Lionel to unveil new product line at NRHSA Show in Las Vegas

Die Cast cars or Die Cast Automobiles?

 

Jon

Jon, I really don't know too much other than we are all excited about what they plan to show us and talk about in both this and the train field.

I been sayin' it for a long time....this is the future of Lionel...NASCAR!

It used to be a choo-choo...but it's all over now!

We could all really use some actual 1/48 Die Cast automobiles from various eras!

 

Jon 

you have been here since 2004 and make that kind of a statement.

 

I have only been back in trains since 2009 and I do not see it being over!

Two different scales I believe and if you were at Daytona I think they already have the winner coming out.

Geez, I sure hope not...in both instances.  But I must say that NASCAR has been dying a whole lot faster than toy trains, which have been around for 111 years and are still doing pretty darn well.

I'm not really fond of roundy-round "racing", but if "stock cars" ever become connected
to stock cars again (yes, again) I might be persuaded to watch once more. When I watched
the Plymouth (remember "Petty's Plymouth"?) and Dodge Hemis run away from everything else in 1964, the cars were actually 2/3 factory parts, and it was factory against factory.
Even AMC raced in that era.

When it became about the drivers only, when they became "athletes", I yawned and went away. I'd rather see street-connected autos race at 150 rather than purpose-built fakes
race at 250.

Those tracks could still use some curves. Please.

Marvel Comics. NASCAR. K-line gone. Oy. Mr. Wolf, you're our only hope.

For all you retailers thinking of coming the hotel deadline has been extended th next week. 34.00 a night at our host hotel "Orleans"!

I agree about the old days. NASCAR needs to get back to its roots. Stock components where it doesn't compromise safety and strict homologation rules (finally, and end to the fraud of performance front-wheel drive.) Heck, they should up the ante by requiring each car to carry a "cargo" of 5 gallons of "shine" (OK, they can substitute water for the race.)

 

Go fast/turn left. About the only NASCAR race I watch (if televised) is at Watkins Glen -- a road course. Of course, a lot of the teams use SCCA "ringers"

 

In contrast, during an SCCA Rolex 24-hour race a couple of years ago, one of the Porsches went off track and tweaked a front control arm. One of the mechanics took the control arm off the driver's street 911 and put it in the race car (they were identical) and they kept going.

 

 

But I digress.

 

I would like to see Lionel expand its line back into layout accessories, including vehicles (static and "super street" type) and scale buildings and industries. Some of the non-operating buildings that were great (and ended up on scale layouts) have been out of production for some times (grain elevator, lumber shed, Rico Station.)

NASCAR collectibles peaked in the 1990's, ask anyone who HAD a NASCAR collectible store.  There are tons of "Racing Champions", Matchbox and Winross NASCAR related die cast out there that can be had for next to nothing.  If Lionel is banking on NASCAR then they will be bankrupt again.  NASCAR TV ratings are also on the downhill slide and have been for years.  Just look at the stands when a race is on, many seats are empty.

I personally am a NASCAR fan and have been my entire life, even before Jeff Gordon & Jimmy Johnson if you can believe there was such a time.... NASCAR isn't what it used to be.  I'm sure Lionel knows that.  They also know where "their bread is buttered" and that is with train fans, not race fans....

This is just . . . boring.  I sure hope Lionel has something more in mind.

 

They said once they would have an evolution of Superstreets.  That would be exciting.

 

Die-cast Nascar cars?  

 

Yawn..  

Assuming (that might be a mistake) that Lionel's die cast cars are in 1/43 or 1/48 scale, can't we expect that they will be showing them at York in a couple of weeks?  Lionel always hits the TCA Museum manufacturer's day with announcements; this might just be something to really look forward to!

 

Paul Fischer

Paul, I don't believe they will be showing them there or at least not in the full presentaion they paln to in Vegas. J Don will head the honors.

 

Retailers, just make sure your there! :-)

I already got my NASCAR Lionel promo car in 1/87 scale....so who cares!

Can't wait to get my big Chevy in Illinois Central 1955 paint!  Whoo-wee!!

Just think....if they make a NASCAR in 1/20 scale, you can slip a 2037 set

of guts under it and duplicate the Lionel hustler/ '55 Ford slot car of 1960!

Excitement plus??   You decide, but I'm warming up the old chainsaw!

Anyone have Gomez Addams phone number???!

I live in the heart of NASCAR country and I can affirm it is not doing well at all. Specifically the NASACAR Hall of Fame about an hours drive from where I live is teetering on the edge. Unless things pick up, it may have been a flavor of the year or so, all the media attention gave to it, and consequently, the sort of comparative investment put into it seems to have not paid off according to their expectations. Why Lionel placed their bet on NASCAR is anyone's guess and this high media attention may have significantly cooled while they planned the product line. I remember this being announced some time ago. I think it's leading to another fire sell of overstock but for their sakes, I hope not.

Read for yourself

"Attendance in November decreased by 25% from a year earlier, to 15,189 from 20,185."

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cha...ficits-run-high.html

Speaking of NASCAR, I agree with most of you . I wish Nascar would go back to a Ford being a Ford, A Chevy being a Chevy and a Mopar being a Mopar, Etc.

If one body style is faster, so be it. Not all fit under the same templet. Did not mean to hi-jack this thread, but I am also waiting to see what Lionel will roll out in diecast.

