Mattel Disney Pixar Diecast CARS: The Chase CARS Visual Checklist
Last October, Mattel introduced the concept of CHASE CARS to the Disney Pixar diecast line. As with Mattel’s Treasure Hunts in the Hot Wheels line, they like to make sure you don’t miss out – in this case, each car is clearly marked CHASE.
The concept & usage of “CHASE,” could not be much less subtle … they create only a limited number of these and they want you to chase after them.
How limited?
The original plan was 20,000 (since they sell @20,000 of each case).
Is this still the current plan?
It’s impossible to say because there’s no official or even unofficial confirmation. This way, they are not really held to any legal ramifications if they undersell or oversell.
The only other unofficial official word is that once it is released as a CHASE CAR, it will NEVER return as mainline single … we’ll get back to this unofficial official clause later.
So, at the end of the day, ALL they promise officially is the card is imprinted with the word CHASE. You can apply as much to that word or as little as you like.
The original note that I saw said production 20k for Lighting McQueen with Stickers and Fred with Stickers.
We can only presume that sales have not changed very much on the wholesale level based on general evidence.
Two points that add to the confusion. Fred with Stickers actually shipped in TWO cases last year – the special Walmart first-ship endcap and CASE 9998 which was shipped only to Kmart for CARS Day 1 so this technically violates the “only one release” rule … AND if only perception-wise, it sure seemed that there were plenty of Fred with Stickers to go around … unlike every other CHASE CAR, there were still some on the shelves well into 2009 but there is no way of verifying any numbers, all we have is “perception.”
The second is the oddball ordering and shipping going on with mainline CARS hitting the shelves … retailers skipping many cases and suddenly getting 10-15 of a case so CHASE CARS have a perception to some of being in short, short supply but in other cases and to other shoppers, how can anything be a CHASE if I see 15 on the shelf?
At the end of the day, the 20k number seems mostly correct even though at ground level, your local stores might have dozens and dozens or you might be at a store with zilch for months so uneven distribution is creating perception chaos.
So, ongoing, with trades & eBay, it’s clear there is not a massive shortage – just wildly uneven distribution – as prices are relatively stable for all the CHASE CARS – and demand seems to be meeting supply at the correct pricing conjunction after the initial release (and pricing panic – you know who you are 🙂 ).
A few other things to note – again, unofficially Mattel has said that CHASE CARS will not return as mainline singles releases. Here we have “the spirit of the intent” and of course, “the letter of the intent.”
In the strictest sense, we will never see Lighting McQueen with Stickers in a mainline release box … but how thin can you slice the spirit or letter of this “rule?”
Can it return as an exclusive? Can it return in a box set? Can it return in a Movie Moment since it is technically not a mainline single? Can it return in Ransburg red on Matty?
???
Because I want to point out that “Rule #3” was that there was going to be no packaging-only CHASE CARS … with Chuki on Japanese card out and Mario and Ferrari F430 on Italian packaging coming … I guess they are like pirate rules, more like guidelines?
Parler!
And after these three, the next three CHASE CARS will be Dinoco McQueen, King & Chick with mini plastic Piston Cups … so I’m presuming the rule of “no return release” will only apply to the CARS and the Piston Cup together … and not automatically to any CAR released as any part of a CHASE nomenclature – otherwise by the strictest sense of “the rule,” we will not be seeing any more singles releases of Chuki, Mario Andretti or Ferrari F430?
So, I’m going out on a limb and say – I anticipate Chase cards & weaseling will be doing a jig together at some point in the future.
So, while some of the CHASE CARS may return in some form or another, it might be a while so until it does return, at least you have something that will not automatically get released at the next card design release …
And of course, limited release + time = eBay.
When the issue was first raised of CHASE CARS, I feared the worst but for the most part, it seems to be effective … after all, while we want the Impound CARS, adding another 5 CARS to the checklist with EVERY release just for the plastic boot might’ve been overkill – this way, you do treasure that they are “limited.” I do quibble that a CHASE PACKAGE seems kind of pointless but if it’s just three, it won’t kill us and the next three after that will have a tiny Piston Cup and Salutin’ SARGE after that … so really, pretty good so far and not as annoying as I envisioned (for the most part 🙂 ).
