[Wyatt]

1963 Chevrolet Impala, casting #002, date 1997.

No Known Variations.



JLCollector link: http://www.jlcollector.com/002.html

[FreqE1]

How is it I've never seen any of these? Thank you very much for this particular Picture Of The Week Wyatt. Thats at least 3 more on the want list. Going to check these out on JLCollector. Love the Impala and those race versions are awsome!

Casting 002, would I be right in asuming that this was Playing Mantis' 2nd casting after taking over the JL name?

This post has been edited by FreqE1: 18 August 2007 - 09:46 PM

[accobra64]

Nice one, Wyatt.
You must have been into the time vault.
It has been sometime since that casting was used.

I think that the last one was in the new Street Freaks release 2 in 2004.
This one from the Scrapin' portion of that release:



Cheers. Cobra

P.S.: I stand corrected, it has been used since that release.
I just don't have those specific releases.
Still another nice casting.

[Wyatt]

I believe that is the last time it was used. JLCollector does not reflect a timeline in sequence of pictures.

[roachmobkiller]

Impalas are one of my favorites cars.
My family owned a few. [61,63,64,& two 72s]
I pick up '68 Impala fastback [Barret-Jackson]
yesterday. Thank for chosing this casting.

[lummox]

How is it I've never seen any of these? Thank you very much for this particular Picture Of The Week Wyatt. Thats at least 3 more on the want list. Going to check these out on JLCollector. Love the Impala and those race versions are awsome!

Casting 002, would I be right in asuming that this was Playing Mantis' 2nd casting after taking over the JL name?

I don't think the casting # is relevant to when the car was released, am I right?

[Guntownal]

The Old Reliable has always been one of my favorite race cars. I have a home video of it yanking the front wheels leaving the starting line. Great stuff.
I definately bought this casting, one of the few I've kept in the package.
Good choice and great pic Wyatt.

[FreqE1]

I know that the numbers don't stick to a sequential order but I think Playing Mantis got the JL name in 97 so I thought maybe in this case...

[accobra64]

I know that the numbers don't stick to a sequential order but I think Playing Mantis got the JL name in 97 so I thought maybe in this case...

1994 was when Tom Lowe resurrected the Johnny Lighning line with the Playing Mantis Company as we now it today.
FreqE1, it never hurts to talk about some of this history.

Cheers. Cobra

[FreqE1]

Oops, but this is how we learn. Thanks Cobra!

[60sMetal]

Cool ones! I've never seen the strip versions that up-close. Thanks Wyatt!

[Jeff Koch]

I don't think the casting # is relevant to when the car was released, am I right?

You are correct. Numbers had a sort of logic in the beginning, and after a while it was wherever there was space in the three-digit sequence. It was kept in a notebook, written by hand as I recall.

I found it amusing and pathetic in equal parts that in space 666 someone had written "This space reserved for THE DEVIL!" written in red felt tip, of course.

jk

[WoloMan]

...in space 666 someone had written "This space reserved for THE DEVIL!" written in red felt tip, of course.

Guess they were waiting for just the right casting to come along...




/ obligatory

[Jeff Koch]

This particular car was a mistake in several respects. First, Scrapin' seems to be universally unloved on the boards. Second, we tooled up a lowrider wheel--a 13-inch Dayton 80-spoke, or something similar--to use with a bunch of castings. Alas, many of the cars I chose (this one, the earlier Grand National casting and the Syclone) were older castings, and these big half-circle chunks of metal were cast into the chassis to back the wheels. Those half-circles wouldn't allow the new lowrider wheel to touch the ground! One hand didn't know what the other was doing, and they were both my hands. Aah well. Best-laid plans, etc.

jk

[lummox]

The black version of this one would have worked well for # 6six6.

This post has been edited by lummox: 21 August 2007 - 10:36 AM

[STUTZ]

Thanks for sharing this casting Wyatt.

A fellow collector had 3 of each version of the race Impala versions at my monthly diecast meet for sale (6 cars total). He wanted to sell all 6 of them in a package deal. I didn't know anyone who wanted them, so I didn't buy them. I guess I should have bought them.

[FreqE1]

I just asked Lummox and he confirmed my suspicion.(sp?) This is a 66 hearse


would have been a good choice for casting #666. 66 Hearse and 6 feet under.

thanks JLCollector

This post has been edited by FreqE1: 21 August 2007 - 11:43 AM

[James]

First, Scrapin' seems to be universally unloved on the boards

I like the Scrapin' series.



What is this? Really what is it, its fabulous

J

[lummox]

Can't remember the series. It's NOT Scrapin'! Blasphemous!
It's the famous Green Hornet car from the '60s tv series.
The car is based on a '64-'66 Chrysler Imperial.
I think the black release of this car was Hollywood on Wheels.

I LOVE this thing - especially the black one!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the black one - still in jail.
In the show the car was call Black Beauty. I would love another release of this one
but somehow I doubt it'll happen.

This post has been edited by lummox: 21 August 2007 - 07:58 PM

[James]

I have not seen the Black one, come to think of it this is the first time I have seen the green one. I must visit Wyatt's site and check them out. Thanks for posting the green one. Its awesome. Holy grail time
and thanks for the pics of the black one


James

This post has been edited by James: 21 August 2007 - 08:00 PM

[lummox]

Hey, Big-Jim -

Here's the black version of Black Beauty - c# 148
The black one is just downright evil looking!

It was released in HOWs and Classic Plastic.
I feel very fourtunate to have both!
It'd be cool to have the Aroura 1/25th kit - bet it's pricey.

Good luck on your quest James, I doubt any olds have it but I bet you get one from another collector.


Edit: I just glad someone likes this car allmost as much as I do, so here goes.
A couple of Lummox size Black Beauties for ya James




And a sneak peak of a '59 Impala drag car I started: a little treat for ya for when you get home from work!

This post has been edited by lummox: 22 August 2007 - 01:00 PM

[Thundercougarfalconbird]

Another nice pic of one of my favorite castings.

[James]

Thanks Lummox, lookin' good

J

[FreqE1]

The Black Beauty is pretty nice but that Imp is Imp ressive! Who do ya think would win in a race?

[James]

Oh no! another solomon type thing, I'd love to say the Imp but the Black beauty is awesome man. My only hope is that the Imp has been customized unde rthe hood as niec as she is over the hood. You know she a Lummox original so that should be enough to shave a few tenths off her 1/4.

james