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Known variations: Top up or top down.
JLCollector link: http://www.jlcollector.com/145.html
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Picture Of The Week - 09/22/2007 Top Down Cruisin'
MultiQuote
#6
Posted 22 September 2007 - 08:33 PM
Another great Picture Of The Week, Wyatt.
There are two top up versions of this casting:
Images coutesy of JLCollector.com. Thanks Wyatt.
And a question:
Do we consider the top up versions as variations?
I do.
What are other members thoughts on this subject?
Cheers. Cobra
There are two top up versions of this casting:
Images coutesy of JLCollector.com. Thanks Wyatt.
And a question:
Do we consider the top up versions as variations?
I do.
What are other members thoughts on this subject?
Cheers. Cobra
#8
Posted 22 September 2007 - 09:30 PM
Can't take credit for the idea of doing the car, but I will take credit for getting it out there.
Remember how five cars came in the American Chrome series of 2000 or so? Five is an odd number. Many wondered what happened to #6. This was number six, but Cadillac had just signed an exclusive deal with Mattel for three years, so we had to mothball the mockup. Judging by the animosity I'd heard about it after the fact, it sounded like my boss wouldn't let it get produced even if the exclusive had been cancelled tomorrow.
When I got there to JL, one of the things I tried hard to do was convince everyone there that new castings were the lifeblood of the hobby--not just the same ol' repaints again and again. I wanted to put new castings in Classic Gold and in Musclecars USA in every release if possible--just one or two, enough to make people go to the stores every time a new case hit.
And I wanted to do it NOW.
But from when you say "go" to the time things hit shelves, in JL world, is nine months when the stars are aligned, and twelve months more likely with delays and all. There had to be a quicker way, a way to get things moving a little faster.
The answer? Go to the firesafe where all of the unused mockups were kept, and adopt a couple for quick tooling and sale. It was still nearly six months with tooling, approvals, manufacturing and shipping, and in that time my boss resigned and I got a new one, but the plan to get it in the mix worked. (We did the Eldo concurrently with the Porsche 911/Turbo casting, featured here some time earlier.) By the time this all happened, GM had grown disenchanted with their exclusive, and that ended that. We put it in the lineup as soon as we got the go-ahead from the licensor.
Some have groused that the whole idea behind Classic Gold (the first series it appeared in) was that CG cars were old castings reused/repurposed. If that's the case, no wonder interest was dwindling. New cars will always spark interest. A rarity for me, I never heard much grumbling about this particular casting coming to light, which meant it was that rare thing--a fan favorite that everyone seemed to think was spot-on.
Whether sales went up or not, who knows. But knowing that this one is appreciated always makes me smile--another of that rare things: an idea of mine that actually seemed to work.
jk
Remember how five cars came in the American Chrome series of 2000 or so? Five is an odd number. Many wondered what happened to #6. This was number six, but Cadillac had just signed an exclusive deal with Mattel for three years, so we had to mothball the mockup. Judging by the animosity I'd heard about it after the fact, it sounded like my boss wouldn't let it get produced even if the exclusive had been cancelled tomorrow.
When I got there to JL, one of the things I tried hard to do was convince everyone there that new castings were the lifeblood of the hobby--not just the same ol' repaints again and again. I wanted to put new castings in Classic Gold and in Musclecars USA in every release if possible--just one or two, enough to make people go to the stores every time a new case hit.
And I wanted to do it NOW.
But from when you say "go" to the time things hit shelves, in JL world, is nine months when the stars are aligned, and twelve months more likely with delays and all. There had to be a quicker way, a way to get things moving a little faster.
The answer? Go to the firesafe where all of the unused mockups were kept, and adopt a couple for quick tooling and sale. It was still nearly six months with tooling, approvals, manufacturing and shipping, and in that time my boss resigned and I got a new one, but the plan to get it in the mix worked. (We did the Eldo concurrently with the Porsche 911/Turbo casting, featured here some time earlier.) By the time this all happened, GM had grown disenchanted with their exclusive, and that ended that. We put it in the lineup as soon as we got the go-ahead from the licensor.
Some have groused that the whole idea behind Classic Gold (the first series it appeared in) was that CG cars were old castings reused/repurposed. If that's the case, no wonder interest was dwindling. New cars will always spark interest. A rarity for me, I never heard much grumbling about this particular casting coming to light, which meant it was that rare thing--a fan favorite that everyone seemed to think was spot-on.
Whether sales went up or not, who knows. But knowing that this one is appreciated always makes me smile--another of that rare things: an idea of mine that actually seemed to work.
jk
#9
Posted 22 September 2007 - 09:52 PM
This IS a very good casting, and an interesting story, Jeff.
It got me wondering again why a plastic roof was never made for it.
So I wondered over to the Lummoxborg Boneyard as I have 4-5 of these in pieces.
It would appear the reason for never producing a roof for this is the area under the boot is too
square shaped and the rear window of the hdtp is more rounded.
