Cars Die-Cast Line

In April 2006, Mattel began releasing 1:55-scale die-cast models of characters from the Disney-Pixar film, Cars. Mattel has released these toys in a number of waves.

Wave 1 - "Daytime" series
While not the official name for the series, the initial wave in the Cars line has come to be known by many collectors as the "daytime," "desert" or "classic" series.

Singles

 * Chick Hicks
 * DJ
 * Doc Hudson
 * Fillmore
 * The King
 * Lightning McQueen
 * Lizzie
 * Mater
 * Sally
 * Sarge
 * Sheriff
 * Wingo

"Movie Moments" multi-car packs

 * Boost & Snot Rod
 * Flo & Ramone (purple)
 * Luigi, Guido & Tractor
 * Red & Stanley

Singles

 * Dinoco Lightning McQueen
 * Leak Less
 * Nitroade
 * Ramone (green)

Wave 2 - "Supercharged" series
Due to their wide popularity, Mattel continued to release cars inspired by the film in a new series, widely referred to among collectors as the "Supercharged" series.

Singles

 * Boost
 * Brand New Mater
 * Cruisin' Lightning McQueen
 * Dirt Track Lightning McQueen
 * Fabulous Hudson Hornet
 * Hamm
 * Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen
 * Ramone (purple)
 * Ramone (yellow)

"Movie Moments" multi-car packs

 * Buzz & Woody
 * Fillmore & Sarge
 * Guido & Luigi (Ferrari fans)
 * Mike & Sulley
 * Sally & Cruisin’ Lightning McQueen

Singles

 * Bling Bling Lightning McQueen
 * Bob Cutlass
 * Bug Mouth Lightning McQueen
 * Cruisin’ Ramone (a.k.a. Old School Ramone)
 * Dale Earnhardt Jr.
 * Darrell Cartrip
 * Dinoco Chick Hicks
 * Ferrari F430
 * Hydraulic Ramone
 * Mario Andretti
 * RPM #64
 * Tex Dinoco
 * Tongue Lightning McQueen
 * Yeti the Abominable Snowplow
 * Dinoco Helicopter (Not initially released in the U.S.)
 * Fred (Not released in the U.S.)

"Movie Moments" multi-car packs

 * Mia & Tia
 * Mr. & Mrs. The King
 * P.T. Flea & Flik (Not released in the U.S.)
 * Rusty Rust-eze & Dusty Rust-eze (Not released in the U.S.)

The "Dinoco 400" Target-exclusive set
Mattel released an eight-car set exclusively to Target in the "Supercharged" packaging style that featured three new cars that would eventually see release elsewhere as well. Entitled the "Dinoco 400" set, it included The King, Chick Hicks, Lightning McQueen, Leak Less, Nitroade, Vinyl Toupee, No Stall, and Octane Gain.

The Wal-Mart-exclusive series
In October 2007, Mattel released a series of singles temporarily exclusive to Wal-Mart in a unique style of packaging.

Singles

 * Cactus Lightning McQueen
 * Ghostlight Ramone
 * Al Oft The Lightyear Blimp
 * T.J.
 * Kori Turbowitz
 * Piston Cup Pace Car (a.k.a. Charlie Checker)
 * Barney Stormin
 * Bruiser Bukowski

Wave 4 - "The World Of Cars" series
In December 2007, Mattel continued the die-cast line with a new series entitled "The World of Cars."

Singles

 * Charlie Checker (First non-exclusive release; a.k.a. Piston Cup Pace Car.)
 * Chuki
 * Dinoco Helicopter (First release in the U.S.)
 * Dudley Spare
 * Fred (First release in the U.S.)
 * Ghostlight Ramone (First non-exclusive release.)
 * Lightning Ramone
 * My Name Is Not Chuck
 * Pit Crew Member Fabulous Hudson Hornet
 * Pit Crew Member Fillmore
 * Pit Crew Member Guido
 * Race Official Tom
 * Tow
 * Van
 * Stacy
 * Luke
 * Petrol Pulaski (RPM Crew Member)
 * Al Oft (Lightyear Blimp, First non-exclusive release)

"Movie Moments" multi-car packs

 * P.T. Flea & Flik (First release in the U.S.)
 * Luigi & Ferrari F430
 * Rusty Rust-eze & Dusty Rust-eze (First release in the U.S.)
 * Tex Dinoco & Dinoco Lightning McQueen
 * Bob Cutlass & Darrell Cartrip
 * Dinoco Mia & Tia
 * Gasprin & Tow Cap
 * Leak Less & No Stall (First non-exclusive release of No Stall.)

