Sad Day for Diecast Model Collectors (NO MORE ERTL/JOYRIDE?)

[PBH]

Visitor Dave sent me an e-mail with a press release attached announcing some sad news for die-cast car collectors.  Here are some excerpts from the press release:

During December 2006, the Company made the decision to discontinue its Racing Champions®, JoyRide®, Ertl® and AMT® die-cast and model kit automotive collectible product lines that on a combined basis generated approximately $36 million in net sales in 2006 and approximately $60 million in net sales in 2005. Discontinuing the automotive collectible product lines is consistent with the Company’s strategy to focus on sustainable, organic growth and on allocating resources to its higher growth infant products and children’s toys categories.

As previously announced, the increased cost of zinc, which is a key component in diecast products, is expected to result in lower profit margins during the fourth quarter of 2006 compared with the fourth quarter of 2005. Increased zinc costs will likely continue to negatively impact margins in the first half of 2007. The Company intends to partially offset these increases with selective price increases in 2007 and continued product design and supply chain cost management efforts.

I'll post updates as I find out what this means for the future of Johnny Lightning.

This sucks!!!! A great chunk of my collection consists of RC2 models! Especially my TV/Film cars!!! DOES THIS MEAN NO CHANCE OF A DIECAST A-TEAM VAN OR 1:20 ECTO-1A?!?

[sarfraz]

I know Minichamps are increasing there prices due to Zinc costs. Expect other manufacturers to follow suit.

Shame ERTL are gone. They were at the start of KR mechandising back in the 80's.

Sarfraz

[andy-kitt]

I was hoping there was gonna be a A team van, oh, I well have to build my own now.

Alot of my collection is either ERTL too, they done some really great TV & Film cars that i've brought.

Shame about price rise for Minichamps too, I know thay are top quality, very detailed models, but when you have a collection, at £15 each it soons gets expensive.

[Lost Knight]

Sounds just like my company. They're all the same. Money, cut costs, increase profits, save money in fourth quarter of the year, nickel and dime the very people who are the foundation of the company, etc. Makes me sick to think about it too much.

But at least we got our Knight Rider models, and for those who don't have them, there will always be eBay.

[James_kr]

do you think another model company will take on the knight rider collectables? Maybe Sun Star since they made the awesome DeLorean.

[sarfraz]

I was hoping there was gonna be a A team van, oh, I well have to build my own now.

Alot of my collection is either ERTL too, they done some really great TV & Film cars that i've brought.

Shame about price rise for Minichamps too, I know thay are top quality, very detailed models, but when you have a collection, at £15 each it soons gets expensive.

My Minichamps collection consists all of F1 cars in 1/43 and 1/18 scale from 1993 (Damon Hill) to 2005 (hopefully 2006). Even before the price rise their cost was £20 and £40 respectively. I only need the last of Montoyas F1 cars and calling it a day on F1 collections, but due to price increase and the Mclarens special paint its going to be nearly £3-5 more. I am going to take up getting NASCAR's but I reckon their prices will increase shortily as well.....good thing I'll only be collecting in 1/24 scale for them and not two scales.

Sarfraz

[KITTfan]

That sure is sad news. It made me order another KITT model now when probably the last ones are still available. I asked about KARR too but seems it's gone already.
Maybe in the future some other company will do KITT and KARR models, perhaps Autoart or Minichamps
I wish Minichamps would make even 1:43 model of KITT and KARR, I have many of their 1:43 models and they're nicely detailed and accurately made.
Well, at least there's the Greenlight '89 GTA model to wait...

-KITTfan-

[KITT5]

that sucks! being an avid model builder that serously pisses me off...

i was hoping they'd re-release the KITT model when the movie comes out like they did the general lee,

[J-Knight]

"i was hoping they'd re-release the KITT model when the movie comes out like they did the general lee,"

But they used the same car in the dukes movie and its looking unlikely they will use the good ole T/a in our movie so I think it's more likely they'd release a model of the new KITT, rather than one that wasn't used in the movie.

Though I really hope we do see the good old KITT in the start of the movie atleast!

[andy-kitt]

That sure is sad news. It made me order another KITT model now when probably the last ones are still available. I asked about KARR too but seems it's gone already.
Maybe in the future some other company will do KITT and KARR models, perhaps Autoart or Minichamps
I wish Minichamps would make even 1:43 model of KITT and KARR, I have many of their 1:43 models and they're nicely detailed and accurately made.
Well, at least there's the Greenlight '89 GTA model to wait...

-KITTfan-

Have you seen the Skynet 1:43 KITT & KARR, they are at Minichamps standard. Very rare though.

[KITTfan]

That sure is sad news. It made me order another KITT model now when probably the last ones are still available. I asked about KARR too but seems it's gone already.
Maybe in the future some other company will do KITT and KARR models, perhaps Autoart or Minichamps
I wish Minichamps would make even 1:43 model of KITT and KARR, I have many of their 1:43 models and they're nicely detailed and accurately made.
Well, at least there's the Greenlight '89 GTA model to wait...

-KITTfan-

Have you seen the Skynet 1:43 KITT & KARR, they are at Minichamps standard. Very rare though.

I've seen pics of it at KRUK - Knight Rider Mass Produced Models Catalogue It looks great but as you said it's very rare.
Minichamps models are widely available and that's why it would be great if they would make KITT and KARR in 1:43.

-KITTfan-

[andy-kitt]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... &rd=1&rd=1

KARR is on eBay I see, you could always convert to KITT if wanted to.