The Supercharged Series was the second collection of 1:55 scale Cars die-cast toys released by Mattel. Released to stores beginning in October 2006, the series lasted one full year before transitioning into the World of Cars Series in October 2007. It introduced more than 20 brand-new cars, in addition to the first retailer partnership and mail-in promotional deal.
The Supercharged cardback motif was inspired by the neon "cruising" scene from Cars, depicting a nighttime Radiator Springs backdrop with bright spotlights shining onto artwork of the featured character. According to Mattel, the series aimed to quite literally put the "spotlight on characters," promoting variety and collectability in the die-cast line.
History[]
Lightning McQueen Supercharged card
Mattel unveiled plans to continue the Cars die-cast line into the 2006 holiday season, premiering new model prototypes at their August 2006 Wizard World Chicago appearance.[citation needed] In October, all of Mattel's Cars products were re-launched in a brand new "Supercharged" packaging style – Mattel intended for the new motif to "highlight" the "distinct aesthetic, model and personality" of each individual character, and increase the line's overall "collectability."[1] In addition to re-issuing all 16 Desert Art Original mainline singles with the updated scheme, a handful of new characters were introduced, primarily including repaints and variants of existing and popular characters, like Lightning McQueen and Ramone; These were accompanied by first-time single-carded versions of previously exclusive models, such as Boost and Dirt Track McQueen.
Prototype models for the earliest wave of new Supercharged Series cars.
With the turn of the calendar year, more new cars inspired by the Toy Car Story and Monster Trucks, Inc. scenes steadily joined the line. In February 2007, however, at Mattel's Toyfair presentation, they previewed another large upcoming wave of vehicles to debut in the spring season.[2][3] This wave, featuring several all-new characters like Tex Dinoco and Ferrari F430, began shipping to retail stores in April and through the summer.
In July, Mattel previewed more new cars at San Diego Comic Con, most notably eight new characters slated for a Walmart-exclusive assortment wave in October.[4]
Sarge recall[]
The image of Sarge accompanying his recall announcement.
On August 14, 2007, Mattel and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that they would be voluntarily recalling all Sarge die-cast models sold between May and August 2007, as they had detected lead paint in excess of permissible safety levels. The paint in question involved the yellow pigments used on Sarge's olive-green roof.[5] According to the company's press release, the affected units were produced in China by one specific contract manufacturer, this being the Hong Kong-based Early Light Industrial Company.[6][7] The news furthered a larger scandal affecting many toys and brands sold by Mattel.
In response, Mattel moved to recall an estimated 436,000 die-cast Sarge units, which had been distributed to retailers either as a single card release or in a 2-pack set with Fillmore.[8] However, as all characters within a shipping assortment shared the same UPC product code, some chains returned all new die-cast shipments, or otherwise pulled stock from store shelves entirely. The recall greatly impacting the distribution and sale of Cars toys at retail.
Walmart exclusives and "Blu" die-cast promotion[]
On September 30, 2007, Walmart stores in the United States introduced an exclusive assortment of 8 brand-vehicles, promoted via a prominent pallet display in the toys section.[9] These cards notably did not contain the Supercharged logo on front, opting instead for a billboard backdrop based on the Motor Speedway of the South. They were the last new cars released prior to the transition into the World of Cars series starting in October 2007.
Mattel also introduced a special mail-in promotion deal for consumers who purchased the Cars Blu-ray release. Buyers could go online to enter the "Magic Code" found in their product, where they could input their shipping information and receive a limited "Collector's Edition" variant of Lightning McQueen, featuring a metallic blue paint scheme.
Mainline[]
Character Cars[]
| Toy # | Name | Segment | Notes | Model photo | Package photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K4585 | Radiator Springs McQueen NEW |
McQueen Paint Jobs | 
|
| |
| K4586 | Ramone (yellow) NEW |
Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| K4587 | Boost | Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| K4588 | Fabulous Hudson Hornet NEW |
Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| K4589 | Brand New Mater NEW |
Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| K4591 | Hamm NEW |
Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| K4592 | Ferrari F430 NEW |
Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| K4593 | Cruisin' McQueen NEW |
McQueen Paint Jobs | 
|
| |
| L4143 | Dirt Track McQueen | McQueen Paint Jobs | 
|
| |
| L4145 | Hydraulic Ramone NEW |
Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L4146 | Ramone (purple) | Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L4147 | Tex Dinoco NEW |
Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L4148 | RPM #64 NEW |
Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L4149 | Bob Cutlass NEW |
Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L4150 | Darrell Cartrip NEW |
Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L4152 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. NEW |
Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L4153 | Mario Andretti NEW |
Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L4155 | Yeti NEW |
Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L5251 | Lightning McQueen | McQueen Paint Jobs | 
|
| |
| L5252 | Sally | Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L5253 | Mater | Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L5254 | Sheriff | Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L5255 | Doc Hudson | Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L5256 | Lizzie | Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L5257 | Chick Hicks | Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L5258 | King | Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L5259 | Wingo | Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L5260 | DJ | Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L5261 | Dinoco McQueen | McQueen Paint Jobs | 
|
| |
| L5262 | Ramone (green) | Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L5263 | Nitroade | Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L5264 | Leak Less | Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L6279 | Fred (international only) NEW |
Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| L6283 | Dinoco Helicopter (international only) NEW |
Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L6550 | Bug Mouth McQueen NEW |
McQueen Paint Jobs | 
|
| |
| L6551 | Bling Bling McQueen NEW |
McQueen Paint Jobs | 
|
| |
| L6552 | Dinoco Chick Hicks NEW |
Racers & Tuners | 
|
| |
| L6553 | Tongue McQueen NEW |
McQueen Paint Jobs | 
|
| |
| L6554 | Cruisin' Ramone NEW |
Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| M1252 | Fillmore | Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| M1253 | Sarge | Route 66 Buddies | 
|
| |
| M1254 | Snot Rod | Racers & Tuners | 
|
|
Movie Moments[]
Grey denotes a vehicle also available as a single.
