Later this month, Walmart will be getting in an exclusive assortment of Forever 64 that is sure to pack some muscle in your collection. This 1969 Camaro RS ZL1 is one of my favorites from the 12 car series. The metallic blue paint just jumps off the car! There are also two wheel options on the Camaro, hard plastic and rubber tires. Look for a Nova Spoiler, a Shelby GT500KR, a stock Burgundy Metallic Monte Carlo SS and a Black with Flames Cuda. More to come on this series.




Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Well, 2010 is in full swing but its funny because most of my focus as of late has been on 2011. We have some great releases lined up in the Forever 64 line, like this AMX, and the JL2.0 line will add some depth to the JL line and give collectors what they have been asking for. A collector line with a diecast chassis. Thanks for the support in 2009 and here is to a great 2010!





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Take a look at the main page of the JL website because we have added all the JL40th images and the first three assortments of the Forever 64 line. Some of you may have noticed that the last assortment of the JL40th line, R8, is missing at your local hobby stores and due to the popularity we could not fill all the orders right away and we hope to get those orders filled soon.

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

The first assortment of Forever 64 has finally hit stores. This gloss white Mustang Spoiler has a flat black stripe and is rolling on new 5-star wheels. In one of my previous posts, I showed you the 59 Impala from this assortment which is one of my favorites. However, the 53 Packard and the Fabulous Hudson might be the hard ones to find in the mix. Look for Lightning Strike releases on the 69 Charger, 68 Yenko Camaro and 75 Corvette.





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

This Beat the Heat Corvette will make its debut in release 3 of the Forever 64 line. This Corvette is owned by Mark Phillips from The Colony, TX. We appreciate Mark attending our Lightning Fest this past August along with Jim Butler. Hope to see you in 2010.





Check out the latest Beat the Heat newsletter.

I will be sending out images of the other cars in release 3 this week. One of my other favorites is a Project in Progress 65 Mustang. I am also introducing a new Project in Progress chase car called "Diamond in the Rough". More details to come!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

The date has been set for Lightning Fest 2010! It will be held on July 16-17 in Dyersville, IA. Mark your calendars and get ready for a lightning storm of fun!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

One of the new castings you will see in the Forever 64 line is this 1955 Chrysler 300C. I developed this casting under the Racing Champions brand and introduced it back in 1999. It only saw a couple releases in a Richard Petty line and thought it might make for a couple good releases. Only plan to see this casting a few times as it does not have an opening hood and has a stock car interior. It will make for some pretty cool vintage racers and it will be JL branded fitted with JL wheels.





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Learning Curve and the JL Team showed a preview of 2010 at Dallas Market Center in Dallas, TX this week. This show is designed to give all toy buyers from mass retail a single place to meet face to face with their vendors 12 months before product hits stores. This is pretty much where decisions are made on what you will see in the coming year. We are hoping for some great feedback on all of our brands and pitched some new JL items we want to bring collectors next year.
The JL Team handed out this exclusive Chevy Nova at the show. Check it out!






Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Just got back from setting up at the Dallas Toy Show and had lots of new releases and models waiting for my return. First, I got some revised test shots of the 70 Cuda. This is scheduled for the third release of the Forever 64 line. I also got in the tool model of the 1977 Dodge Monaco that looks spot on and the second assortment of release 2 in the Forever 64 line. That assortment includes a Black with Flames Malibu and Challenger, a pink AMX, Spoiler #16 and a red/silver Typhoon. Oh, and an Allison Nova race car. Hope to post some pics next week. Have a nice weekend!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

After release 8 of the JL40th line, we will be refreshing the line and calling it Forever 64. After all, we can't celebrate the anniversary "Forever" but we'll definitely reflect on the last 40 years as we're designing cars for the rest of the year and into 2010. With Forever 64, we'll be giving the packaging a fresh new look. You'll still get exciting and popular releases too with stunning paint and exclusive releases from part of our "Designer Series" line. We've teamed with some awesome talent from all over like Thom Taylor, Big Lou Tanahara and Tom Daniel, which will add some excitement and give me a break from designing cars...lol. The first release of Forever 64 includes this 1959 Impala, a 1968 Yenko Camaro and a Hudson Hornet...that is just FABULOUS. More to come on the release of the long awaited return of...the diecast chassis too.
Many of you probably never noticed, but under the hood of each JL40th release is a VIN number that is exclusive to that car. Stay tuned for details on how your JL car and VIN could win you some cool stuff.





