Drifting Series

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Drifting Series
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Runtime October 2009-February 2011



Mainline series chronology
Preceded by Race O Rama Series
(2008-09)
Followed by Cars 2 Series
(2011-12)

The Drifting Series[1] was the fifth series of 1:55 scale die-casts released by Mattel, as well as the final series in the original Cars line. Introduced in October 2009, the series became the longest-running of any so far, shipping as late as February 2011 before tapering off ahead of Cars 2 and its respective series. It brought a notable change to the line's structure, in that the "Look! My Eyes Change!" models, introduced late in Race O Rama's run, replaced the classic "fixed eye" releases as the mainline of singles. While new fixed-eye models continued to release, they were exclusively made available at Target stores, as part of a special "Final Lap Collection."

This iteration of cardbacks featured a night-time highway setting, illuminated by a blue skyline. The artwork featured characters "drifting" around a banked corner, with draft sparks exuding from them. According to Mattel's 2012 exhibit, the "Drifting" series featured cars "racing to the finish line," intentionally "symbolizing the end of one era and the beginning of another."[2]

History

A sleek graphic concept was originally teased by lead project designer Martin Arriola in early 2009, during a Q&A with the Carsthetoys online forum.[3] When asked whether a future design would succeed the Race O Rama Series, Arriola teased that "word on the street" was that the next graphic treatment would be titled "Drift."

This new cardback motif was launched in October 2009, first appearing on a new Target-exclusive sub-series called the Final Lap Collection. The shortly following 2010 Collector Guide confirmed that the lenticular-eye singles would replace the new mainline as the universal singles line available for any retailer to purchase from distribution.

Mainline

Main article: 2010 (mainline series)

Multi-packs

3-Car Gift Packs

Cars 3-Car Gift Pack Assortment (R2198)
Toy # Vehicles Segment Notes Model photo Package photo
R6606 Antonio Veloce Eccelente
Ferrari F430
Costanzo Della Corsa
R6607 Pit Crew Member Sarge
Pit Crew Member Fillmore
Lightning McQueen
Piston Cup
R8190 Doc Hudson
Blowing Bubbles Mater
Sheriff
Radiator Springs
R8191 Race Official Tom
Darrell Cartrip
Bob Cutlass
Piston Cup
R8192 Waitress Mia
Waitress Tia
Flo with Tray
Radiator Springs
R8193 Red
Wet Lightning McQueen
Sally
Radiator Springs
R8194 Richard Clayton Kensington
Fred
Marco Axelbender
Piston Cup
R8195 Cruisin' Lightning McQueen
Matti
Bert
Radiator Springs
T0311 Dinoco Mia
Dinoco Tia
Bling Bling Lightning McQueen
Piston Cup
T0312 The King
Tongue Lightning McQueen*
Chick Hicks
Piston Cup
  • Finish Line McQueen labeled as Tongue McQueen
  • At least 3 different variants of Finish Line McQueen exist: One with a "worried" expression, another with two straight-facing positions, and a third that uses Cruisin' Lightning McQueen's eye sets
T0313 Chick Hicks Pitty
Bruiser Bukowski
Mater
Piston Cup
T0315 Dexter Hoover
Lightning McQueen
Race Damaged King
  • Dexter Hoover with Checkered Flag
T0316 Chick Fan Mia
Chick Fan Tia
Chick Hicks
V1600 The King
Tex Dinoco
Marlon "Clutches" McKay
Piston Cup

Gift Packs

Toys R Us exclusive

Asst. N3066
Toy # Name Vehicles Notes Model photo Package photo
R1946 Dirt Track Challenge Gift Pack Mater
Doc Hudson
Dirt Track Lightning McQueen
Ramone
Flo
File:Dtc10.jpg
T4033 Piston Cup Race Day Gift Pack Ron Hover
Lightning McQueen
Mia
Tia
Race Tow Truck Tom
T4034 Flo's V8 Café Hank Hallsum
Mater
Waitress Mia
Waitress Tia
Flo with Tray
T4035 Radiator Springs Chase Gift Pack Wingo
Boost
Sheriff
Snot Rod
DJ
TBA Piston Cup Race Day Gift Pack Race Official Tom
Axle Accelerator
Lightning McQueen
Charlie Checker
Dexter Hoover
  • Dexter Hoover includes Green Flag
Walmart 4-packs (Asst. V4089)
Toy # Vehicles Notes Model photo Package photo
V7317 Guido
Luigi
Lightning McQueen
Doc Hudson
V7318 Wingo
Snot Rod
DJ
Boost
V7319 Sarge
Sally
Ramone
Mater

Exclusives

Playsets

Cars WM Transporter + Diecast
Toy # Name Notes
R2547 Mack Transporter
  • Includes Bug Mouth Lightning McQueen
V7003 Lightning Fast Speedway
  • Includes Lightning McQueen
V1485 Mack Transporter
  • Includes Dirt Track Lightning McQueen[4]

Other releases

See also

References

  1. From Silver Screen
  2. [1] "Journey of Cars Die-cast Packaging"]
  3. Deano. "Our Guest in the chat room... (Q & A Posted)" (March 14, 2009). carsthetoys.yuku.com. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  4. [2]
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.
Project portal...