CARS is like our universe, forever expanding …

I’m sure it can be expressed as a mathematical formula but since  I can barely remember how to add fractions – all you eggheads out there, let’s see CARS expressed as a math formula 🙂

Meanwhile, I’ll be taking off my shoes …

As you might know, we have had some CARS from the film released … close to 200 … about 174 more than Mattel expected in 2006 🙂

But what’s not out that we might expect to see before CARS 2: The Global Race – okay, I don’t know what actually comes after the colon in CARS 2 🙂

While the original CARS film of course is where to find the first time we saw the CARS – many of the character names were not ID until later – first in the Blu Ray Finder “game.”

And also in the book, “Meet the CARS.”

Why is this important?

Because the CARS that have names and are listed in either of these two fonts of information means they are much more likely to be released as a diecast versus ‘that brown car in scene 31.’

“BMW” went through the book and listed all the CARS (Thanks!)

From her list, I have gone through and color coded the listings …

BLACK – Out already
RED – Imminent (CARS such as the Elvis RV, in the warehouse or on a ship)
BLUE – Announced (Coming in 2009 most likely)
PURPLE – Announced 2010 (Things could change but for now …)
ORANGE – ?????

And remember, CARS 2 is coming in 2011 so CARS 2 diecasts will be out by April 2011.

Lightning McQueen and Team Rust-eze
1.      Lightning McQueen
2.      Mack
3.      Not Chuck
4.      Rusty
5.      Dusty
The Cars of Radiator Springs and Ornament Valley
6.      Sally
7.      Mater
8.      Doc
9.      Flo
10.     Ramone
11.     Luigi
12.     Guido
13.     Sheriff
14.     Red
15.     Sarge
16.     Fillmore
17.     Lizzie
18.     Stanley
19.     Bessie
20.     Frank
21.     Tractor
22.     Dustin Mellows

23.     Alarm Clock
24.     Timothy Timezone
25. Greta
26.     Mildred Bylane

27.     Valerie Veate
28.     Nick Stickers
29.     Derek Decals Dobbs
30. Edwin Kranks

31.     Oliver Lightload Hauler
32.     Ben Crankleshaft Hauler

33.     Gil
34.     Jerry Recycled Batteries

Race Day:  Racers, Staff, the Press and Fans*
35.     King
36.     Chick Hicks
37.     Chuck Armstrong #33 Mood Springs
38.     Rusty Cornfield #4 Tow Cap
39.     Tood the Shockster Marcus #123 No Stall
40.     Ruby Easy Oaks #51 Easy Idle
41.     Ralph Carlow #117 (Lil Torquey Pistons)
42.     Misty Motorkrass#73 “Rev N Go”
43.     Lee Revkins #63 Transberry Juice
44.     Floyd Mulvihill #70 Gasprin
45.     Murray Clutchburn #92 Sputterstop
46.     Johnny Blamer #54 (Faux Wheel Drive)
47.     Kevin Racingtire #35 (Shifty Drug)
48.     Ryan Shields #39 (View Zeen)
49.     Kevin Shiftright #121 (Clutch Aid)
50.     Dirkson D’agostino #34 Trunk Fresh
51.     Slider Petrolski #74 SideWall Shine
52.     Sage VanDerSpin #80 Gask-its
53.     Greg Candyman #101 Tach O mint
54.     Darren Leadfoot #82 Shiny Wax
55.     Haul Inngas #79 Retread
56.     Brush Curber #45 Fiber Fuel
57.     Winford Bradford Rutherford # 64 RPM
58.     Luke Pettlework
59.     Gray-Dinoco Hauler
60.     Tex Dinoco
61. Dinoco Showgirls #1
62. Dinoco Showgirls #2
63.     Dinoco Showgirls #3 (I think most are satisfied with two Showgirls – 2 expressions)
64.     Chick Hicks Crew Chief (Crew Chief’s now ‘megasized – probably late 2009)
65.     Bruiser Bukowski
66.     Petrol Pulaski
67.     Chief No Stall
68.     Stacy
69.     Tow
70.     Dexter Hoover
71.     Race Official Tom
72.     Charlie Checker

