Check it out here...these things are hard to find!

 

Believe it or not, I walked into a Toys R Us on a Friday evening about a month ago(...freshly stocked shelves for the weekend???) and found all three cars. Bang, bang, bang!!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes!!!!!

BTW, the only problem I've run into with JL MINIs is that once out of the box, the clear plastic packaging leaves a crease across the roof. It doesn't bother me, but a true collector might find this objectionable. Anybody else run into this?

 

all 3 of mine had that crease as well...bugs me a bit, but then I got over it. I did the same as you, walked into Toys-R-Us and loaded up.

cheers
jon

 

Got mine at Blockbuster
happy hunting

 

I've gotten two sets at local T-R-U's. I had the same problem with the one set I opened. It cracks me up to see them listed on ebay for ten bucks each! It is suprising how well the Johnny Lightning (Playing Mantis) people got the details on them. Much more accurate than the Hot Wheels MINI Cooper. Distinctly different for the Coopers and Cooper S, all with the aero kit. I found the regular Cooper S in the JL Import Heat line very nice - it has the normal Cooper S bumpers and no sunroof and does not have the problem with the dent in the roof like the Italian Job sets do. I just wish they had one in Indy Blue with the S-Lite wheels.

Tom

 

I've been to ToysRus dozens of times since the movie opened. I have yet to find the blue IJ MINI. Unbelieveable...

 

Ya gotta dig for them!

Tom

 

I ALWAYS take my toys out of the packaging and actually play with them. I think that they become more valuable as they become more obviously played with.

Call me nuts for destroying the collector value of my rare MINI toys, but I'll call you nuts if you think you are going to put your kids through college with your collection of rare beanie babies and pogs!

 

I both collect and sell diecasts on ebay, when not hocking my cd collection ot buy engagement rings.... the great thing for me is that since I keep my receipts, what doesn't sell get's returned for a refund or exchanged. :smile: Fairly low risk investment for me, all I lose is the use of the money and whatever ebay fees I incur.

The JL stuff really IS nice, but I think the secret bargain is the Maisto line. Not as highly detailed but you can get them for about .50 cents a piece if you are also willing to buy a VW beetle (2-pack set.)

The fun comes when you find a JL White Lightning. I got my first one by accident, didn't notice the difference with it or I'd not have bought it. The White Lightning cars are something like one out of every 10k I think, identical cars but they leave the wheels unpainted and white. Seems silly, but these are HIGHLY collectible. Bought a VW bus White Lightning at ToysBeUs a couple years ago for like $4 and sold it for over $50 on ebay. That doesn't happen very often, but it's sure nice when it does.

My favorite, and I still have some left in the garage put away hoping they become even more valuable, was a Tootsietoy BMW r60/2 motorcycle diecast. Sold for about $20-25, and then went on clearance for $9.99. I bought every one I could find, something like 2 dozen. When that Christmas rolled around I was REGULARLY getting bids of over $60 for them, and even sold a couple for over $100. Not a bad return on investment....

but like you guys, I tend to fall in love with and keep almost as many as I buy to sell. Probably have a couple hundred in my collection, cars bikes and planes, all shapes and sizes.