Disney Pixar Cars - Preview of Bubba from Story Tellers Series

Remember the Story Tellers die cast Cars? They were Target Exclusives that came out a number of months ago. The stories came from the "World of Cars" book. The first story in the book is called "Hoodwinked." It's about a mean ole tow truck named Bubba, who taunts Mater and challenges him to a race. Jeez, everyone wants to pick on poor old Mater! I'm sure many of you thought the series was over. Well, here are pictures from the book, along with the Public's First look at Bubba!!

Bubba Towers over Good Hearted Mater!

Bubba Taunts Mater and Won't Give Back His Hood!

Mater and Bubba Face Off Before the Race!

Mater is Going to Show This Big Hunka Junk!

Bubba Has a Cocky Look on His Grill!

Bubba Can't Handle the Turns and Loses the Race!


Direct from the Mattel Design Studio!
Here for the First time...is Bubba!

Anyone Called Bubba, is Usually BIG!

Bubba the Big Boy, is Even Bigger than Red!

How Big is Bubba's Gas Tank?!

Bubba is Expected to be released as part of the Story Tellers series on September 1, 2009. I would expect the series to continue to be Exclusive to Target. I asked whether Bubba would be packaged the same as the previous Story Tellers releases, and was told the packaging may very well change. We'll have to see how Bubba looks once he gets his paint job.

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Disney Pixar Cars - Mater's Tall Tales 1:55th Release Schedule

See as a new day dawns, who knows what surprises today will bring! Today, I have the Scheduled Release dates for "Mater's Tall Tales" 1:55th die cast toys. As goes with Mattel, remember that this schedule could easily change!

Never Fear, Rescue Mater is Here!

Release Schedule for 2009

• 9/1/09 - Burnt Lightning McQueen (Rescue Squad Mater)
• 9/1/09 - Nurse Kori (Rescue Squad Mater)
• 9/1/09 - Nurse GTO (Rescue Squad Mater)
• 9/1/09 - Rescue Squad Trooper (Rescue Squad Mater)
• 9/1/09 - Orderly Pittys (Rescue Squad Mater)

• 10/1/09 - Pittys with Torches (Mater The Greater)
• 10/1/09 - Doctor Mater (Rescue Squad Mater)

• 11/1/09 - Padre (El Materdor)

• 12/1/09 - Doused Lightning McQueen (Rescue Squad Mater)

Release Schedule for 2010

Tokyo Mater and Kabuto who challenges him to a Drift Race!

• 1/1/10 - Dragon Lightning McQueen with Oil (Tokyo Mater)
• 1/1/10 - Kabuto (Tokyo Mater)

Dragon McQueen looking Fierce!

• 2/1/10 - Sedan Sensei with Mustache (Tokyo Mater)
• 2/1/10 - Godzilla Tuner (Tokyo Mater)

I haven't seen "Tokyo Mater," and am curious to see more of the characters from that great short! If the prototypes for the "Mater The Greater" samples I've already shown you are any indication, we've got some superb die casts toys coming! As an interesting tidbit for you to ponder..."Tokyo Mater" will introduce you to the most new characters of any "Interstitial!" Thus, my continued speculation that all these characters will lead us roaring into the..."THE GLOBAL RACE!" You can be assured I'll bring you the latest news and photos as I get them.

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Disney Pixar Cars - A No Real News Day

I e-mailed and talked to my main man Martin from Mattel today. We concluded there was nothing for me to write about from his end. Although the Toy Fair started, he told me there was nothing new we haven't already seen. We are in a real slow period at the moment. Well, at least I reported a lot of exciting news to you a couple of weeks ago! Right now, I'm not allowed to discuss future releases. So, today I'll just say there is nothing newsworthy to tell you. I'll have to see what tomorrow brings! You know if there is something to report, I'll be here to tell you all about it!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Would You Like Metal or Plastic

Can you tell which is die cast metal and which is plastic?

Alternator Valley reader Tim, sent me these pictures of these two Mack Haulers to compare for you. It is tough to tell which is die cast metal and which is plastic. The top is the Target Exclusive, which is made of die cast metal and manufactured by Mattel. The bottom is the Disney Store Exclusive, which is made of plastic and manufactured by Disney Consumer Products.

This plastic version has a beautiful paint finish!

I touched upon the Disney Store Exclusive a number of weeks ago. You can see the plastic version is a longer and more accurate Mack in scale to Lightning McQueen. The Target Exclusive is a true die cast metal, and is shorter due to bringing it to retail at a reasonable price. I own both versions, but I prefer the good ole die cast metal!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Disney Shopping Presidents' Day Sale

DisneyShopping.com is having a Big Sale!

