Do you remember those Xmods R/C cars featured during the Jalopnik Christmas list right? I've been into them for a few years. Anyhoo, it's common for people to fit model bodies on them to have cars beyond what radioshack sells.

Everyone from 13 year old kids, to professional car painters do these sorts of conversions. Think of it as, your old model car that actually moves. Some are even able to do a full interior in the car bodies. Typically very shiny cars you'd see on the show room floor.

Not me. Nope. After seeing your beat up Impala model many moons ago, when it came time for a competition, I knew what I had to do... Build a "Trailer Park Special" car, and stand out from the show cars..

And here it is, paint fade and all. I just won $50 in a compitition with it, saweeet..

The inspiration behind the Honda Racer came from a combination of "Honda's racing heritage with Hot Wheels' reputation for speed, power, performance and attitude," according to Guillermo Gonzalez, a senior designer at Honda R&D Americas.

The motor in this racer is a ridiculous 20-Liter VTEC V10 (that's a two-liter of Pepsi per cylinder) inspired by the 1967 Honda F1. This only makes us ponder what would happen if Honda put this kind of imagination into its real conceptual car design. [Nihon Car]

Here's how he describes it:

Slot Car Wall Sculpture:
This is just a small example of the idea. Old HO Slot Cars and Track are easily found online. This set up [about half of the track I got] cost me around $100. Track layouts are practically infinite. Its just hanging there so I can take it down, plug it in and enjoy the excitement of Slot Car Racing *anytime.

This novelty comes in the H2 variant of the Hummer and is available for $24, in packs of a dozen—just in case the first five or ten don't get quite huge enough for you. [Grow Hummer via neatorama]

It includes a seven-speed transmissions, on-board computer, disc brakes, slicks, Enzo-inspired hubcaps and a racing harness to keep the kiddos safe at the sort of high speeds frantically pedaling children typically produce. The bucket seat, leather steering wheel and aero kit are only available on the "exclusive" model, which fetches $2,200 compared to the $730 for the standard model. Yep, that sounds about right for the Stallion—tripling the price for a couple extra accessories. [Ferrari Pedal Car]

This R/C car features the famoous KITT strobing lights and is capable of going forward, backward—and using its turbo boost! It makes whooshing sounds and yes, it will even talk to you. No word on whether archived Hasselhoff chest hair is also included. The original Knight Rider KITT remote-control car is available for a relatively modest outlay of $50. [Firebox via Gearlog]

Included with Corgi is a refueling station. Fill up the station with water and it will split H2O into H and O and fill up the RC car with the H. The station is completely solar-powered, as well. Oh, and see that button of the left side of the remote? Yeah, it's a turbo button. Let's see you do that, FCX Clarity. The H2GO is available for $250. [Corgi via Giz]

It wasn't until a couple of years ago when we got an XMOD Mustang kit that we built something we were really proud of, a Black & Blue Dirt Track Special. It's a reminder that if you can't live your dreams full size, at least you can in scale. Here's your chance to completely geek out. What's the best model car, lego car, R/C car, slot car or power wheels you've ever built?

LEGO Group Secures Rights from Warner Bros. Consumer Products to Upcoming SPEED RACER Film

LEGO Group, the world's leading construction toy manufacturer, today announced an agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) to secure construction toy rights for the upcoming movie release SPEED RACER, the live action feature film adaptation of the classic TV series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida.

Under the agreement, LEGO Group will produce four constructible racing playsets under its LEGO Racers brand, scheduled to race onto store shelves in April 2008, and ranging in price from $19.99 to $59.99 USD. Builders and collectors alike will appreciate the inclusion of multiple authentic racers in each set for head-to-head racing and building fun. Many of the SPEED RACER characters also will come to life in LEGO minifigure form, including Speed, Racer X, Trixie, Spritle, Chim-Chim, Mom and Pops Racer, Taejo Togokhan, Snake Oiler, Gray Ghost and Cruncher Block.

"Warner Bros. Consumer Products has partnered with LEGO on Batman and Harry Potter, and we are excited to expand our relationship to include products based on the upcoming SPEED RACER film," said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President, Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "LEGO has captured the racing excitement of the film in its own unique way."