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Some of you may have seen this 1957 Chevy Hearse model at Lightning Fest and just to update everyone...tooling has begun. I have postponed the Jeep Cherokee until I can locate some additional reference for the off-road version I have planned. I am also moving forward with a new casting, the 1977 Monaco Police car. Over the years, we have had so many requests for this model and it is time! Don't worry, I still have plans for the AMC Eagle SX4 and I have not forgotten about it. You will be seeing the new Challenger, Monza, Vega Panel and Malibu in upcoming assortments. The JL40th line has kept me pretty busy this summer and I will be transitioning this line to a new line called Forever 64 after release 8. Hope to give you at least one new casting in each Forever 64 assortment and will be adding some fresh themes along with some suprise releases.





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Lots of cool Vipers coming in the JL40th line over the next few months. In fact, there is at least one in release 6, 7 and 8. This black ACR will makes its debut in release 7 along with a stock SRT10 painted in metallic red. Release 8 will have two more Vipers, an ACR in red and black and a stunning Hurst Viper SRT10. The Hurst Viper will be packaged in an exclusive Hurst themed package.





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

I am pretty excited about showing you a couple cars from the last assortment of the JL40th line for a couple reasons. Number one, who does not love a good Spoilers release and a flaming Mustang? Number two, it is the beginning of a new line that I am excited to announce which is called Forever 64. We can't celebrate the anniversary forever so this new line will allow us to continue to build off the success of the JL40th line and keep offering an affordable line of cars for Johnny Lightning collectors. In the new Forever 64 line, we will be adding new themes, team with different designers, to add some excitement, and mixing in some pretty exciting releases of authentic race cars and real everyday stock and modified cars.





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

You won't see this '65 Chevelle till release 8 of the JL40th line but its probably one of the most detailed castings in the JL line to date. It has full detailing on the underside of the hood, a highly detailed 396 V8, separate interior shifter and fully detailed chassis. I was not short of reference when working on this casting as I saved most of it from when I developed the American Muscle 1:18 scale Authentics '65 Chevelle. Can't wait for you to see it in person. The headlights have separate lens too and are not part of the grille. They almost look like they could light up.





If you live near the Volo Auto Museum, swing by on the 4th as I will be hanging out with George Barris over there. Johnny Lightning will be handing out cars to the first couple hundred folks that come through.

Have a happy and safe 4th holiday!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Tomorrow you will see the complete assortment of release 5 but I could not help showing you my favorite, this '70 Challenger T/A custom. I decided to use casting #216 as I think the body is a little more accurate. This is one casting I have on my list to redo at some point. The Challenger does have two wheel variations with the White Lightnings having red molded rims and white tires. Two new castings make their debut as I mentioned before but the one that is sure to steal the show is the Viper SRT10. Now that I think about it, this entire assortment might be my favorite so far.





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

The '50 Chevy Delivery has delivered many things, even people. Look for this delivery in release 5 along with Spoilers release 8 and 9, a Black with Flames Mustang and the new Viper SRT 10 casting in red.





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

This Bright Blue '51 Hudson Hornet is one of the stars of the fourth assortment. It does have some good competition though with Spoilers 6 and 7 making their debut. There is also a Black with Flames '65 Impala, Metallic Pink Pearl GTX and a Lightning Patrol GSX. I can't wait for you to see the paint finish on the GTX because I think it is one of the best paint jobs I have ever seen on a JL casting!





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Make sure you take a look at the updated events schedule for Lightning Fest. We will continue to add to events so check back often.





http://www.collector.johnnylightning.com/lightningfest.asp

If you plan planning to attend the Hotlanta show this weekend make sure you check out the JL Experience. I will be there talking about some new things coming from JL and give you a little peek at Lightning Fest 2009. Hope to see you there!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

We're in the Army now.
We're not behind a plow.
We'll never get rich diggin' a ditch.
We're in the Army now.

Thank you to those who have served our country or are currently serving our country. Look for this Jeep in the 4th release of the JL40th line.





Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning

Next week, when the May BOLT gets posted, you will see the upcoming release of Spoilers #5 but I couldn't wait any longer on showing you the release of Spoilers #6 which is a '69 AMC AMX coated in lime metallic paint and is the first JL40th release without a hood. It also has double black racing stripes that run from the windshield to the rear bumper and a black gumball and white number 6 on the doors. Look for this Spoiler in release 4.





Have a safe Memorial Day holiday!

Tom Zahorsky
Senior Design Manager
Johnny Lightning