TEXAS TOY MAN

Hot Wheels “Pro Racing” #94 Bill Elliott

Not just for the kids anymore, this First Edition “1998 Collector’s Edition” was designed to appeal to the adult NASCAR enthusiast. And, with attendance records like last Saturday’s race in Kentucky attracting over 107,000 attendees, you can understand why Mattel is seriously eyeing this market.

If an effort to target this market with realistic collectibles, the Hot Wheels Pro Racing diecast scale 1/64 th is being produced by Mattel. Interestingly, Mattel makes an effort to copy as many of the details of each one of the NASCAR race cars as possible. This particular collectible is the McDonand’s sponsored race car driven by Bill Elliott.

Some of the unique features of this Hot Wheel are the following:

• McDonald’s logo on the rear quarter panel
• #94 on both doors and top
• Goodyear Eagle “rubber tires”
• Red in color
• Bill Elliott signature on both sides of the roof
• Ford Taurus emblem on front
• Bill Elliott “Upper Deck” card included in blister pack
• 50th anniversary emblem on blister packaging
• Car comes with red interior with black role bar
• Reeses logo on trunk
• Red medal chassis “diecast”

This is only one of the many ‘collectible’ race cars NASCAR has licensed Mattel to produce and offer on the market. With the ever growing popularity of NASCAR plus the fact that these replicas are very affordable, this is a good hobby for the adult collector – particulary those on a limnited budget.

Hot Wheels “Pro Racing”#35 Todd Bodine

The Collector’s Edition 1st Editions 1998 of the 50th Anniversary of NASCAR ’1948-1998″

In an effort to attract more ‘adult’ collectors, Mattel developed the ‘Pro Racing’ series specially designed for the adult collector. These cars were designed with a die-cast body and chassis, detailed interior, and deluxe ‘rubber’ tires.

The car pictured is from the 1998 1st Edition and features Todd Bodine. In addition to the car, a collector card also came in the blister pack. The back of the car was printed with not only the NASCAR race schedule for the year but also with Pro-Racing information relevant to the driver… in this case Todd Bodine. Other information you’ll find on the back of the blister pack is:

• Team: Team TABASCO Racing
• Sponsor: TABASCO
• Car: #35 Pontiac Grand Prix
• Date of Birth: February 27, 1964
• Hometown: Chemung, New York

This die-cast collector car features:

• Orange/black colors
• #35 (yellow)
• TABASCO and race decals on sides, rear and hood
• Green splitter
• Goodyear Eagle tires
• Facsimilie of driver’s signature on roof (very difficult to see)
• Collector card (Upper Deck – Exclusive 1998 Editions

Happy Collecting!

11 Tips on Selling Your Collection

Our website – TexasAntiqueMall.com - gets a lot of emails from people want to sell their toys – sometimes single items, sometimes collections. Most of the time information is very limited. I’ve put together the following list to help you put information together if you are planning on trying to sell something either via email or directly to an individual. Having the answers to these questions will make the process easier for both you and the potential buyer.

Tips:

1. 1. Know name of manufacturer
2. 2. Have information on any maker’s marks or numbers
3. 3. Have the dimensions (width, length, depth, diameter, etc.)
4. 4. Take some good digital picture(s), preferably not to exceed 600×450 pixels in size
5. 5. Have a brief description including condition
6. 6. Say if the box available? If so, what is the condition.
7. 7. List all parts. If the item has working parts, are they working?
8. 8. Disclose if there are any parts missing?
9. 9. Include any other information that will help the buyer make a decision to purchase (provenance)
10. 10. Include the price you want – don’t expect people to make offers
11. 11. If you’re selling a collection, have a list and price in mind that you want for the whole collection

Following these ‘tips’ should make selling your collection or item much easier.