73.     Marlon Clutches McKay
74.     Marco Axlebender
75. Brian Park Motors
76.     Darrell Cartrip
77.     Bob Cutlass
78.     Kori Turbowitz
79.     Chuck Manifold
80.     Skip Ricter
81.     Tim Rimmer
82.     Chuck Choke Cables
83.     Houser Boon
84.     Mia
85.     Tia
86.     Timothy TwoStroke
87.     Kit Revster
88.     Polly Puddlejumper
89.     Matthew True Blue McCrew
90.     Fred

RV’s will most likely be released with “haulers” – most likely 2010 but maybe some at tail end of 2009.
91.     Syd VanDerKamper
92.     Albert Hinkey
93.     R.M.
94.     Larry
95.     Johnny*
96.     (and) Jamie
97.     The Convoy Brothers # 1
98.     The Convoy Brothers # 2
99.     Theo Convoy Brothers # 3
100.    The Convoy Brothers #4

So, out of 100 CARS listed in the book, there are only 15 without a quasi-definitive release plans though we do NOT have the release sked for anything beyond June yet and of course, we’ll see some/most of the releases at SDCC in July. And of course, unless it’s listed as the NEXT shipment and it’s in the warehouse, things can and will change so anything not coming out in 3 weeks is technically just announced.

And what’s in the BLU RAY FINDER not in the book? Here are some more CARS characters with names that are at the head of the list … that are not out yet … there are CARS in the Blu Ray Finder game not in the Meet the CARS book such as Lynda Weathers (Mrs. The King) but not relisted since it’s already released.

101. Barry Diesel RV
102. Richard Clayton Kensington
103. Dash Boardman (Reporter)
104. Hoosman (Reporter)
105. Cora Cooper (Reporter)
106. Berta Butterswagon
107. Chet Boxkaar (Peterbuilt Hauler)
108. Duff Wrecks (Full Sized Pickup)
109. Dan Sclarkenberger (Holiday CAR?)
110. Jay Limo
111. Sven
112. Mini
113. Bert (Reporter)
114. Paul Valdez (Peterbuilt Hauler)
115. Patti
116. Vern (Taxi!)
117. Artie (Reporter)
118. Swift Alternetter
119. Antonio Veloce Eccellente
120. Metro Xing
121. Costanzo Della Corsa
122. Marilyn
123. Murphy (Sarge Boot Camp SUV)
124. Frank Pinky Pinkerton (Sarge Boot Camp SUV)
125. Bennie Caliper
126. Clayton Gentlebreeze (RV)
127. Benny Brakedrum
128. Studs McGridle (Reporter)
129. Donna Pitts
130. Trev Diesel (Train)
131. Percy Hanbrakes (Edwin Kranks)
132. Miles Meattruck Malone (Dustin Mellows)
133. Nelson Blindspot (Reporter)
134. Marty Brakeburst
135. Wilmar Flattz
136. Matti
137. Todd Pizza Planet
138. Andrea (Reporter)
139. Coriander Widetrack (Marco Jet)

So, again, don’t read too much into the list because once the new list comes out, everything changes so don’t lament you won’t see Bennie Caliper because he’s “orange” now with no release date … he could be out as soon as July … or he could be out in march 2011 … we only have about 35 CARS with names with no quasi-sort of release dates and we have just about 24 months before CARS 2 diecasts … considering that we get anything from 2-5 NEW releases a month just from the mainline singles … you can see it all falls into places AND there are CARS coming that are NOT in the book and in the Blu Ray Finder such as a certain “wrecked” Piston Cup racer and a sepia tinted Doc-Fabulous Hudson Hornet … Not to mention the Storyteller series, Mater Tall Tales, and the Christmas CARS just in 2009! …

* ALL the racers have been released (MSOS set) – some have not been re-released.