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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 carsbut 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
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