Everyone likes to save money. Today I saw that
DisneyShopping.com started a Presidents' Day Sale
and they have Disney Pixar Cars stuff! Here are a
couple of things you may want to add to your stash...

Cars Mack Truck Carrier

Cars Tire Shaped Carrying Case
for 1:55th Die Cast Toys

I haven't seen the Lightyear Tire Carrying Case before. I've seen a similar Hot Wheels Case. About two years ago, I spoke with a Manager at Once Upon a Toy at Downtown Disney in Orlando, he claimed a huge Cars Carrying Case was coming that would hold 35 Cars. That never materialized! This case looks like a DisneyShopping.com exclusive. Happy Shopping!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Printable Lightning McQueen Valentine's Day Card

News is slow, and I always try to bring you something Cars related daily. I found a Free printable Disney Pixar Cars Valentine's Day Card. You and your kids can go to this link Cars Valentine's Card and make one to give to their friend(s)!

There's always something cool out there! I'm adding this NEW link to Alternator Valley's "Important Collector Web Sites," Disney-Stationary.com. You'll find a ton of great Cars images and things you and your kids will love!

You can print things such as Free Stationary, Free Coloring Sheets, and more!

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Disney Pixar Cars - The Transportation of the Toys from China to Walmart

Today I stopped in a number of Walmarts to look for Wally the Hauler. While at one of the Walmarts, I asked a nice department manager for help. She actually headed up Sporting Goods, but was glad to help me. She had one of the Walmart scanner guns that gives you all sorts of great info. She knew nothing about Cars, but was able to tell me the Haulers were Direct Imports from her computer access. She was more than happy to tell me how their system worked.

The interesting thing is she gave me insight into the Distribution problem we're all fedup with! She told me getting popular things could take up to four weeks minimum, regardless of the department. She felt the problem with so many things that are "OUT," has to do with the transportation of goods. As we've all joked, but are unfortunately correct about, Cars are literally on a slow boat from China!!

A Slow Boat from China Delivers Cars Toys to the U.S.

Trains transport the Containers to the Distribution Centers

Trucks also haul the Containers to Distribution Centers

The Walmart Distribution Center Sorts & Redistributes!

A rousing Yeah! as Shoppers Descend Upon Walmart

All that to get a toy to the United States and in your waiting hands! Well, now you are bit more enlightened as to the Distribution problem, and why releases are weeks behind in showing up in stores. Let's hope things speed up and are a bit more efficient.

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Disney Pixar Cars - The Cottage Industries

Whenever anything becomes popular, "Cottage Industries" (An industry where the creation of products and services is home-based, rather than factory-based) pop up around the thing that is popular. I thought it would be interesting to discuss the many Cottage Industries that have developed around the popularity of Disney Pixar's Cars. Some make a few hundred dollars, while others may make tens of thousands of dollars!

A first example would be Cars blogs and collector web sites. Most are done out of pure joy and rarely make money. If they do, it is through Google AdSense or other ad based revenue.

Another example is Card Guards that were made to protect your die cast toys in their original packaging. These Card Guards keep the cardboard from becoming dog eared, bent and otherwise damaged.

We've also seen people making Cars Display Cases primarily out of plexi-glass that hold various numbers of Cars for display and protection.

We are all highly aware of people selling all sorts of Cars merchandise from the die cast toys to posters on Ebay. The "Secondary Market" is always critical to sustaining collector interest and product longevity.

Finally, we've seen people making what many refer to as "Customs," which I've written about at length. Those I feel are legal, and those I've pointed out infringe on copyrights.

Just how long these "Cottage Industries" generate profits, is determined by the size and popularity of the Primary Industry. Once the Primary Industry is damaged, or the consumer loses interest, you can expect to see the Cottage Industries die very quickly.

The Cars "Cottage Industries" have done fair to poor. No one is making a killing on these things. But, who knows what is around the corner!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Frank's First Showing in the Buff

Here's a "Special Look" at Frank in his raw metallic state! You rarely get to see this step of the die cast process, but today is your lucky day! Frank looks weird without his intimidating eyes staring down his rotating blades. Kinda looks naked doesn't he? Just a step along the way to toy immortality!

Watch out Chick! You're gonna be mince meat!

Frank doesn't look so tough with a Pink blade!

Looks like Lightning is gonna escape Frank's wrath!

Frank is expected to be released on May 1, 2009! Now, we all know that the key word is expected! We will just have to wait and see what happens when the slow boat from China docks, unloads, and the trucks deliver him to the warehouses. The good thing...we finally get a die cast Frank!!

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