 

Please see the 89’ Auto Rack car description on page 6 of the new catalog.  Lionel mentions scale autos (available separately later) to load into these cars.

 

My question is how long have the 89’ Auto Rack cars been in service?  I’m guessing if Lionel wants to be accurate, the auto eras will coincide with when the 89’ Auto Rack cars have been in service?

 

Happy RR!

chuck

 

 

Maybe there's a Days of Thunder II movie coming out that will cause a resurgence into NASCAR.  

HERE IS OUR NEW SHOW PAGE FOR ATTENDEES!

 

http://www.nrhsa.org/expo/

Who remembers the NASCAR train sets? When they were blown out, I got a heck of a deal.  Also have been a NASCAR fan since 1968.

From what I've read the decline in NASCAR is due to the economy more than a true drop off in fan interest.  This is a financial new perspective.

If what they come out with is 1/43 it just means Lionel got a cheap deal on left over Chinese stock.

Alan

Well I hope Lionel doesn't build em exactly like NASCAR because if this years Daytona 500 is any indication of their operation all they'll do is run into each other.

Talk about the Daytona demolition derby

David

These are going to be Limited edition Legacy 1/48 Vehicles, featuring the all new StreetSounds©, you'll have your choice of Road rage sounds, Drunk driver sounds, Family driver sounds, Sideshow sounds w/ new mega bass + burnouts, and PG-13 Drive in sounds.  Special MSRP of $439.99 

Yea, but will it have the "Dixie" horn like the General Lee?

 

Jim

I lost interest in NASCAR when Junior Johnson retired. Watching Junior wheel his '59 Chevy - that was racing!

 

Now I prefer NASTAR, which is informal, amateur ski racing with scratch times set according to age brackets. I've even gotten a couple of bronze medals. Of course, in my age bracket, the scratch times aren't all that fast...

Did any of you see Charlie mention the word NASCAR?  No.  But as has been mentioned, Lionel has hinted at a new line of die-cast vehicles in their latest catalog. 

 

Jon 

 

My thoughts exactly. I miss the Ford Torinos, Chevy Chevelles, Plymouth Roadrunners, and Dodge Chargers. I bought a brand new 1974 Dodge Charger because it dominated NASCAR back then. Today, I would have to buy a generic car with a set of brand specific decals.

 

NASCAR is no longer about the cars, it's all about Danica Patrick! 

I doubt it will be Nascar.

I beleive its vehicles from the past 30 years, from current production to stuff from the 60's-70's. Anyone remember the Matchbox cars they put in the auto carrier from 1990? Or the Route 66 autos from the late 90's?

 

Also, the trucks in the current 2012 catalog look  exactly like Speccast's and AMT's

Hmmm, wonder if Lionel bought their tooling..........

 

Two things that will help NASCAR:

First, get rid of Danica Patrick

Second, make everyone drive Checker Cabs with whatever Big Block they want to stuff in it.

Two things that will help Lionel:

First, bring production back to the U.S.

Second, bring production back to the U.S.

I am also starting to wonder if LIONEL got the Die Cast automobile Tooling from K-Line..............................and now are going to market it under the Lionel name...

Lionel have their Nascar Line since a few years...so he has to be something else.

 

http://www.lionelnascarcollectables.com/

First Danica Patrick is no different than Juan Pablo Montoya so get rid of all the open wheel wanna be's
Second stop calling it NASCAR .There are no stock car owners anymore.
Lionel:
bring production back to the U.S would be nice.
Lowering the price and making a reliable product would be better.

David

Ironic that sme find cars racing roundy round to be boring - and then proceed to the train room to watch their trains go..........yep, roundy round:

In addition to StreetSounds mentioned above, the New Jersey versions will have an operating arm giving the single finger salute.

Still here in Vegas for a few more days. The show was fantastic and saw a 20% increase over last year. We are up for the 5th year in a row! Rich Foster showed off some of the new HO and O items. Steamers are on the way for late this month or June. Bachmann showed off many of their new items including some announced the week before in York. Lionel had a great show and was very pleased with the expirence. J Don and John Brickford showed off the American made cars, Polar Express Freight, RC Thomas Set and much more. Lionel gave a presentation on all of these along with the NASCAR and MTA die cast. Lionel impressed everyone with how they plan to limit and enforce their NASCAR line. They also will be introducing a line of 1/64 th cars in MTA colors and routes. Woodland Secnics has 3 new buildings coming out. Rich Foster also gave his famous Charlton Heston Imitation later in the bar for large crowd also. And Andy E, I did ask Sheri!

I would like to see NASCAR go back to mostly stock cars. I'd love to see Toyota and Ford trying to get a Camry or Ford Fusion trying to catch a Charger R/T or an Impala SS with a V8 motor. The Nationwide series at least looks different, with Mustangs, Challengers and Camaros on the track. But they, too, are sillouette cars.

If these are diecast models like real classics or modern cars...similar in concept to the very popular models from Franklin Mint and Danbury Mint then there will be a lot of happy collectors.  Those companies have run into road blocks with Chinese production and it seems Lionel has the means to offer these products as they are similar to the Nascar diecasts.

The most significant news of the event, IMHO! 

 

I really like those buildings.