"The popularity and universal appeal of SPEED RACER has engaged generations of loyal and enduring fans," said Jill Wilfert, Vice President, Partnership and Alliance Management for LEGO Group. "Combined with one of our most popular lines in LEGO Racers, SPEED RACER has become an awesome proposition for our business and consumers."

The green flag drops on May 9, 2008, when SPEED RACER makes his feature film debut in the newest project from writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the groundbreaking The Matrix trilogy, and producer Joel Silver. A live-action, high-octane family adventure based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the big-screen SPEED RACER will follow the adventures of the young race car driver Speed (Emile Hirsch) in his quest for glory in his thundering Mach 5. It will feature other characters that fans of the show will remember, including Mom (Susan Sarandon) and Pops Racer (John Goodman), girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci) and the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox).

Product Information

The Carrera ""GO!!!"" is now available as a new starter set from Carrera in a scale of 1:43. "GO!!!" also sets new standards with regard to the speed. The turbo hand regulators included in all basic packages, all have an extra turbo key with enough power to enable you to manage 4 loops straight from the start! The track also underscores the fact that ""GO!!!"" is a perfect starter model: The completely new easy-to-fit system allows the track to be put up or taken down very easily.

Thanks to the new type of locking and support systems, the track can be constructed very quickly. Carrera fun with turbo power The new turbo hand controller is part of all basic packs and guarantees real fun. All sets come with ""Turbo speed controller"" with race boost. All sets include numerous action features like lap counter or loops. [Amazon]

This $16 gadget is probably only good until it says something on the wrong day and you toss him out the window. It's okay, there are plenty of other assholes out there ready to criticize your slow/aggressive/stupid driving and you don't need one more, especially when he is fictional to begin with. [Product Page via Gizmodiva]

Just in time for the holiday season, the Sharper Image is selling this toy race track with "incredibly realistic slot-racing action for as many as six Indy-style cars!" Um, except for the fact that the cars are Formula 1 cars. According to the Sharper Image site (and printed catalog):

"Set includes two digitally controlled Indy-style race cars; a McLaren Mercedes-Benz MP 4/17 and a Ferrari F2002 V10."

Aside from the factual error, why is a company that touts itself as "a leading source of new, innovative, high-quality products" putting five-year-old cars in its 2007 holiday catalog? The included "double oval" track just adds insult to injury. No wonder F1 left the United States. Although, at this point, I'm sure Schumi is too busy with endorsement deals and Kimi is too drunk to care. [via Sharper Image]

Product Details: * Two RC 4 wheel drive cars. * RC navigates the cars forward, backwards, left and right. * 1 driver and 3 passengers per car. * Crash into the side of your opponents? car to depress the sensors on the door. * 4 sensors per car, each correlating to a passenger/driver. * Requires 8 x AA Batteries (not included). * Suitable for ages 8 years+. * Size: 16 x 8 x 8cm (each car).

[IWantOneOfThose]

The recalled cars include 380,000 Pull-Back Action Toy Cars (pictured), 7,500 Dragster and Funny Car toys and 7,200 "Big Red" wagons. Though no illnesses have been linked to these toys, lead is bad for the youngins. [Do you hate when people attempt to borrow your car? Do you think a joy buzzer handshake is a clever prank? If you answered yes to both of those questions then we have a device for you: the Shocks Car Key. Designed by Bim Bam Banana, the fake key fob gives the user a mild electric shock when they try and open the car. While we wouldn't use it on our friends, because we like them and we don't usually spend $21 on novelties, we wouldn't hesitate to use it on younger siblings that insist on taking the car without permission. [h/t Coolest Gadgets]

The little cars are meant for young children, obviously, and even have duel controls for "authentic movement." They work for 40 minutes per charge and have foam bumpers so the kids don't end up killing each other, or the furniture. At a low price of £79.98 for the set, we think they're a steal. Unfortunately, corndog-scented old dude leering at kids not included. [h/t Pocket Link]

Ford Gangster Grin This sleek, bullet-like design by Steve Gilmore has a wide grille that seems to ... well ... grin. We predict we'll be seeing similar bling on rappers' dental work in the near future.

Honda Racer The body of this double open-cockpit race car designed by Guillermo Gonzalez is in the shape of a Honda logo. We're holding our breath for the roundel-shaped flying saucer BMW model next year.

Lotus Concept We dig this space-age, slightly froggy looking design by Russell Carr. It's aggressive but still kinda cute, and keeps some of the signature Lotus lines found on the Elise and Exige.

