When I saw the original unveiling of the Mini Adventures at Comic Con 2007, I thought – me’h … got enough CARS cars … how little did I realize that resistance is futile. When I saw them on the shelves … I was a (cash-on-hand) goner.

Now, that they’ve been around a while, they are kind of confusing to collect – why? They don’t have differentiating names. Unlike the 1:55 series where Doc Hudson plastered with tampo decals/stickers is the Fabulous Hudson Hornet or when the FHH is wearing headphones, he’s Pit Crew Member Fabulous Hudson Hornet, not so for the Mini’s line.

Of course, for Mattel, this saves them a lot of time – especially since they are “creating” this world as they go along – the movie & the movie scenes are really just a jumping off point for making up as many paint schemes as possible – and Mattel doesn’t have to worry about accuracy.

The KEY DISTINCTION to remember is that Lightning McQueen painted in the Camouflage & Night Vision scope is simply named Lightning McQueen and not Camo Lightning McQueen as some people have taken to calling him.

The main difference is that INSTEAD, Mattel has decided to go with a theme –
there are 9 so far:

Dinoco Dream
Fillmore’s Festival
Lightning McQueen’s Team
Parade of Classics
Race Rods
Radiator Springs 1930 (Police Department)
Radiator Springs Fire Department
Sarge’s Boot Camp
Tunerz

And so, Lightning McQueen in camo – really Boot Camp Lightning McQueen. Make sense?

Sort of.

Confused? Oh come one, I know that trigonometry and the table of elements are no longer taking space in your brain! You got room to memorize 5 dozen CARS?! You can do it!

So, remember – theme first and then the car.

UPDATED TO INCLUDE CASE A, “2009”

Dinoco Dream MINI CARS are pretty obvious – they are in the color of Dinoco Blue. Will everyone in Radiator Springs land get to wear Dinoco Blue?

Dinoco Dream (Dinoco Chicks Hicks & Dinoco McQueen)
Dinoco Dream (The King & Dinoco Lightning McQueen)

Fillmore’s Festival MINI CARS are clearly the psychedelic and colorful ones (NOTE – Target exclusives actually fall under the “Fillmore Festival’s” motif also).

Fillmore’s Festival (Luigi & Guido)
Fillmore’s Festival (Lightning McQueen & Mater) (Target Easter 2008)
Fillmore’s Festival (Ramone & Flo)
Fillmore’s Festival (Sally & Fillmore) (Target Easter 2008)
Fillmore’s Festival (Sarge & Fillmore) (Target Easter 2008)
Fillmore’s Festival (Sheriff & Doc)
Fillmore’s Festival (Fillmore & Doc) (Target Halloween 2008)

OTHER FUTURE ONES SHOWN AT TOY FAIR COMING INCLUDE:

Lightning McQueen’s Team encompasses his Pit Crew so they are relatively easy to spot when they match the accessories or design of the 1:55 scale CARS such as FHH with a headset or Sarge & Fillmore with catch/gas cans … but others don’t and are just along for the ride … then the common theme is RED and or a lightning bolt …

Lightning McQueen’s Team (Fabulous Hudson Hornet & Lightning McQueen)
Lightning McQueen’s Team (Lightning McQueen & Mater)
Lightning McQueen’s Team (Lightning Ramone & Flo)
Lightning McQueen’s Team (Sally & Lizzie)
Lightning McQueen’s Team (Sarge & Fillmore)
Lightning McQueen’s Team (Mack)

ALSO SCHEDULED:

The Parade of Classics motif seem to represent the most “direct” 1:55 scale CARS (aka: CARS from the movie) in MINI ADVENTURES form so they look essentially the same only in plastic and smaller:

Parade of Classics (Flo & Ramone)

ALSO SCHEDULED (No Photo):

Chick Hicks & The King (not sure it’s this motif)

The newest motif looks like it’s the “Race Rods” racing motif as everyone seems to be wearing stripes … not lightning bolt motifs as Lightning McQueen’s Team/Pit Crew (since the common thread there also is they are in red somewhere) – here, stripes or flames seems to be the common theme.

Race Rods (Lizzie & Red)
Race Rods (Lightning McQueen & Chick Hicks)
Race Rods (Snot Rod & Mater)
Race Rods (Mater & Sarge) (Target Halloween 2008)
Race Rods (Sarge & Fillmore)
Race Rods (Tractor & Doc)

OTHER FUTURE ONES SHOWN AT TOY FAIR COMING INCLUDE:

Radiator Springs (1930) is the Police Department motif though it does not actually say Police Department. The common color is black. The Ramone Batmobile-looking-version is primo cool:

Radiator Springs 1930 (Fillmore & Sarge)
Radiator Springs 1930 (Lizzie & Red)
Radiator Springs 1930 (Luigi & Guido)
Radiator Springs 1930 (Ramone & Flo)
Radiator Springs 1930 (Sheriff & Mater)

INCORRECT PR PHOTO TOGETHER (Sheriff is already out)

OTHER FUTURE ONES SHOWN AT TOY FAIR COMING INCLUDE:

ALSO SCHEDULED (No Photos):

Tractor & Lightning McQueen

The Radiator Springs Fire Department is pretty self explanatory.

Radiator Springs Fire Department (Doc Hudson & Red)
Radiator Springs Fire Department (Lightning McQueen & Mater)
Radiator Springs Fire Department (Ramone & Flo)
Radiator Springs Fire Department (Sarge & Fillmore)
Radiator Springs Fire Department (Sally & Lizzie)

Sarge’s Boot Camp motif is of course, anything military-related.

Sarge’s Boot Camp (Doc & Sheriff)
Sarge’s Boot Camp (Guido & Red)
Sarge’s Boot Camp (Ramone & Flo)
Sarge’s Boot Camp (Sally & Mater)
Sarge’s Boot Camp (Sarge & Lightning McQueen)
Sarge’s Boot Camp (Sarge & Fillmore)
Sarge’s Boot Camp (Tractor & Luigi)

The final motif is …

TUNERZ …

It turns out that Boost & Snot Rod are not part of the ‘townies’ Parade of Classics but part of Tunerz which makes sense …

Tunerz Snot Rod & Boost
Tunerz Wingo & DJ
Tunerz Lightning McQueen & Mater (only available in 9-pack as of now).
Tunerz Lightning McQueen & Ramone (Target Halloween 2008)

ALSO SCHEDULED: (no photos)

Playsets

Each come with a MINI CAR, some unique – others not:

Dinoco Garage – includes King (available in Dinoco Dreams 2-pack)
Flo’s V8 Cafe – Includes Crusin’ McQueen (exclusive)
Radiator Springs Drive In – Includes Dirt Track McQueen & Dirt Track King (exclusive)
Ramone’s Car Wash – Includes Yellow Ramone (exclusive)

Banshee – Includes Mater (exclusive – for now)

More Playset Info Here including TREV the Diesel Rolling Carrying Case.

Box Sets

Mini 9-Pack (not exclusive but mostly only available at Kmart & Mervyns). More Info on the new 6-packs coming here.

MORE TO COME …

“Mini’s-in-Motion” Trailers (CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE PHOTOS & DETAILS).