Mattel Disney Pixar Diecast CARS: Collecting CARS – ‘World of CARS’ Cards
The World of CARS motif (October 2007 to October 2008) started in the midst of the waning days of the Sarge recall-embargo when some people weren’t sure if CARS diecasts were even coming back … 365 days later, we can look back at the year of the World of CARS as the Golden Age of CARS.
It was a magical year to be a CARS Collector.
If you missed anything, EVERY CAR up to that point was re-released (except for Sarge) on a WOC card so it’s a great way to build a foundation for a CARS collection if you started a little late.
There was a full lineup of Movie Moments (available everywhere!) and the introduction of 3-packs (Pitty’s & Crew Chiefs), launchers and a new oversized lineup.
There were the WM 8 CARS, there was the first Kmart CARS Day CARS, & 2 Mail away CARS and the beginning of the CHASE CAR program …
Oh yea, and there was this 36-CAR Box Set with a track called the ‘Motor Speedway of the South.’
So, anyone want to argue it was NOT the Golden Age of CARS? 🙂
The “New” snipe thing was fairly pointless …
But beyond that, there was hardly anything to complain about … well, other than the people who wondered why they didn’t buy 3 or 5 Motor Speedway of the South sets … but that’s like complaining your Oahu penthouse suite is too large.
So, while there are a few releases harder to track down (and obviously the Speedway Set), this is a good foundation set to start with if you haven’t or just started … while the Desert Art cards will always hold the cachet as the original, it’s hard to try and piece a set together now … but WOC is not so distant that you can try and use this as a base …
You can read this post to see the breakdown of NEW, New Snipes and the count.
You can read about the Supercharged Series here.
| « Mattel Disney Pixar Diecast CARS: Ben Crankleshaft & Oliver Lightload Gearing Down the Highway | Mattel Disney Pixar Diecast CARS: New Lenticulars Aussie First – Must Be Earth’s New Rotation » |
8 February 2011
19 Comments
I never got Bumper Stickers Fred.
I believe this one was only available at the 1st Kmart event.
Ah, the good ole days! But I still haven’t found Leroy… or Lightning McQueen w/ Bumper Stickers. So it was good, but it was bad. For starters, the background got old FAST! The Cars were EXCELLENT, and so many new things happened through that year. BUT I struggled to stay with the program. Why? No idea. Maybe it was the program our Wal-Mart was having back then; “NO RESTOCK UNTIL CLEANED BARE.” Of course, that was only for the toys and it wasn’t actually called that. Sometimes I would have to buy an extra Lightning or Ramone just so I could get new ones! Terrible marketing…
But on the bright side, I found many new releases and it was always exciting when a new Case came in. This was about the time when I discovered this website! So this has to have possibly been the best year for collecting. I feel bad for the ones who missed it. They didn’t miss out, but this was the year where if you weren’t collecting until then, you could get it and practically everything was resold. Well, except Sarge, who retired from the Collecting business until he got rid of that lead paint virus. 🙂
Did anybody actually find the Shiny Wax Crew during the World of Cars era? Because I went to numerous stores and never found it! How rare was it anyway??
😀 Also found BYE BYE Kar today at my Wal-Mart! 😀 That was all that was left because of the snow storm so I couldn’t get out of the house. Does anyone have a Case Assortment?? There was a Cho, a Yojimbo, and a few others… don’t remember.
…Rarer still was the Sparemint 3-pack that never really saw the light of day – only through some contacts in Singapore or Thailand was I able to get a handle on one…
I still don’t have it!
All I can hear playing in my head is the Boss!! “OHHHHHHH Glory Days, Glory Daaaaaaaaaays.” World of Cars was a GREAT TIME for Cars. A very good selection was readily availible and a ton of new characters were added to the collection!! 🙂
I just hope we’ll all count our blessings for being able to buy new items on a regular basis for a movie that is OVER 4 1/2 YEARS OLD!
I think Disney and Mattel have done pretty well keeping us supplied with new and interesting items for all these years.
Have releases been slow every now and then? Absolutely.
Have there been shortages of some of the most sought after items? Absolutely.
Can you name another movie that has had a STEADY supply of new and wonderful die-cast for over 4 1/2 years straight? I don’t think so.
Let’s be thankful for all that we’ve been given from this wonderful little film.
I’m grateful for Todd, Elvis, Leroy, Dustin Mellows, Crew Chief Fabulous Hudson Hornet, Bessie……………the list goes on and on!
The glass is half full, not half empty, when it comes to CARS. 🙂
Agreed, and well said.
There are no complaints from me, and I am very thankful for the existence of the Cars line, and I too hope all of us are.
I have 2 boys – 1 now 7 and 1 who is 3, both will choose playing with their Disney Cars over all other toys, that’s pure magic – the same magic that inspires me to ‘collect them all’ and display them.
Each time I go on the hunt, if I burn fuel for nothing there is never dis-appointment as this is part of the collector world. The feeling is I’ll get them next time, and excitement builds within from anticipation – can’t wait til the next hunt!
Thanks Disney/Pixar/Mattel for the long ride, which is going to get longer and I’ll be on board!
I think the glass is waaaaaaaaay more than half full!! So many wonderful things released over such a long period of time… more than ANY OF US every imagined it would be!! Here is to all the NEW things coming down the road!! 😀
Right on!!! Well said!
Unfortunately, us international backs collectors never got past case J or something like that… the rest had to be snuck in over the border…
Great time in Cars collecting history though, I will admit!!! So many wonderful additions to fuel the addiction!!!
Totally agree Jeff. It has been way fun and my kids have had a blast, with toys that help stretch their imaginations. I have gotten to meet several others from Take5 and have “virtually met” lots of people from all over the world. You guys are great!!!!!!!!
Star Wars ring a bell? It’s been 33 years and you can go the next aisle over from Cars merch and get yourself a Jedi. If only I kept my originals in packaging… 🙁
What part of “die-cast” didn’t you get? I specified die-cast, so plastic toys, which most Star Wars items were when Star Wars was released, don’t apply.
You’re a glass is half-empty guy, aren’t you?
I was one of those who got started late. I remember how easy it was to get caught up, if one store didn’t have what I was after – another did. I only have a few desert art cards, most of the remainder are World of Cars or Race O Rama and now Final Lap.
One interesting point would be that as we encounter this lull in releases at this time of year each year – there have also been other times over the years where new product was not available or very slow appearing at retail, which dis-couraged alot of collectors and there-by created a lack of interest – with the end result being reduced sales which caused retailers to stop ordering/offering certain merchandise of the Cars line. Even as of late it is seen that collectors of this great line are giving up and selling out. Too much stress for the most part.
Many manufacturers have production and distribution problems, couple that up with the down-turned economy and that can add up to angry die-hard collectors whom are dedicated to collect them all, along with alot of children who dearly love to play with the vehicles offered with this line. This is evident as store inventories continue to decrease to nothing, or very little to offer.
I hope the economy continues to re-bound and production and distribution problems decrease as we approach Cars II, these would be very welcome events for all of us!
Ooohhh.. Sweet remembrance!!! I remember i bought an entire collection from an old friend ( more than 1200. $) just to get the Spare o mint vertical 3pck……
Great post, Met…
And to add to what MackDaddy said, and you could order case assortments from online resellers and not be at the mercy of a large retailer or their lcoal store who had no clue as to how to order and maintain inventory.
Aw, the good ol’ days when you could actually find new stuff on the pegs and all the major retailers cared. Where have those days gone? 😥