First Gen Monte Carlo diecasts: Johnny Lightning, part 1

In 2002, Johnny Lightning came out with a couple great First Generation Monte's. A Blue 70, and a Red 71. Let me just stop and say, Johnny Lightnings are cool. They are very detailed, the hoods open to reveal the engine, and they even have went as far as creating a 1971 and a 1972 model in addition to the 1970. If you know these years of Montes, you know the differences are small, but, they did it, and that's neat. And as you probably already know, JL releases "chase" cars (limited production ones) that are in with the rest of their shipments of cases of cars, called "White Lightning" versions. Typically the wheels and bottom of the car are white on these, but for some models they go farther than that with the white theme. I'll explain in pictures if I can. By the way, I've found that JL calls this Monte Carlo casting "#388".

Here is the Red 1971 Monte Carlo. This was part of the Super 70's series, release 1:

Note the redline tires, very nice! Here is a detail of the front, you can see the rectangular park lights in the bumper:

Here is the White Lightning version, note the white interior as well:

Here is the Blue 1970 "SS 454". This was part of the Super 70's series, release 2:

Here is the White Lightning version, still on a card:

For comparison as well, this is a 1970, so note the round park lights in the bumper:

Then in 2003, JL released a Yesterday and Today series, and in the case of the Monte Carlo, included a 1970 and a 2002 model. It is a blue 1970, but not the same as the Super 70's model, it has rally wheels and less flashy paint, and rubber tires (the others above have plastic tires):

I do not believe there is a White Lightning version of this.

Here it is in the package, the "billboard" would change between the two models if you move the attached tab: