Mattel Disney Pixar CARS: Rare Mack Vinyl Banner Transporter Auction
The rarest non-released Mattel Disney Pixar CARS release EVER.
The Mack Transporter with a vinyl wrap!
This is a photo of the actual item (and back).
Specific package with “feature” call out.
Legalese & product number.
Shown at SDCC 2008, it was to be released before the year was over but in the midst of the Golden Age of Mattel’s Disney Pixar CARS, it got lost in the avalanche of singles, lenticulars, 2-packs, haulers, Toons and exclusives.
Every once in a while, a prototype will get approval for final production but never gets produced but it’s almost unheard of an item to get a final signoff that is in FINAL PACKAGING to lose it’s place in the release queue and never get a US release!
There were a few of these Mack’s produced for Mattel, Pixar & Disney to give the final, final approval before full production began – but somewhere along the line there was a stop order given and this is one of the few (the only one?) that are/were still left sealed in package.
As you can see, it’s the final package with all the legalese, product number and “features” art.
Factory sealed.
From the personal collection of the product’s creator, Martin Arriola (TakeFive Member: AcuraNSX). He drew inspiration from the poster of the Rusty & Dusty Rust-eze & the rusty cars scene. “I remember getting this idea on the 405 freeway on the way to work when I saw an 18 wheeler with vinyl sides and graphics & thought “there it is” but what do I put as graphics? I called my Pixar counterpart as soon as I could & ran my idea by him. We ended up with this visual of McQueen from a real quick screen shot from the film which was always canon/true to the story which JL loved and approved up in Emeryville. “
AND if you’d like, Martin will be happy to personally autograph this for you – on the box or on the certificate of authenticity, whatever you prefer. Just note it in the comments if you want it signed.
Good luck!
This is the photo I took in SDCC back in 2008 – NOT the one in the auction, I think this was the prototype made by Martin with velcro. There is no first shot or “true” resin prototype since this was based on an already released product – they just wanted a “new” refreshed Mack Hauler to sell.
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15 February 2015
29 Comments
I’m very glad Mr. Malbert won it. I was hoping he would see this and bid on it. It is in a very good hands and he is a true Cars lover like many of us. His collection of extremely rare pieces is beginning to be very impressive.
malbert won this for $1,212 — I wish I had wagered that much in Vegas that he would win it!
Congrats to Malbert for winning this super rare piece as I almost didn’t want to sell it but I have two kids in college.
I was always proud of this concept as I think it was one of my last items before being “taken off the Line”. 😉
Zero new tooling, as canon as I could get it to the film, & if I remember correctly JL loved the newness of it up @ Emeryville when I pitched it.
You did well Malbert who ever you are 🙂 …………. Enjoy it, & keep it out of direct sunlight as red pigment hates UV rays.
Martin just heard about the new Corvette C 6 with your name on the side.
Bucko & John in M are both correct. These really rare items from my personal collection are worth what people will pay for them.
I’m selling an original VertiBird circa early 70’s, new, factory sealed. Sold for probably $30 back in the day, what can I get for it now? Who knows what it’s worth to someone that has the $ for it.
I saw that too — looks great!
Hello DPCars Peeps, it’s been a long time since I’ve been here. Approx. 6 years since they took me off the DPCars Line for no reason 🙂
I retired from Mattel last May and I’m really happy & content working on my Original Fine Art & selling all my collectables that I acquired during my 32 years as a Product Designer @ Mattel. No more corporate stress & BS for me anymore.
I hope you guys like this Vinyl Mack Transporter I Designed/Developed as I realize it isn’t quite canon (pwschuh:) but I came as close as I could without spending any money on new tooling which my Marketing counterparts would never have approved.
I kept telling them to just release two brand new cool character sculpts which needed new tooling anyway each time on the same Mack Transporter & it would sell easier but they said no.
It’s good to be back commenting on a line that was dead when they gave it to me but was able to turn into the EverGreen Line it became.
Not so sure anymore:(
Hello Martin, Are there more than one of these out there or is this the only one? Sadly once you ‘left’ the line it has been ho-hum ever since. CARS misses you deeply. LOL
Hello mikecee81,
Thanks for the kind words as I was kinda proud of what my Design Team & I did with the DPCars Line. As Met puts it, “The Golden Age of Cars”.
As far as I know & as far as Met knows, this item has never been seen @ retail. I think it’s the only one on the planet.
I remember once I had an entire line of weapons that I Designed/Developed, were produced, packaged, & shipped but got dropped @ the last minute because Marketing pooched the TV Commercial & Walmart or TRU dropped the LIne.
Yikes…………I had nothing to do with the TV spot 🙂
Not sure what happened with this Transporter as I was “taken off” the Line shortly after I received this sample.
Hi Martin, you are sorely missed. I cherish your masterpieces that I own.
Congratulations on your retirement.
Your popularity with collectors lives on!
Isn’t retirement fun!
BMW,
Hello, I hope you are well & I remember you.
