The original Johnny Lightning model cars produced by Topper Toys in the 1960s did not include a Studebaker Avanti. An important publicity victory over Mattel was sponsoring 5 Parnelli Jones cars including Al Unser in the 1970 and 1971 Indy 500 races. Unser was able to capture those victories in his blue lightning bolt Johnny Lightning Special. After the initial 500 victory, sales of the Johnny Lightning cars increased dramatically. By the end of 1971 Topper Toys was forced to close due to business fraud which ended production of the Johnny Lightning cars–but only for 23 years.

Playing Mantis started producing reproductions of the original cars in 1994 about the same time that Hot Wheels introduced the "Vintage" line of cars that were reproductions of original 1960s designs. In 2005, Playing Mantis was bought by RC2 Corporation. Johnny Lightning products are now produced and distributed by RC2. This time the Johnny Lightning series included the 1963 Studebaker Avanti. The Avanti models were made under the Johnny Lighning "Muscle Cars, U.S.A." and the "Classic Gold Collection" labels. Currently, they sell a line of 1/64 scale "premium" die cast cars with more detail and are usually themed. JL makes cars which haven't been done before, or are quite rare, like a Citro‘n DS. Also they make a lot film-inspired cars, like the Ghostbusters Cadillac, the James Bond Aston Martin's etc. www.johnnylightning.com