I'm curious to know if I'm way off on this.
It got me wondering again why a plastic roof was never made for it.
So I wondered over to the Lummoxborg Boneyard as I have 4-5 of these in pieces.
It would appear the reason for never producing a roof for this is the area under the boot is too
square shaped and the rear window of the hdtp is more rounded.
I'm curious to know if I'm way off on this.
Vinnie Boom Boom Armentino
#10
Posted 22 September 2007 - 10:42 PM
QUOTE(Jeff Koch @ Sep 22 2007, 10:30 PM) 
Can't take credit for the idea of doing the car, but I will take credit for getting it out there.
Some have groused that the whole idea behind Classic Gold (the first series it appeared in) was that CG cars were old castings reused/repurposed. If that's the case, no wonder interest was dwindling. New cars will always spark interest. A rarity for me, I never heard much grumbling about this particular casting coming to light, which meant it was that rare thing--a fan favorite that everyone seemed to think was spot-on.
Whether sales went up or not, who knows. But knowing that this one is appreciated always makes me smile--another of that rare things: an idea of mine that actually seemed to work.
jk
Jeff, thanks for making it happen.
And thanks for all the information.
Classic Gold 2 was one series that I always waited eagerly to see the next new release.
I thought that this one may have been the best of all the continuing series over a period of time.
And there were some great castings that debuted in Classic Gold 2.
1982 Porsche 911 Turbo
The rear of this casting is very well detailed.
1959 Cadillac Eldorado convertible
One of the very best versions of this casting.
1955 Lincoln Futura
This was a very difficult casting to acquire.
It was extremely popular.
2003 Hummer H2
Nash Metroppolitan
Another tough casting to find when it debuted.
1948 Tucker Torpedo
Oldsmomobile Toronado
1965 Chevelle El Camino
1955 Chevy 2-Door Sedan
Jeep CJ-5
I will stop with this one.
Was the concept successful?
Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The castings illustrated above all had the initial releases in the Classic Gold 2 series.
So Jeff, thanks for making it happen.
Your idea worked very well.
And from the illustrations above you can see why I waited eagerly for each new release.
All images above courtesy of JLCollector.com. Thanks Wyatt.
Cheers. Cobra
#12
Posted 23 September 2007 - 06:57 AM
QUOTE(accobra64 @ Sep 22 2007, 09:33 PM)
Another great Picture Of The Week, Wyatt.
There are two top up versions of this casting:
Images coutesy of JLCollector.com. Thanks Wyatt.
And a question:
Do we consider the top up versions as variations?
I do.
What are other members thoughts on this subject?
Cheers. Cobra
Thanks, Cobra. I missed that completely! I fixed the original post.
#14
Posted 23 September 2007 - 09:53 AM
QUOTE(accobra64 @ Sep 22 2007, 08:42 PM)
2003 Hummer H2
At the risk of hijacking the thread, there was some grumbling about this one--not model choice, strangely, but because we put it in Classic Gold, and in no way could this be construed as a classic of any sort.
In general I'm less concerned about labels on the package and more worried about the cars inside, but maybe that's just me.
jk
#16
Posted 24 September 2007 - 07:01 AM
Love the looong cars, and especially the big fins on this one!
As the retro look is currently in fashion in the automotive world--PT Cruiser, Prowler, HHR, SSR, Mustang, Camaro Concept, Challenger Concept--I really think it is time to bring back the fins.
I'm totally serious--I think it could be executed nicely and bring some style to cars that are sorely lacking identity.
I tried to research what is the longest production car made, but only came upon this 100 foot Caddy luxo-barge....
As the retro look is currently in fashion in the automotive world--PT Cruiser, Prowler, HHR, SSR, Mustang, Camaro Concept, Challenger Concept--I really think it is time to bring back the fins.
I'm totally serious--I think it could be executed nicely and bring some style to cars that are sorely lacking identity.I tried to research what is the longest production car made, but only came upon this 100 foot Caddy luxo-barge....
#19
Posted 25 September 2007 - 02:09 PM
There's no way that's street legal....that car is longer than some streets i know.
I wonder how they transport it...you can't even get that onto a semi platform. Looks like it already got a flat from the weight of the car!
I wonder how they transport it...you can't even get that onto a semi platform. Looks like it already got a flat from the weight of the car!
This post has been edited by harrylee: 25 September 2007 - 02:11 PM
#21
Posted 27 February 2008 - 07:21 PM
QUOTE(Wyatt @ Sep 22 2007, 01:43 PM)
1959 Cadillac Eldorado, casting #145, date 2003.
Nice picture, Wyatt.
I have a brother for the white coloured one in your picture, mine has a white interior but notice the colour of the sun visors.
There is something special about this automobile, maybe it is a lasting legacy to Harley Earl.
I love the rear tail-lights, the style, and the over-all appearance.
The convertible is much nicer in appearance compared to the two door hardtop.
This is a "big boat" or as Lummox would say "land barge".
Cheers. Cobra
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