| Toy # | Name | Model photo | Package photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| K5923 | Sally |
|
|
| Cruisin' McQueen NEW |
| ||
| K5924 | Buzz NEW |
| |
| Woody NEW |
|||
| K5925 | Sarge |
|
|
| Fillmore |
| ||
| K5926 | Mike NEW |
| |
| Sulley NEW |
|||
| K5928 | Ferrari Fan Guido NEW |
| |
| Ferrari Fan Luigi NEW |
|||
| L4161 | The King |
|
|
| Mrs. The King NEW |
|||
| L4163 | Mia NEW |
| |
| Tia NEW |
|||
| L5265 | Luigi and Guido | 
|
|
| Tractor | 
| ||
| L5266 | Boost |
|
|
| Snot Rod |
| ||
| L5267 | Flo | 
|
|
| Ramone |
| ||
| L5268 | Stanley | 
|
|
| Red | 
| ||
| L6296 (international only) | Rusty Rust-eze NEW |
| |
| Dusty Rust-eze NEW |
|||
| L6299 (international only) | Flik NEW |
| |
| P.T. Flea NEW |
Gift Packs[]
| Toy # | Name | Vehicles | Package photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| L2558 | Tunerz | Boost Snot Rod Wingo |
|
| L2559 | Tractor Tippin' | Lightning McQueen Mater Tractor |
|
| L4064 | Courtroom Crew | Sheriff Doc Hudson Sally |
|
| Toy # | Name | Vehicles | Package photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| L4050 | Cruisin' Couples | Lightning McQueen Sally Flo Ramone |
|
| L4051 | Radiator Springs Shopkeepers | Mater Ramone Sarge Fillmore |
|
| Toy # | Name | Vehicles | Package photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| L4052 | Piston Cup Racers Gift Pack | Lightning McQueen King Chick Nitroade Leak Less |
|
| L4053 | Radiator Springs | Lizzie Doc Hudson Mater Sally Sheriff |
|
| Toy # | Name | Vehicles | Package photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5996 | Cruise Night | Mater Sheriff Doc Hudson Sally Ramone Cruisin' McQueen NEW |
|
| M5997 | Speedway 6 | Dinoco McQueen Chick Hicks King Ferrari F430 NEW Nitroade RPM #64 NEW |
|
| Toy # | Name | Vehicles | Package photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| L9822 | Meet at Flo's | Radiator Springs McQueen NEW Sally Lizzie Sheriff Doc Hudson Ramone NEW Flo |
|
Holiday Special[]
| Toy # | Name | Image |
|---|---|---|
| L5790 | Chick | 
|
| L5791 | Lightning McQueen | 
|
| L5792 | Sally | 
|
| Toy # | Name | Image |
|---|---|---|
| M7481 | Cruisin' McQueen NEW |
|
| M7482 | Ramone | 
|
| M7483 | Doc Hudson | 
|
| Toy # | Name | Image |
|---|---|---|
| M7586 | Ramone | 
|
| M7587 | Radiator Springs Lightning McQueen NEW |
|
| M7588 | Mater | 
|
Exclusives[]
| Toy # | Name | Vehicles | Package photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| L9823 | Dinoco 400 | King Lightning McQueen Chick Hicks Leak Less Vinyl Toupee NEW Octane Gain NEW No Stall NEW Nitroade |
|
| Toy # | Vehicles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| M5998 | Lightning McQueen & Tongue McQueen NEW |
|
| M5999 | Mater & Brand New Mater NEW |
|
| M6000 | Doc Hudson & Fabulous Hudson Hornet NEW |
|
| M6001 | Ramone & Hydraulic Ramone NEW |
|
| Toy # | Name | Vehicles | Package photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| M8492 | 10-Car Value Pack | Al Oft the Lightyear Blimp NEW Wingo Doc Hudson Snot Rod Fillmore Cactus Lightning McQueen NEW Ghostlight Ramone NEW Brand New Mater NEW Leak Less Nitroade |
|
Playsets[]
| Toy # | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| K4621 | Lightning Fast Speedway™ Track Set |
|
| L4048 | Radiator Springs Playmat |
|
| L4054 | Piston Cup 400 Track Set |
|
| L4055 | Mack Transporter |
|
| L4059 | Mack Truck Playset |
|
| L9833 | Radiator Springs Mountain Challenge™ | |
| L9836 | Flo's V8 Café |
|
| TBA | Cruise 'N Go Playmat |
|
| Toy # | Name |
|---|---|
| M8736 | Blue Ray McQueen |
Gallery[]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ From Silver Screen to Die-cast: Disney Pixar Cars Imagined by Mattel (exhibit, November 2011). Petersen Automotive Museum. Retrieved 2023.
- ↑ "Mattel Showcase Slideshow for the Toy Fair, New York 2007" (February 9, 2007). cnbc.com. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ↑ Action Figure Insider (July 2007). "Toy Fair 2007: Mattel Gallery". Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ↑ jamtrax (July 26, 2007). "Pictures of NEW CARS! Comic Con preview of over 40 new cars!". Disney Pixar Cars - The Toys. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ↑ https://digitalstrategies.tuck.dartmouth.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/MattelRecall6-0033_1.pdf
- ↑ "Pixar Cars Sarge Lead Paint Hazard Recall". Mattel Global Consumer Report. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ↑ Story, Louise. "Mattel shifts into crisis mode after quality problems". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
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This article is part of the Diecast Project, a PCW project that aims to report on every aspect of Mattel's Disney Pixar Cars toy line. |
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