Meanwhile, enjoy the fruits of your bounty … and as promised 5,000 words ago – here be your visual checklist …
The confetti blister design was met with derision by some decision makers and put on the DO NOT RELEASE THIS WAY plan so midway through the construct of IMPOUND BOOST, it was done away with and subsequent IMPOUND BOOST’s were released sans confetti.
Yes, there are some “error” SNOT ROD’s with confetti but too few in number to be a variant and many that purport to be SNOT ROD’s with confetti blister seem a might suspicious upon closer inspection. This does NOT mean you should not collect it but if you are not finding it on a store shelf, do NOT overpay for it … right now, it seems to be of an amusing sideline.
Impound DJ (as noted in this post) features the first appearance of the CORRECT green striping along the side (previous DJ releases were all with an incorrect pale blue striping).
You can do it!
Collect Them All!
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metroxing
5 April 2009
Advertising, collecting, diecast, Film, Marketing, Mattel Disney Pixar CARS, Retail, Toys, TV
54 Comments
Impound Boost with confetti which was released in Case B back in Nov 08, has been found twice this week at Target in late July 09. Go figure. These found were nice not shelf worn.
I just found a LMQ Chase with confetti at a Big Lots.
They also had a Chuki (NOT CHASE) and a Hydraulic Ramone.
WOW! All time low for a chase car . . . BIG LOTS!!
anyone else notice that LMQ gets the bumper stickers then the paintjob,
so a chasr radiator springs mcqueen with bumper stickers could be…happen?
its late, imma gunna sleep now…
It could very well be that there are 20.000 MQS in the states and that there are produced more for Europe. Because Impound MCQ is now EVERYWHERE here, the last week I’ve been able to pick up at least 20 or 30 from stores just around my area. I was also at TRU Eindhoven (Holland) a couple of weeks ago and they also had plenty. It may be a 1 time produced only car, but I think LOTS were made.
(MET: The 20k number is definitely domestic – int’l is its own division and does ‘their own thing.’)
Once it’s a Chase Character it will never, can not, will not as a product execution, enter back into Mainline. End of story.
We can not and will not design unique cards for Chase Characters only because the math doesn’t work. Cluters up graphic retail look as well.
I don’t control what ends up where, and when, as far as how many Chase Characters you see on pegs @ retail.
Sure wish I could.
maybe mattel should change it so the chase cars are chosen by the fans, like star wars do with the fans choise figures,
fans get to choose which unreleased character they want to see as a chase and the one with the most votes wins!
im voting for 1.55 scale Screaming Banchee!
Has anyone wondered why all the Impound Cars are smiling? They have some sort of bondage fetish?
ive always wondered that…about the smileing, not the fetish…
think mattel were just cutting corners by using the regular versions,
tisk tisk, its why i havnt bothered getting them.
I don’t want to start a panic, but I have some Impound MCQs here and they are NOT smiling.
ok, apart from MQ, but his smug little grin was overused anyway,
but B, W, SR & DJ shouldnt be so happy about it!
Ah met, you have failed to remember that the UK Chase impound mcqueen with confetti also has a variant of a small pic of him where his name usually is (the new ROR european package)
Impound LMQ seems to have 2 different European packagings:
Toychain “Fun” has them WITH Chase confetti, while “Blokker”-stores seem to have them WITHOUT.
Also, I thought Impound cars were only 1 per case? I had a look in a European Case on Saturday and it contained 3, however this may have the shop’s doing.
So maybe the 20K was only for USA Chase Cars?
Sounds like Mattel is repackaging them for overseas as non chases.
Can’t wait to find the rest of these case cars.
Never heard of lightning Mcqueen with stickers until this blog.
We have fred with stickers from last oct. and just got wingo boot last week.
I am hoping & praying to find the rest.
Try the Trade Forum…should catch you up QWIK!!
On one day in January Found I. Snot Rod, I. Boost and I. DJ x 2.
It was a Good day for Cars.
Hunting cars is much easier in a big city because of turnover.
On a road trip last year, I visited many rural Walmarts, and they were overstocked with older releases. So many Cars were just languishing on the pegs. I found nothing on that trip, because no big cities were on the route.
I happened upon 3 more Impound Snot Rods this week at my local Wally World, one of which has confetti! Too cool! I think that makes about 20 of those that I have spotted just in my area. I think I’ve walked away from 3 or 4, but all the rest came home, and most have found new homes!
That was confusing… I’ve only seen one with confetti, the rest without. I was eluding to the fact that Impound Snot Rod is the chase car I see the most.