3-car "Gift Packs"

 * "Dinoco Dream" (With Bling Bling Lightning McQueen, Gold Mia, and Gold Tia - the latter two characters being new releases.)
 * "Lightning McQueen's Pit Crew" (With Lightning McQueen, Lightning Ramone, and Flo.)
 * "Piston Cup" (With Lightning McQueen, The King, and Charlie Checker.)
 * "Dirt Track" (With Cactus Lightning McQueen, Sheriff, and Dirt Track Doc Hudson - the latter being a new release. First non-exclusive release of Cactus Lightning McQueen.)

"Pit Row Race-Off" car and launcher sets

 * Lightning McQueen
 * The King
 * Chick Hicks
 * Nitroade
 * Leak Less
 * Octane Gain (First non-exclusive release of car.)

Playsets

 * Dinoco Helicopter (Car carrier, includes a plastic Mater toy.)
 * Flo's V8 Café
 * Lightning Fast Speedway Track Set (With Lightning McQueen.)
 * Luigi's Casa della Tires (A Kohl's-exclusive release includes Guido, Luigi, Sally, Lightning McQueen and Doc Hudson die-casts.)
 * Mack Transporter (A Target-exclusive release includes Sally and Doc Hudson die-casts. Wal-Mart-exclusive releases have variously included Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks, Leak Less, DJ, Snot Rod, and Wingo die-casts.)
 * Mack Truck Playset (Some releases include a Lighting McQueen die-cast.)
 * Mater's Rollin' Bowlin' (With Rollin' Bowllin' Mater, a unique release.)
 * Piston Cup 500 Track Set (With Lightning McQueen. A Toys "R" Us-exclusive release also includes Chick Hicks, Leak Less and The King die-casts.)
 * Race Case and Track (A Kmart-exclusive release included Lightning McQueen and The King die-casts.)
 * Race Case Launcher (With Snot Rod.)
 * Radiator Springs Curio Shop
 * Radiator Springs Mountain Challenge Track Set (With "Willy's Butte" McQueen, a.k.a. Dirt Track Lightning McQueen.)
 * Radiator Springs Playmat (With Cruisin' Lightning McQueen.)
 * Ramone's House of Body Art

The Target Exclusive "Race & Chase" Gift Set
In May 2008, Mattel and Target signed another deal to release a new gift set with one new exclusive character.

Contents
Lightning McQueen

Chick Hicks

The King

Re-Volting #84

Mattel exclusives
Here are some Mattel exclusives.

The "Motor Speedway Of The South" Set
This set was a Hot Wheels Red Line Club exclusive. Its release date was 20th May 2008 it had every race car in the opening scene. There were only a limited number of 1000 sets with a unique number on a letter that people that bought the set recieved. The sale for this set sold out in 2 hours and 26 minutes.

Contents
Lightning McQueen #95

The King #43

Chick Hicks #86

RPM #64

Nitroade #28

Mood Springs #33

Shifty Drug #35

Easy Idle #51

Transberry Juice #63

Apple iCar #84

Retread #79

Gaskits #80

Shiny Wax #82

Bumper Save #90

Lil’ Torquey Pistons #117

Clutch Aid #121

No Stall #123

Fiber Fuel #56

Trunk Fresh #34

View Zeen #39

Faux Wheel Drive #54

Junior #8 (Nitroade Re-Paint)

Octane Gain #58

Tow Cap #4

N2O Cola #68

Sidewall Shine #74

Re-Volting #84

Tank Coat #36

Leak Less #52

Vitoline #61

Gasprin #70

Rev 'n' Go #73

Vinyl Toupee #76

Sputter Stop #92

Sparemint #93

Tach-o-Mint #101

Other releases
A variety of additional items have been released by Mattel as part of the Cars die-cast line, including repacks of previously-released cars in new packaging configurations for exclusive release at retailers such as Best Buy and BJ's Wholesale Club.

Rumored and announced future releases
These releases have been rumored from leaked images, solicitation information sent to retailers, and other sources. A few, such as Lightning Storm McQueen, have been officially confirmed for release by Mattel.

