Die-cast toys - Brief Article

Discount Store News, June 21, 1999

Leave it to powerhouse names such as Star Wars and NASCAR to bring die-cast, collectible toys and cars back into the limelight.

Store shelves are being stocked and re-stocked with die-cast products from these two well-loved properties, which recently forged licensing agreements with top national toy makers; Star Wars with Hasbro, and NASCAR with Mattel.

Die-cast Star Wars' toys include the space vehicles from "The Phantom Menace," including the Naboo Fighter, the Royal Starship, the Federation Droid Starfighter, and the Gian Speeder.

NASCAR's line of die-cast cars are labeled with the names of well-known drivers and feature the properties' official insignia.

But more newsworthy for NASCAR is that it recently signed an exclusive licensing alliance with Mattel to create Hot Wheels die-cast cars for the "NASCAR Rocks" summer concert tour, a 30-city music tour that kicked off June 12. Products include small-scale NASCAR Rocks-themed guitars.