designs. "I'm surprised nobody else spotted it" said the finder, who wishes to remain anonymous. "I already had a 50's Cruisers set, but something looked different. I picked it up for what I thought was just a tampo or colour variation. I didn't realize what I had until I checked the internet, and realized it was a Treasure Hunt. I still can't believe it." The finder admits that although this is his first found Treasure Hunt, he'll probably leave it in the package. "It's a great conversation piece", he says. Although he has no plans to sell it, he is willing to entertain offers. Emails will be forwarded to him care of this website.

	U.S. Name: International Name:	'50s Cruisers Same
	Manufacturer:	Mattel
	Series:	Hot Wheels 1999 5-Car Gift Pack
	Product#:	21076
	Variations/Errors:	Green Treasure Hunt '57 Chevy in place of the blue '57 Chevy with custom tampo scheme made specifically for the 5-car gift pack.
	Limited Editions:	N/A
	Click here for life-size pic!

Intake or Outtake? April 13, 1999 Speaking of backwards cars, alert collector Cuda Mike has spotted an interesting twist on the theme: a partially backwards car! This 1998 Hot Wheels First Edition Double Vision comes with both intake manifolds (or "blowers") facing backwards - not the most efficient way to draw in air. To add insult to injury, the exhaust pipes are facing forwards - also not very efficient. To be fair to the factory workers, the chrome intake and gray plastic exhaust are probably assembled as a unit; and at 30 cars a minute, it's not always easy to tell which way goes where. But with reports of more cars with the same problem, we think the assemblers should do a "double take" when putting together this one.

	U.S. Name: International Name:	Double Vision™ (same)
	Manufacturer:	Mattel
	Series:	Hot Wheels 1998 First Editions (40 of 40)
	Product#:	19643
	Variations/Errors:	a) Backwards engine (shown)
	Limited Editions:	None yet
Click here for life-size pic!	Finder:	Cuda Mike

*Find a weird die cast vehicle? Want to win prizes? We'd like to hear about it and share it with other collectors! Send us pics of your variations, errors, or just general oddities for our new "Anomalies" section . Prizes will be awarded monthly for the most unusual entries! Send your picture and a brief write-up to:  planet@canada.com

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