Singles

 * Lightning Storm McQueen
 * Richard Clayton Kensington
 * Fred (new scale)
 * Cone Sally
 * Leroy Traffik
 * Edwin Kranks
 * Pit Crew Member Sarge
 * Marco the Super F/AV-18 Jet
 * Octane Gain Crew Chief
 * Jay Limo
 * Axle Accelerator
 * Dustin Mellows
 * Sven
 * Brian
 * Greta
 * Elvis
 * Timothy Twostroke
 * Dexter Hoover
 * Leak Less Crew Chief
 * Chick Hicks Crew Chief
 * Tank Coat Crew Chief
 * Jerry Drivechain (Tank Coat Crew Member)
 * Nitroade Crew Member
 * Shiny Wax Crew Member
 * Mini
 * Dinoco Crew Chief
 * No Stall Crew Chief
 * Petrol Pulaski (RPM Crew Member)
 * Kathy Copter
 * Ron Hover
 * Tar Lightning McQueen
 * Tires Lightning McQueen

"Movie Moments" multi-car packs

 * Fillmore & Whitewalls Lightning McQueen
 * Lightning McQueen & Kori Turbowitz
 * Mario Andretti & Patty
 * Chick Hicks & Bruiser Bukowski
 * Race Damage The King & Lightning McQueen
 * Tumbleweed Lightning McQueen & Doc Hudson
 * Doc Hudson & Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen

3-car "Gift Packs"

 * Team Leak Less (With Leak Less, Leak Less Crew Chief, and Stacy [Leak Less Crew Member].)
 * Race Officials (With Race Official Tom, Tow, and Al Oft the Lightyear Blimp.)
 * Team No Stall (With No Stall, No Stall Crew Chief, and No Stall Crew Member.)
 * Team RPM (With RPM #64, RPM Crew Chief, and RPM Crew Member.)
 * Team Shiny Wax (With Shiny Wax, Shiny Wax Crew Chief, and Shiny Wax Crew Member.)
 * Team Spare Mint (With Spare Mint, Spare Mint Crew Chief, and Spare Mint Crew Member.)
 * unnamed Gift Pack (With Murphy, Frank "Pinky" Pinkerton, and T.J.)

"Pit Row Race-Off" car and launcher sets

 * RPM #64
 * Trunk Fresh
 * No Stall
 * Shiny Wax

Blu-ray Lightning McQueen
In October 2007, Disney released a limited-edition Lightning McQueen free to purchasers of Cars on Blu-ray. This promotion finished on January 28, 2008.Note: It was called Blu-Ray McQueen, and this car never appears in the movie.

2007 UK promotion
In the UK, Mattel placed stickers on some of its Cars merchandise as part of a promotional campaign that encouraged customers to purchase Cars items, collect stickers and redeem those stickers for free items:


 * 1 sticker = sticker book
 * 6 stickers = Vinyl Toupee (Exclusive single-car release previously only available as part of Target-exclusive "Dinoco 400" set in the U.S.)
 * 12 stickers = Race Case and Track

This promotion ended on December 31, 2007.

Children Affected by AIDS
On October 27, 2007, the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation auctioned off many items as part of a fundraising effort, including a one-of-a-kind set of Cars die-casts in a specially-designed case signed by Cars creator John Lasseter. The set included a Blu-ray Lightning McQueen, the as-yet-unreleased Richard Clayton Kensington, and a unique metallic red Lightning McQueen.

Red Ransberg Lightning McQueen
Mattel only produced an extremely small number (possibly as low as 50) of the Red Ransberg Lightning McQueen die-cast, made distinctive by its red metallic paintjob in the style of "Ransberg" paint application process. Aside from the sample included in the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation auction, it is believed (though not verified) that all remaining copies of the toy were given to staff members of Mattel, Pixar and/or Disney. Because of the small quantities produced and the internal distribution of the die-cast, authentic samples of the Red Ransberg Lightning McQueen have become highly sought-after collectibles and are quite unlikely to be found at present on the secondary market.

Sarge recall
On August 14, 2007, Mattel recalled Sarge die-casts released in the "Supercharged" series because of lead-based paint used in their production by the die-cast's Chinese manufacturer. This was part of a major series of recalls for Mattel and one of numerous recalls of Chinese products in 2007. Sarge has not yet seen release again within the die-cast line.

Trivia

 * Some cars such as "Leak Less", "Nitroade", "RPM #64", "Lightning McQueen" & "Race Official Tom", Are re-painted to make new cars.
 * Some of "The World Of Cars" car have a yellow & red route 66 sign that says "New!"
 * Dudley Spare is a repaint of My Name Is Not Chuck.
 * Chuki is a remake of P.T. Flea (painted pink, minus Flea's hat, and with a different mouth and eyes.)
 * Fabulous Hudson Hornet originally had white rims, but they were changed to red rims on later production runs.
 * Mario Andretti has yellow rims although in the film he has red rims.
 * Darell Cartrip has "DWstore.com" printed on the back of the car.
 * There is proof on a YouTube Video that there are 217 different Cars.