SyTy Diecast Guide

*** THIS POST IS CURRENTLY INCOMPLETE AND ON GOING. IT WILL BE EDITED WITH MORE CONTENT AS IT COMES AVALABLE ***


-- Johnny Lightning Syclone Diecast Guide --

Truckin' America Series

In 1997 JL (Playing Mantis) Truckin' America Series released replicas of America's most famous trucks. Cast #419.

This series included various color combinations of Syclones as follows:

  • Release 1: Yellow Body / Black Cladding. Collector #21. 20,000 produced. Item # 421-01.
  • Release 2: Maroon Body / Black Cladding. Collector #26. 20,000 produced. Item # 421-02.
  • Release 3: Orange Body / Black Cladding with whitewall wheels. Collector #20. 17,500 produced. Item # 421-03.
  • Release 4: Black Body / Black Cladding. Collector #37. 17,500 produced. Item # 421-04.
Truckn' America White Lightning

There is a White Lightning for each of the 4 releases above, but they all appear identical (white, black). The only way to differentiate the WL releases is to look at the item number above the SKU on the rear of the card. According to JL, 2% of a production run will be White Lightnings. This may mean 2% of the Syclone models, 2% of the entire Truckin' America series (including or excluding the non-Syclone trucks), or 2% of each release. If we assume it is 2% of the Syclones in each series, series 1 and 2 would be 400, 3 and 4 would be 350, making them very rare indeed.

  • Release 1 White Lightning: Pearl White Body / Black Cladding. White Lightning lettering on tires. Item # 421-01.
  • Release 2 White Lightning: Pearl White Body / Black Cladding. White Lightning lettering on tires. Item # 421-02.
  • Release 3 White Lightning: Pearl White Body / Black Cladding. White Lightning lettering on tires. Item # 421-03.
  • Release 4 White Lightning: Pearl White Body / Black Cladding. White Lightning lettering on tires. Item # 421-04.

United States Postal Service Series

1999 JL (Playing Mantis) Release

Release 1: White Postal Series (Item # 422-01)

  • Endangered Species - American Crocodile Stamp
  • Riverboat Series: Sylvan Dell Stamp
  • Space Discovery: Shadowed rover with orange mountains in distance
  • White Lightning: White bottom, White Lightning lettering on black tires. Endangered Species - American Crocodile Stamp

Release 2: Gold Postal Series (Item # 422-02)

  • Endangered Species - Piping Plover Birds Stamp
  • Space Fantasy Series: Triangular space craft & planet w/ rings
  • Space Fantasy Series: Batwing shaped space craft
  • White Lightning: White bottom, White Lightning lettering on black tires. Space Fantasy Series: Triangular space craft & planet w/ rings

Ultra Rare Mistake Variations:

  • Release 2, Gold, mis-packaged as a 1955 Chevy Cameo w/ Endangered Species - Piping Plover Birds Stamp
  • Release 2, Gold, mis-packaged as a 1955 Chevy Cameo w/ Space Fantasy Series: Triangular space craft & planet w/ rings

KISS Series

The 1999 JL (Playing Mantis) KISS Series Syclone featured was uniquely designed with a chrome covered body and blue tribal style flame/scallops on the front and KISS logo on the doors and white interior.

  • KISS: Chrome with blue flames and KISS logo on the doors. White interior and Goodyear rubber tires (Item # 423-00)
  • White Lightning: White bottom and White Lightning lettering on black tires.

Lightning Speed Series

This 2000 JL (Playing Mantis) series featured "Racers Edge" Racing Wheels on the models for increased performance for those who actually raced their models on a track and not keep them in the box for collection and display. NO White Lightning version

  • Lightning Speed: Maroon Body / Black Cladding (item # 358-00)

Marvel Comics Box Set

The 2002 JL (Playing Mantis) Marvel Comics Box Set includes: 1959 Ford Thunderbird, Dodge Viper, H1 Hummer and GMC Syclone. Each vehicle has it's own unique Marvel paint scheme. NO White Lightning version

  • Marvel 4 Car Box Set: Syclone is Orange to red fade with NEW X-Men logo graphics and chrome wheels. (ITEM # 245-02)

Street Freaks Series

2003 JL (Playing Mantis) release

  • Scrapin' 91 GMC Syclone: Gold with magenta and silver tribal graphics. chrome wheels (Item # 375-06)
  • White Lightning: Exactly the same but with white wheels and black tires.

