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Collecting minicars (Hot Wheels) gets his motor running
northjersey.com ^

Posted on 09/05/2008 6:15:45 PM PDT by Coleus

This is a love story. It’s about passion, infatuation and lifelong devotion. It’s about the unthinkable price that one man would pay to be with the object of his affection. Oh, did we mention this is about a 60-year-old man … and his Hot Wheels? “It’s become an obsession,” admits Joe Scangorella of Elmwood Park, who owns more than 27,500 Hot Wheels. “It just got to the point where I needed to have them all. Why? I don’t know.” Scangorella is one of Hot Wheels’ biggest fans. This year, as the Mattel-owned brand of toy cars celebrates its 40th anniversary, Scangorella will join thousands of other die-hard die-cast car fans at the Hot Wheels conventions in Rhode Island, Mexico and California. Attending these events is the only way to understand the heart of a true Hot Wheels fan, says Scangorella.

“You’ve got to picture a hotel, hundreds of rooms of nothing but Hot Wheels,” he says. “You just go room to room to room, 24 hours a day, looking at cars.” Scangorella, a son of a car mechanic, grew up in East Rutherford surrounded by cars. His love of cars led to many hobbies — building hot rods and collecting matchbox cars. He now works at an auto parts shop in Paterson and owns three antique cars. Scangorella was in his late teens when Hot Wheels was introduced. But he didn’t have a chance to get too attached, as he went to Vietnam around the same time. When he returned from service in the early ’70s, he started collecting seriously. It turned into an obsession in 1995, when Mattel introduced “Treasure Hunt series,” where a limited number of special cars are packaged randomly and sold at retailers among regular Hot Wheels. “My wife knows that when she looks for me, she’ll find me in Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us, Target, Kmart,” says Scangorella, who has thousands of Treasure Hunts. “It’s become an expensive hobby, because you’re running around like a nutcase trying to find this stuff.”

He also scours eBay and collectors’ auctions and attends conventions to acquire limited-edition pieces. He is reluctant to reveal the monetary value of his collection, but the cars are divided among his cellar, rented storage and a bank safety-deposit box. The bank is where he keeps his most expensive Hot Wheels, some of which are worth between $25,000 to $30,000, he says. In his cellar, there are boxes on top of boxes, filled with mint-condition miniature cars in their original packages. There are Hot Wheels of virtually every shape and color, including 24-karat gold Hot Wheels. Miniature cars are piled into dusty glass display cases. Somehow, Scangorella navigates easily around the room, digging up cars and telling a different story about how each was acquired. He’s missing only four of the main collection, he says: One is the legendary pink Beach Bomb Volkswagen, worth about $100,000. That’s too much money, he says. The most he has ever paid for a car is $3,000.

The cellar is decorated with Hot Wheels curtains, Hot Wheels neon signs, and cardboard displays bought from Toys “R” Us and McDonald’s. Scangorella has them all: Hot Wheels jacket, Hot Wheels wall clock, pen, even a pair of boxer shorts sewn into a cushion. “There’s nothing that he has that doesn’t say Hot Wheels,” says his wife, Lynn. When he’s not doting on his collection in the cellar, Scangorella is at the New Jersey Diecast Collectors Club, where he formerly served as president. There are about 60 members, and they come from all over the state to discuss upcoming models, trade cars and hold races. It’s also a place where die-cast fans can relate to one another about this passion. “Collecting lets you relive a little bit of your childhood and lets you own something you wish you can have in real size,” says Carl Pomponio of Cranford, vice president of NJDCC who owns about 15,000 Hot Wheels. “But this passion of collecting started out with obsessing over cars and acquiring pieces, and it truly developed into gaining friends and camaraderie.”

Pomponio and Scangorella have friends all over the country. They meet at conventions and stay in touch during the year, they say. There is only one other thing in the world that Scangorella values as much as Hot Wheels: “My family,” he says. “I’ve got kids, and that’s important to me, I guess.” Luckily, he’s never had to choose one over the other. His wife collects Barbie dolls and carousel horses, so she understands the motivation. His children, while they don’t share his passion for Hot Wheels, often bring him a few die-cast cars as gifts. But perhaps this is a passion that skips a generation. One of his grandchildren is already showing promise. The 7-year-old has collected about 3,000 cars so far — many of which came from Grandpa — and has shown an interest in acquiring more. “He recently asked me, ‘When you die, who gets your cars?’” Scangorella laughs. “I don’t know!”