General Motors Chevroletor The design by Amaury Diaz-Serrano is anything but hammy (non-pork eaters might not get that joke). It's modern yet retro, evoking images of Corvettes from the '50s and '60s.

Mitsubishi Double Shotz The design by Gary Ragle features two EVO engines; one in front and one in back, with transparent red wheels. Twice the weight on half the tire strength — that's what we're talking about!

Dodge XP-07 This muscular creation from designer Mark Reisen has twin turbine engines and features signature Dodge crosshairs on the hood. One of us remarked that it kind of resembles the Batmobile on Human Growth Hormone. Yee haw.

HW40 Not to be outdone, Jun Imai at Hot Wheels threw his own creation into the mix. This mean green monster features red line tires and the Hot Wheels logo all over the tire tread.

Press Release:

"THE RODDLER " tm (Patents pending)

Pinstripe Prep collaborates with Iacono designs to breathe new life into the juvenile product market. In dealing with product category as mundane as strollers, two creative minds are joining forces to create a completely customizable stroller Targeted to affluent and tasteful parental units, your kids will boast the coolest wheels on the boardwalk. Born and bred in California, each model based on "the Roddler" model platform and can either be ordered as stock, or with a short lead time is tailored to be as individual as the owner. See our host of lavish features, build one out and contact your local dealer today. Visit our website at www.kidkustoms.com

Pricing starts at $2500 and orders are already being fulfilled. Did we mention we are avid supporters of 1% for the Planet www.onepercentfortheplanet.org

Production Model Options

Aircraft-inspired, Lightweight monocoque chassis construction

Custom Pearl Paint Jobs with Pinstripes

Custom Seat and Tops (supple ostrich, stingray, alligator, cow hide or alcantra surfaces available in a host of colors and stitch combinations)

Retro Inspired Kustom Fenders w/Lights (50's Kustoms, Buicks, Cadi's, Merc's, Old's, Vicky's and more) Now you can have the vintage tins and fins for your tots)

DVD Screen, i-Pod Dock

Kustom Leaf spring design with Hot Rod Hairpins

One of us is an avid fan of Red State Update — the wacky redneck vidbloggers. This week of our In-dee-pen-dance, they're taking on Transformers. We know we always enjoy it when two of our memes join forces — in this case robots in disguise and redneck Camaro drivers. Epic. – Ray Wert

Related:
Transformers Movie Trailer: Now In Higher Definition!; CNBC Rolls Out Poser Pundit David Poland To Talk Transformers; Happy Transformers Movie Day!; all of our Transformers coverage [internal]

I'll make a confession. While I no doubt owned Matchbox and Hot Wheels toys as a kid, I wasn't that into 'em. I loved cars of course, and seeing how we managed to spend so much time in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach when I was young, I could wander the streets with my car geek friend David while our folks finished brunch and look at actual slant-nose 935s, Lambo Jalpas, Ferrari Mondials, Avantis and what ever else the merchants of bad taste deemed necessary that week. We did see an Aston Martin Lagonda parked in front of Nate & Als one Sunday, which was and continues to be one of the happiest moments of my life. What I am trying to say is that I am totally the wrong guy to be asking this question. So, I will let commenter Seth L,

"What is your favorite car toy? Matchbox? Tonka? Micro Machines? An amazingly complicated HotWheels track? Supercity?

[The Jalopnik Question of the Day is better when asked. Do you have a question you want answered? Email it to tips@jalopnik.com with the subject line "QOTD"]

Related:
Where Did You Get Your Automotive Dogma?; The Jalopnik Question of the Day [Internal]

Our new buddy Todd went to the Ridemakerz grand opening over the weekend in Myrtle Beach, SC. Apparently, he's the ideal customer — a dad who brought his two sons to get their customz awn! He reports:

I took my 2 sons and got a high-end package at $75 consisting of rims, remote control and special lights for one son. My other son opted for a free wheeling car with just the basics. He added some lights underneath and some rims for about $39.

Related:
Build a Bear, Build a Car: New EnterTOYment Concept Taps Custom Rides [internal]

[Ridemakerz]

After Build-A-Bear, Build-A-Toy-Car [The New York Times]

Related:
Slotting it Up in the Modern Age [internal]