Working Class Trucks & SUVs Series

The 2005 RC2 Brands Working Class Series featured a black/gray Syclone with black rims/polished lips. Features a "280HPV6" Massachusetts license plate in the packaging (Item # 50153C)

  • Working Class: Black Body, Gray Cladding with black wheels and a polished lip.
  • White Lightning: Exactly the same, but with white wheels on black tires.
*Fun Fact: I had contacted Playing Mantis/Johnny Lightning asking about the next release of the Syclone and to submit my truck photo for a program they were running called "Your Car is the Star" where if they choose your vehicle, the model would be made to look like it and your picture would be printed on the packaging. Winners would receive a case (12) of their car too! They did not use a Syclone for the program, however the JL rep I was in contact with liked my photograph and they used it to model for the Working Class Series release. At the time, my truck had black Z06 rims with polished lips, and my cladding had been recently painted to a very dark gray. I was told they couldn't replicate the rims (at that time), but would choose something that was close in their current inventory. So the Working Class Series Syclone was modeled off Syclone #0237.


Xtreme 90s Muscle Edition - 2018 Release 3

In October 2018 JL (now TOMY) released the Xtreme 90s Muscle edition with 2 Syclones - a standard black/black paint scheme and a Marlboro. The cardstock features 90s coloring with teal/pink/neon green with a GM promotional picture of the Syclone. A Muscle Facts is added giving a quick insight to some information regarding the Syclone.

While the excitement of having another series released, especially a Marlboro version....the biggest disappointment is the trucks having Chevy Xtreme style wheels instead of the correct SyTy style like most of the JL Typhoons feature.

  • Version A: 9000 Black. 4420 Produced
  • Version B: Custom Bright Red with white graphics mimicking the Marlboro Syclone, 4612 produced. (JLMC0014)
  • White Lightning: white body, black cladding, white tires with gold wheels. On Version A and Version B cards
Ultra Rare Mistake Variations:

  • Version B red Syclone with a Version A black card.

Johnny Lightning GMC Hobby Exclusive

This release coincides with the Xtreme 90s Muscle Edition (released shortly after) with a reverse Marlboro edition Syclone - white body with red graphics. The cardstock has red colors with the same GM promotional picture used as the Xtreme 90s. There is a White Lightning version available in this release.

  • Custom Gloss White Syclone with red graphics mimicking the Marlboro Syclone. Red Interior Black wheels and tires
  • White Lightning: white body, red graphics, white interior, white tires with black wheels
 
-- Johnny Lightning Typhoons Diecast Guide --


  • Ertl Collectables, Blk/Blk Typhoon with no packaging. (Came in box sets of 8) Has Ertl Collectables label attached to wheel (WL has white tires)

  • Muscle Cars Release #20, - White/Gray Typhoon with stock rims, (WL has white wheels and chassis)

  • Forever 64 Release #2, - Red/Gray Typhoon (WL has white wheels and chassis and came with roof rack)

  • Forever 64 Release #3, Teal/Gray Typhoon (WL has white wheels and interior, Lightning Strikes (05, 09, & 12) have body colored tires)

  • Forever 64 Release #5, Aspen/Gray Typhoon (WL have clear rims and tires, LS (01, 05, & 11) have body colored tires, Lightning Strikes (03 & 08) have blue tires)

  • Forever 64 Release #10, Garnet/Gray Typhoon (WL printed under the hood)

  • Forever 64 Release #13, Blue/Blue Typhoon (WL has white engine and chassis)

  • Variation of the Blue/Blue made for the SyTy Nationals 12, August 4-6, 2011. Featured the SyTy Nats logo on the hood and came individually boxed in its own clear plastic container. 87 were hand numbered and distributed at the SyTy Nationals. A remaining 150 not given away at the Nats event was speculated to have been sent to the Tomy distribution store in Iowa and/or used as giveaway or raffles. That means there were potentially 237 released into the wild between Nats and JL. They tagged the Nats Ty onto the end of the Aspen Typhoon production run and was slated for 250pcs. Final count is undetermined.

