Has anyone seen a car like this one? This was on ebay. Could this be one of a kind?

http://photos.hobbytalk.com/showphoto.php?photo=5421

--fordcowboy

It could be, but I doubt it, Lendell. It looks like it's been messed with some. Never know, though.

I actually had that car on my epay watch list and forgot to bid. I noticed the blue rear panel when I first saw the auction. I believe it to be real as this car was sold out of Hong Kong by a seller that has lots of unusual Johnny Lightning stuff.

Not that I collect them, but isn't that just a JL White Thunder Mustang? Have seen them and the body color looks correct, just never noticed the backend. :freak: rr

The JL w/t has a white back panel

sold out of Hong Kong by a seller that has lots of unusual Johnny Lightning stuff
... most of which was acquired by five finger discount from the JL production facility.

The bottom line is that JL/RC2 does little or nothing to ensure the integrity of their business as long as it doesn't hit them in the bottom line. Sometimes their loose and easy business practices get noticed by a license holder and they get spanked. Result: No VW slot cars. This is not the norm in the toy business. It's literally as difficult to gain access to some toy production facilities as it is to gain access military facilities. It appears that JL/RC2 has an "open door" policy and whatever you can stuff into your pockets is fair game and E-Bay fodder.

But what the heck, they're only toys. When the JL product line vanishes from RC2 maybe Hong Kong Harry will restart the production with stolen molds.

Dave, I couldn't agree more. I've worked in a couple of different factories/production/assembly plants previously, and anyone who has done so KNOWS exactly how easy it *would* be to obtain something from the manufacturing line if someone desired to do so.

I am willing to bet $$$ right now that this Ebay seller works on the line at the JL plant in Hong Kong. If this is the case, and you work in production (as I'm assuming he does) then he can create damn near any kind of so called "prototype",production error, supposed RARE release, or etc.

Gee, I wonder how he got this car:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5981670238&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1 (http://www.qksrv.net/click-1606754-5463217?loc=http%3A//cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D5981670238)

OK, so he *could* have flown in for LF....OR bought it on Ebay....OR traded for it......but let's be realistic :rolleyes:

This could be the tip of the iceberg. I'm sure others who work at the shop are watching to see what success this guy and 'win_store2004' are having selling errors (provided they're legit or intentional), and prototypes on e-bay. They notice the money these guys get, and since they could use a couple extra bucks to feed the family, others start taking cars off the assembly line, soon you'll have tons of prototypes, 'errors', and special cars that are supposed to belong to V.I.P.'s suddenly showing up on the 'bay, which will be huge problem.

It is funny we haven't seen any prototypes of the first-run Thunderjet slotcar bodies, yet.

It's funny, this won't happen at Mattel, from what I hear, their factory is like Fort Knox. Mattel will not release any pic's from inside any of their plants, nor will they release any production numbers. It's a virtual vault in there.

It's funny, this won't happen at Mattel, from what I hear, their factory is like Fort Knox. Mattel will not release any pic's from inside any of their plants, nor will they release any production numbers. It's a virtual vault in there.


That may be the case for thier die cast plant....but not so for the action figure plant. I also see a bunch of Mattel action figure prototypes or errors pop up all the time......

The same can be said for ToyBiz,Hasbro,Playmates, and others.

This IS a growing problem......but a problem that I believe most companies just don't look at....or even may be aware of.....unless you have a person camped out on Ebay searching for the stuff. :(

If *I* were "Mr Mattel"...or toybiz ect, I would be checking the Eb@y, just to see what the hot items were. If it were followed long enough, some sort of pattern would show up that might help future sales. I think I would see these factory "goofs" at that time, right? Just a thought.