(Mental note, must consider full context before posting…)
Stickers McQueen- never saw him once. Had someone help me to obtain him.
Stickers Fred- Only saw him one time: at the KMart event.
Impound McQueen- Ordered him from a CARS collector, only to find him again at a Walgreens a few days after Christmas.
Impound Wingo- this was the most plentiful of any of the chase cars I had ever seen. Because for some reason, the case he is in came out everywhere around Thanksgiving time. I had some extras for trading purposes, but when noone ‘bit,’ I returned them.
Impound Snot Rod- the second-most seen of the chase cars for me. Picked up 3 extras the day before Christmas, but found no traders/takers. Returned them a few days after as well.
Impound DJ- Never saw him once. A collector helped me obtain one.
Impound Wingo- A co-worker who keeps an eye out for CARS for me found this at a Target store near our workplace. Haven’t seen anymore of this case.
You forgot about chuki?
Around me, the Chase Chuki is the newest peg warmer. Always plenty sitting right next to the other newest peg warmer, Andrea. Thank goodness they’re not planning a Chase Green Ramone. That would probably be the final straw for a lot of collectors.
Awhile back, there were over 16 Bumper Sticker Freds at a WM close to my house. When I saw all of those, I wondered how accurate the whole 20K thing is. But, I guess they could have opened up a bunch of cases and pulled out the freds, and of course, the rest of the cars from that case were not out so I’m sure they put them back into storage. It was a strange site. All the impounds have been plentiful especially Wingo and DJ. Most of the WM’s around me, there are 13, have been keeping up pretty well.
I have a WALMART near me that keeps finding CASE W . . . with WOC Dexter, Axle, Sally w/Cone and Spinout Mcqueen. Sure makes you wonder where they sit on these, doesn’t it???
Well, in regards to Chase Chuki, I haven’t seen her anywhere yet. But I’m only interested in vehicle variants, not packaging variants.
I think you meant Impound Boost?
Impound Wingo- this was the most plentiful of any of the chase cars I had ever seen. Because for some reason, the case he is in came out everywhere around Thanksgiving time. I had some extras for trading purposes, but when noone ‘bit,’ I returned them.
I have not minded chasing the Chase, except, it is another reminder of IGNORANTLY Mattel treats Canada….we have NEVER recd ONE Chase car in Canada, and doubt we ever will…WTH? We are the largest US trading partner and geographically connected at the hip…STUPID and FRUSTRATING!
While I am venting…I asked CTC how much it wood cost to ship those beautiful display cases to me..I live 3 hours from CTC Corporate Headquarters and Distibrution Hub…$40…Yeah $40…RIDICULOUS…they are being offerd with FREE delivery in the USA…so from MI to CA, Free, but from MI to ON, $40…why, cuz there is a BORDER..Whatever…more stupidity and ignorance….NOTE: This is NOT a CTC issue, but a UPS (sorry Brown Fury) and Postal Issue…but how freaking stupid…3,000 miles free, but 200 miles $40!!!??!?!! Seriously NUTS!
HAHA! I can get’em in FLORIDA for free shipping. You want me to buy ’em for you and then send them your way?? I can do it for $50 . . . HAHAHAHAHA! 😈
No soup for you!!!
No worries, just had a meatball sub for lunch!!
You are what you eat!!
awww, poor pirate man,
ive never seen a chase either,
not that im that fussed with them realy, nothing realy special,
just slight variants of cars they probibly have way too many of, next we will probibly see CHASE Red Ramone! with tiny plastic paint sprayer thing on wheel!!!
would it be cheaper to drive and collect it than pay postage?
then you can hit up some of those giant american ‘anything you could ever want to buy ever’ stores…
PirateDad, isn’t more like “Aucun potage pour vous” up there?
For the record, not all of us speak French, say eh or aboot…and we don’t live in igloos either!
But we are pretty ticked about the chase thing! We do a lot of chasing across the border from store to store- the least we can get is some new cars.
(MET: But you get all the free maple syrup you can eat, right?)
$42 a litre, brother!!
Sounds like somebody needs a nap.
Yeah Matty does need a dirt nap!!
Read my mind PD!!