  • Forever 64 Release #18, White/White Typhoon featuring Sportmachines decal on windshield (WL has white tires and white rims)

  • Forever 64 Release #20, White Typhoon with Red/Blue graphics and "LOCO POLICIA" logo on the door. Part of the "Beat the Heat" Series (WL has white tires and gold rims)

  • Forever 64 Release #23, Black/Black Typhoon featuring gold rims. Truck was modeled after 92 Typhoon owned by Mike Renz (WL has white chassis and white tires)

  • Projects In Progress Series, Teal Typhoon, misprint error packaged as 1971 Chevy Vega

  • Gone Fishing 2017 Release 3, Version A White/White / Version B Black/Black Due July 2017. (WL White Typhoon, features white tires on both the truck and trailer)

  • Johnny Lightning Pro Collector Storage Tin 2020 Release, Version 1A Black / Grey Typhoon. Version 1B Forest Green/Grey (WL has pearl white body paint, & white injected tires and rims)

  • Johnny Lightning Pro Collector Storage Tin 2025 Release, Version 1A Lime Gold Green / Lime Gold Green. Version 1B Victory Red/ Victory Red
    (WL has white chassis and interior)

WL = White Lightning
LS = Lightning Strike
 
-- Hot Wheels Typhoon Diecast Guide --

92 Typhoon

Red Line Club,


  • Black / Black Typhoon

Red Line Club,


  • Metallic Red / Silver Typhoon
 
-- Hot Wheels Syclone Diecast Guide --

91 GMC Syclone Hot Wheels Series
Produced: 2020 - Present
Designer: Brendon Vetuskey
Number: GHB35

HW Hot Trucks-3/10 Release 2020


  • Black/Black Red Syclone logo on bottom of the doors.
  • Long card and short card versions available.

HW Hot Trucks-3/10 Release 2020

  • Red/Red Silver Syclone logo on bottom of the doors.
  • Long and short card versions available.

Car Culture: Power Trip-5/5 Release 2020

  • Red/RedWhite Syclone logo on bottom of the doors, Marlboro style white stripes on hood and sides

HW Turbo-3/5 Release 2021

  • Metalflake Navy Blue/Zamac. Red Syclone logo on bottom of the doors, detailed taillights, white Syclone logo and GMC Truck on tailgate.
  • Long card and short card versions available.

HW Turbo-3/5 Release 2021 Walmart Exclusive

  • Zamac/Black. Red Syclone logo on bottom of the doors, detailed taillights, white Syclone logo and GMC Truck on tailgate.

HW Turbo-3/5 Release 2021 Kroger Exclusive

  • Yellow/Black. Red Syclone logo on bottom of the doors, detailed taillights, white Syclone logo and GMC Truck on tailgate.

Borla Car Culture 2-Pack. Release 2021

  • Black/Black.Red stripes on hood & sides, Borla, and LEAD THE HEARD on the doors

Mystery Models (Series 2)-1/10 Release 2022

  • Black/Black.Red, orange & white stripes, and white Syclone, Hot Wheels logo

Multipack Exclusive Release 2023

  • Robin Egg Blue/Black. , White Syclone logo on bottom of the doors, detailed taillights, white Syclone logo and GMC Truck on tailgate.

Hot Wheels Boulevard-#80 Release 2023

  • Celeste/White. Detailed headlights and taillights, white Marlboro stripes on hood and sides, "SCYO" license plate

HW: The '90s-7/10 Release 2024

  • White/White. Pink side strip and zebra print on side skirts. Black Syclone logo on middle of the doors, detailed taillights, black Syclone logo and GMC Truck on tailgate.
  • Long card and short card versions available.

HW Hot Trucks-8/10 Release 2025

  • Pearlescent Fuchsia/White. Pink Syclone logo on bottom of the doors, Hot Wheels logo with white, pink, cyan, & black stripes on sides, Pink Syclone logo and GMCTRUCK on tailgate, detailed taillight
  • Long card and short card versions available.



*** Special Thanks to SyTy Registry For Their Contribution ***
 
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