Does Anybody have an idea about how many sets/cases Kyosho makes for every series?

Very good question... I've been searching for that answer too.

On the older DyDo Ferrari F1 cars there's a special prize car: the 1990 641/2 which is the 100th Gran Prix winner car by Ferrari. On the package it stated that the prize car plus the custom display case is limited at 10,000 sets, which seems to be a big number.

So logically the regular cars will be 3 to 5 times more? But then again these F1 cars were made for the DyDo coffee promotional compaign so it might be different from the official Kyosho 1/64 releases. On the official Kyosho website I can't find anything about the production number. It's only simply stated as "limited quantity".

I hope someone more knowledgeable would give us an accurate answer.

Josh

Very good question. I had a friends relative check in Japan for me once for a particular casting. They looked all over the place for me before finally finding one in a grocery store out in the country.

I found this thread on page 7 of the International Diecast forum.
PLEASE check out post #6.

Can anyone confirm that this information is correct?
(I'm shocked at some of this info, especially the Mattel involvement) :confused:


http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=199068


Sheldon...
if this info is correct please accept my apologies for doubting you.
That Mattel info still seems unbelievable to me. :cry:

Denis

I found this thread on page 7 of the International Diecast forum.
PLEASE check out post #6.

Can anyone confirm that this information is correct?
(I'm shocked at some of this info, especially the Mattel involvement) :confused:


http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=199068


Sheldon...
if this info is correct please accept my apologies for doubting you.
That Mattel info still seems unbelievable to me. :cry:

Denis


As far as I know, Kyosho is paying fees to Mattel to use the Ferrari license (which Mattel holds exclusively). That would indicate that Mattel does NOT own Kyosho.

My take on this which may be wrong is that Mattel granted license to Kyosho for the larger scale diecast cars. The boxes so I am told have the Mattel logo as part of the agreement but otherwise the product is strictly Kyosho. I see nothing to note that Mattel owns Kyosho.

I always assumed Kyosho was able to get around the Mattel license with the smaller cars by selling them as unassembled models and not technically diecast cars. This makes sense to me because why else would Kyosho sell the cars this way?

Are all the Kyosho 1/64 Ferraris sold unassembled ?

If so, that makes a ton of sense to me.

Are all the Kyosho 1/64 Ferraris sold unassembled ?

If so, that makes a ton of sense to me.

Yup. And only Ferraris.

I read somewhere that Kyosho does pay Mattel licensing fees for the Ferraris. I also heard that Mattel is not renewing this license in lieu of their elite 1/18s and 1/43s.

I do hope Kyosho gets some extension for the 1/43 and 1/18 lines which I also buy from time to time.

A production run of 1500-5000 really makes Kyoshos highly collectible pieces.

Thanks for the info.

Hi Everyone,

Now this is the version that I've heard... Mattel only has exclusive rights to Ferrari at certain scales, including 1/64, and that's why Kyosho needs to make theirs as unassembled kits.

There are many diecast manufacturers who makes Ferrari cars and I highly doubt that all of them are paying Mattel a license fee. (besides, all of them do a better job than Mattel) The most notable company is BBR. Their 1/18 and 1/43 Ferrari cars are simply the best as evident by the fact that they are the only line carried by official Ferrari stores. I don't think Mattel holds exclusive rights at 1/43 scale because these are the most numerous: FLY, IXO, LOOKSMART, Racing 43, Top Model, and Universal Hobbies.

Interestingly I found info on these companies at Kyosho's official Japanese website. There you can find product info on 19 different companies, including Kyosho's own original models, Hot Wheels, Hot Wheels Racing, Matchbox, and even Minichamps. This makes me believe that Kyosho also serve as the distributor for these companies in Japan and they don't simply work under the Mattel flag.

http://www.kyosho.com/jpn/products/diecast/index.html

Anyways, these are just rumors that I've heard plus my own speculations. What do you guys think?

Josh

Kyosho has the distribution rights for Mattel in Japan. Mattel has the Ferrari diecast license exclusive, but no licensing over others selling kits - hence Maisto and Kyosho doing kits to get around the issue.

Kyosho only has rights to sell the minicars series in Japan - I am betting it is cheaper and easier to execute.

Kyosho has the distribution rights for Mattel in Japan. Mattel has the Ferrari diecast license exclusive, but no licensing over others selling kits - hence Maisto and Kyosho doing kits to get around the issue.

Kyosho only has rights to sell the minicars series in Japan - I am betting it is cheaper and easier to execute.

What about the 1/18 and 1/43 scale?

My local diecast wholesaler can get larger scale Kyosho including Ferrari's here in the states but no 1/64 stuff.

The local US price for the 1/18s and 1/43s are much too much.

I think it's because they have to pass through "middlemen" , before they reach the hobbyshops. For example, I bought the 1/18 575 gtc for less than $70, while they sell it here in the US/EU for $100++.