Exactly why the US Post Office has been running at a loss for so many years. It’s amazing how many companies like the post office, airlines, auto mfg’s can run at a loss year after year but still open their doors every monday. Hey Shannon, maybe that’s what’s wrong. You’re trying to turn a profit with your business. You need to think like the U.S. companies and start running a loss every month. Oh, sorry, that’s right you’re in Canada. No chance of the U.S. Govt. bailing you out. I think all you canadians need to storm that distribution plant in (Ontario)? There must be plenty of cases with chase cars going through there. Happy Sunday.
No offense taken, I have a hard time affording my own services! (It’s definitely a love/hate relationship)
Yeah I was going to comment on the package you sent me in the USPS box.
But I was just happy to get the new (old) cars I didn’t want to say anything.
I’m not above using the “competition” when our prices are unreasonable for the purpose. Come on, I’m a Utahn, that means I’m “frugal” and “thrifty” (‘cuz I gotta be)!
I’ve been able to find all the Chase cars without too much effort with the exception of Chuki only because her case has not shown up in western Washington with any regularity. I think Treasure Hunt Hot Wheels and Chase Cars/Cards do not add anything to the hobby. Mattel would be better off just releasing these minor variations in the general line of releases. I think the Impounds would make a nice boxed set. Nothing is sacred. After all, didn’t Cadillac produce its “last” convertible, and, then bring back another one. If I recall somebody sued Cadillac over the re-release of the convertible because they had bought the “last” model as an investment.
As to the Chase Cards, maybe Mattel needs to keep the same number on all different card releases of the same casting as the WOC and ROR issues are appearing. It makes absolutely no sense to assign two numbers to the same casting!
The casting on Impound Wingo is different from the original DB. The side panels on I. Wingo are thicker.
i have only 2 🙁
Met, great post, and it brings some questions.
20 K Chase Cars 20 K Cases per release: So any idea how many collectors or buyers of Disney Cars are known?
Chase Fred: He may have seemed to you to be easy to find, but I never saw him here in Texas. we don’t have many K Marts and none for hundreds of miles near SE Texas. So never saw him on the shelf. Back to the uneven distribution problem. Only got it in trades.
Impound Snot Rod with Confetti: Now that people are reporting Case C showing up at Walmarts, it will be interesting to finally find out if the Confetti version is showing up in these.
Impound Snot Rod no confetti: IMO, this was the second hardest Chase Car to find. Not many Case C showed here so far. found mine at TRU.
Chuki Chase: Lame, agree with you.
Confetti: The Chase confetti blister made these unique in package. But Chase is not really chase, as I think almost all collectors who wanted them did find the ones out so far, maybe not on the shelf but in trades.
Just a few random thoughts on a Sunday morning.
I say bring back the confetti and make it a Super Chase (1 in 10 cases?), just like Hot Wheels with the Treasure Hunts ans Super Treasure Hunts.
A friend of mine picked up a BS MQ in Wal-Mart a couple of weeks ago in Albany, so he’s still around as well.
to be honest, i was expecting more glamorous packaging for Chuki like a tokyo background but hey thats my thought
If there is one thing you can always count on from MATTEL . . . it’s that feeling of, “if only they would have . . . “
I agree. I really thought that if they were going to go through the effort of actually making a Chase Package that they would go all out. The way it is, it really looks like, “hey, we have too many left over Chuki’s, how can we get rid of them?” Not really appealing.
same here, i thought they would have made the
World of Cars/Race-O-Rama logo & Name tag Chuki into japanese…
im now not particularly looking forward to seeing the other two chase packaging cars…
Let me first of all comment by proudly saying that I am the FIRST to comment! We have all of these, the last one — Impound Wingo — by means of a Take5aDay trade.
ditto . . . but do you have the CHASE ZILCH with NEW snipe!!
I have ALL of the following Chase vehicles:
• Chase Zilch
• Chase Nada
• Chase Daniel (Mizzou Quarterback)
• Chase Bupkiss
• Chase Bupkus (spelling variant)
• Dick Butkus
• Chase No Dice
• Chase Didnotfindathingandnowiamlateforworkagain
• Chase Emptyhanded
• Chase Pegwarmer
• Chase Confetti (this was the package that contained nothing but a bubble full of real confetti used at the end of American Idol Season 4)
Yeah but you always forget this one:
– Chase YOUROWNTAILAROUNDTHESTORESJUSTTOFINDPEGWARMERS
I just don’t know how you could keep leaving that one on the peg!