Yes, I still pinch myself every morning just to make sure that I’m not dreaming this awesome retirement package I got & no one “takes me off of it again” 🙁
No more cubicle, corporate politics for me which I hated/not very good at………
I did miss making a ton of monie$ for Mattel from when I had the DPCars Line but most of all I missed being able to present/interface with John Lasseter up @ Pixar when I pitched my concepts/final sculpts.
He would turn into the kid that he still is & made me very happy to see that what I was presenting actually floated his boat 🙂 He’s the nicest, most creative guy I’ve ever met. Go JL.
Life goes on …
Martin,
I am happy to have a Martin Arriola autographed SDCC Rescue Squad Mater set. You signed it in silver pen. (It still lights up perfectly. I took the batteries out and they were still good!) Jake picked it up for me that year (2009?).
I always wanted to ask you of all the designs you did for the Cars Line if you had a favorite, that turned out exactly as you envisioned it? (My bet is that it would be one of the Cars Toons, which are still my favorites of all time, El Materdor especially. it was never released in the USA.) But which was your favorite?
BMW,
That’s a really tough question about my favorite DPC concept ever. If it has to be something that actually sold @ retail I’d have say my first SDCC offering Lightning Storm McQueen as I remember designing the new display case with the curved front wall so you could really see the Character without the edge of the case.
Just me being anal 🙂
Upper management kinda left my Design team & I alone back when the LIne was dead so I was pretty much on my own Designwise which I loved. Once the Line took off it unfortunately became design by committee which I hated. That’s what always happens there.
My absolute favorite item which I was the most proud of has to be “Darth Mater”. What an effort that was along with developing the entire Line as well. It must have taken at least 10 different teams at Mattel to get that thing built.
I think that effort took a year off on my life span stress wise 🙁
Those days are over now & time to start focusing on my own Original Art without upper management meddling, & no more credit stealing.
I know this isn’t a forum for eBay complaints, but while we’re on the subject, am I the only one who thinks the new, “View Full Description” tab on eBay sucks? They took away from the buyers the view what makes your ad POP! Most people now won’t get past the price or take the time to browse! Another eBay FAIL!! 😡
I’m an opener, and this Mack isn’t quite canon, but I am sorely tempted to jump on this one if for nothing else than having a one-of-a-kind.
Hmm, that’s an idea. Buy it, then do an online live video stream as I open it and destroy its value — or sell tickets to either open it, or not open it!
It’s COOL, but did you see the PRICE?! $999.99 + $15 Shipping!
Due to it’s one-of-a-kind nature, this is incredibly enticing and I’m sure someone with money to burn will jump on it. But the real value is AT MOST $500, after you consider eBay & PayPal fees (15%), broker fees (25%?), and the $100 Take5 discount. It would take a lifetime to recoup this investment.
If one has never been sold before, and it is a one-of-a-kind, how can you assess the value pre-sale? It’s simply worth what someone pays.
I’m just saying that if the Seller wanted to net $500 out of this sale, the Broker needed to start the bidding at twice that amount.
What broker? It looks like the seller is the owner.
The beginning of the description says:
“We are Agents for Martin Arriola, Head MATTEL Toy Designer for 32 years. Mr. Arriola has designed some of the most popular toy lines of the 20th and 21st Century! His most famous are Masters of the Universe, Hot Wheels, Boglins, Disney/Pixar (“A Bug’s Life”, “Cars” and “Ratatouille”), Harry Potter from Warner Brothers, Marvel Super Heroes SECRET WARS, and too many others to list. Please be advised that we will only answer questions concerning our listed eBay Auctions and Store Items. Martin is not available to answer Industry or Personal Questions. Also, please do not ask for specific toys.
All Items include a Certificate of Authenticity, hand signed by Martin Arriola-see last photo.”
(MET: He does have a guy running the auctions and runs the listings – of course, the price you pay is the final auction price (or this week – minus your T5 rebate-coupon).
Man, I missed that _completely_. I guess since I knew I wouldn’t be bidding, that wall of text just flew right under my radar.
I am SO tempted to bid, but
(a) I have to make a mortgage payment, and
(b) I have to keep my marriage intact
John in Mo,
To funny on the mortgage/married part as I remember thinking the same thing approx. 8 yrs. ago when I paid $13,500 for a original Dan McCaw Oil painting of Ballerina that I just had to have. It looked gorgeous at the opening party and I kept coming back to it.
Same thing with the Submariner Rolex I bought on my last trip to HK. Had to have it although I already had a different one & figured it would be my last trip there once I lost DPCars……………Yet looking back, no regrets, as I enjoy both of these every single day…………..you only go around once 🙂
Now we know what happened to this version. Always wondered why it was never released. Thanks Met for this post.
Neat!
Is this the same Mack transporter (without side flaps) that Walmart released with a talking cab?
(MET: I think that was a larger Mack to get in the electronics (well, it would technically fit in this one but larger electronics are cheaper)).
But it’s not canon 🙂