Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

Announcements (Updated: July 11, 2018)

Welcome to Swifty's Garage!


Thanks to all of you for making this board what it is today!


Attention new members: We would like to welcome you personally, so please introduce yourself. Click here: INTRODUCTIONS


For all the latest news and announcements, please click here: PA System



Thank you - The Swifty's Garage Team




This board is best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolution

Car of the Week:


Matchbox 1968 Ford F-100


Click Here: Matchbox '68 Ford F-100
Welcome to Swifty's Garage. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Thank You,
The Swifty's Garage Team


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features.

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Original Jeep Cherokee/Wagoneer In Small Scale; New JL and HW joins Majorette. Have others? Please add them!
Topic Started: Oct 16 2013, 07:14 AM (1,992 Views)
Lane1through75
Member Avatar
With Jazz and conversation from the foot of Mt. Belzoni.
I was introduced to 4-wheel drive in the back seat of a white Jeep Wagoneer. I was just a kid, but one who was all too familiar with seeing rear-wheel drive 60's and 70's boats spinning their wheels in the snow. Then one day I was picked up from somewhere in a Jeep that made mincemeat of the snowy dirt roads I grew up around.

Thanks to Dan (Glasspack) I finally have the recent Johnny Lightning Jeep that very much resembles the older Jeep of my youth. I also recently picked up the new Hot Wheels casting. It only makes sense to compare them to each other, and the only other Jeep Cherokee/Wagoneer castings I had in the collection before by Majorette. I say castings (plural) because while at first glance these look the same, one is actually a heavily modified version of the other.

Posted Image

The really nice non-lifted versions of this casting complete with dog in the back have so far eluded me. I've seen them online in very 70's green and brown, but have not been able to find one yet within my price range. The orange model I have appears to be older than the yellow model. If you look closely you will see almost all of the side relief details of the casting seen on the orange model have been eliminated from the yellow one. The large tampos on the sides and roof attempt to hide the fact that the body is now smooth.

Posted Image

Similarly, the unique design of the actual roof ridges noted on the other three castings has been deleted from the yellow one. Also, the grille is slightly different, as if to change the model enough to avoid licensing fees (pure speculation). I note the base of the model no longer calls it a Jeep, either. The rear side windows are also shorter than the ones on the orange model.

Please take note of the black grille indentation, turn signal and other light details on the orange Majorette.

Posted Image

These were not added later (ala our friend Dean). This is how this model came from the factory. Also note the factory black paint on the metal base that makes the model appear less "lifted", especially in comparison to the later yellow one with an unpainted base (as well as the Hot Wheels, which IMHO could have benefited from this clever design touch.)

Posted Image

The Johnny Lightning is notable for the operable rear door/gate... and so are the Majorettes.

Posted Image

The Johnny Lightning is a fantastic example of a basic model that depicts the actual vehicle you could have bought off the lot. The Hot Wheels does an outstanding job of showing what so many owners have done to their Jeeps. The woodgrain along the sides is also a wonderful authentic touch. Though the JL and HW models are very different approaches to the same subject matter, I think each one is equally wonderful and I'm happy to have them both in the collection. What do you think?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Dean-o-mite
Member Avatar
Muscle Car
I am honored to have made a cameo in your presentation! :lol:

I love these Jeeps. I am fortunate to have 2 of the original versions of the Majorette, but it was not enough to satisfy my craving for a 4-door Wagoneer. I was ecstatic about Johnny Lightning's model. I rolled my eyes at Hot Wheels' copy-cat effort coming out less than a year later. But since the JL may not be released ever again, I now appreciate the Hot Wheels version, as it is really cool to have one with the wood-grain. I waited so long to have the Wagoneer in diecast, and now having two different models, still brings a smile to my face.

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
craftymore
Member Avatar
Support your local demo derby.

From ERTL's Collect-'N-Play line is the Johnny Lightning casting in gold with a metal base.
Posted Image
Edited by craftymore, Oct 18 2013, 12:22 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Swifty
Member Avatar
The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
Great review! One thing's for certain - I need more versions of the unmodified Majorette casting. I have all versions of the JL and Hot Wheels to date but most of my Majorettes are of the genericized version. I need to remedy this!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Lane1through75
Member Avatar
With Jazz and conversation from the foot of Mt. Belzoni.
Thanks for sharing your Majorettes Dean. The green and brown models are high on my list of wanted models.

Likewise on that "Ertl" JL with the metal base. The only place I've ever seen these "Ertl" JLs sold is at a Fleet Farm store about 1200 miles from home. (sigh)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cody6268
Member Avatar
Minivan
Lane1through75
Oct 18 2013, 10:46 PM
Thanks for sharing your Majorettes Dean. The green and brown models are high on my list of wanted models.

Likewise on that "Ertl" JL with the metal base. The only place I've ever seen these "Ertl" JLs sold is at a Fleet Farm store about 1200 miles from home. (sigh)
I get most of mine from Tractor Supply, but no other store in my area carries current Collect and Play.
Edited by cody6268, Oct 25 2013, 05:05 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Inspection Station: Reviews · Next Topic »
Add Reply



March's Picture of The Month Contest



Congratulations DinoMom for winning March's contest!



April's Picture of The Month Contest



Congratulations carsdownunder for winning April's contest!






Powered By

This board is best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolution


eXTReMe Tracker