TOPICS: Hobbies; Local News
KEYWORDS: elmwoodpark; hotwheels; nj; toys
MISSING PIECES

Joe Scangorella is missing only four cars from the main collection. They all come from the Redline collection, which is considered the most valuable of Hot Wheels’ numerous series:

• Volkswagen Rear-Loader Beach Bomb in pink — According to legend, there are only two in existence, and they are each worth about $100,000, Scangorella says.

• Volkswagen army bus in 24- carat gold — Last time Scangorella saw this car on sale, it was going for around $20,000. He hasn’t seen another one since: “Whoever has them, isn’t selling them,” he says.

• Volkswagen Rear-Loader Beach Bomb in magenta — Scangorella estimates these to be worth between $5,000 to $15,000.

• Volkswagen Rear-Loader Beach Bomb in anti-freeze color — These go for about $15,000. Although he would love to complete his collection, Scangorella would not buy the cars at these prices. “I’m slowing down,” he says. “Money’s getting a little tight. … But it would have to get real tight before I start selling my collection.”           

 
Joe Scangorella putting on special                A 24-karat gold Rolls Royce car.
 glasses to look at one of his 3-D
Dream Halloween Charity cars.

1 posted on 09/05/2008 6:15:45 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: devolve; Coleus

Here you are devolve, this should interest you. Shoot, I need to check out my son’s old Hotwheel collection in the closet! In a Hotwheel’s case too.


2 posted on 09/05/2008 6:18:21 PM PDT by potlatch ("OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE REMAIN SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER")
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To: Coleus

Men and their toys.


3 posted on 09/05/2008 6:21:15 PM PDT by itsthejourney (Sarah-cuda IS the right reason)
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To: potlatch



1:18 scale - 8"-10" long


4 posted on 09/05/2008 8:38:14 PM PDT by devolve ( "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it." - Elect a cokehead *08 !)
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To: devolve

Are those like ones in your collection?


5 posted on 09/05/2008 8:40:06 PM PDT by potlatch ("OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE REMAIN SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER")
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To: potlatch

.

Top one is

My idea for John Schultz*s broken AC Bristol was to drip in a Chevy V8

Shelby saw it at Opa Locka when ge was driving Bircage #98 there

They had to use Ford V8s, flair the fenders, modify the suspension - whip the Ferraris!

The bottom is Steve McQueen*s *56 Jag XK-SS - one of a few modified D-Jag for the street when Jag got stuck with unsold obsolete D-Types
He ought it fot $5,000 used in LA in *57

Nice wheels - McQueen had it painted BRG, modified the 6 more, put a door on the glove box, did black leather interior

It*s worth mega-millions now -


6 posted on 09/05/2008 8:52:33 PM PDT by devolve ( "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it." - Elect a cokehead *08 !)
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To: devolve

[My idea for John Schultz*s broken AC Bristol was to drip in a Chevy V8]

Yes, I know you did all that.
Plus - it’s HARD to drip a V8 in, snicker.

I’ll make a bet you are lying down typing on your keyboard, lolol. Sleepytime!!

I like the top one you have.


7 posted on 09/05/2008 8:58:32 PM PDT by potlatch ("OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE REMAIN SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER")
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To: Coleus

I have two of those VW bugs but dont know if they are Read-Loaders? One is metallic pink and the other is metallic pea-green? Any ideas on what I should do with them? They’re in my mom garage in another state but i remember them well.


8 posted on 09/05/2008 9:00:08 PM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (OBAMA: He was a flop before he became a flipper.)
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To: potlatch

.

I recall helping Baby Walton drop a flathead For V8 in a *36 Phaeton
Under a big shade tree beside his house!

The chain he used on the hoist was not as big or strong as it should have been!

Shultz*s engine swap was done in a shop on Dixie Hwy.

Lauderdale is a big deal now for classic cars - A private museum there too

Money money money


9 posted on 09/05/2008 9:09:14 PM PDT by devolve ( "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it." - Elect a cokehead *08 !)
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To: devolve

Classic cars are popular most everywhere. Not necessarily those fancy sports cars but real oldies like my 57 Lincoln.

There are groups set up at many festivals showing their old cars.

Did the ‘drop’ go clear through the car to the ground?


10 posted on 09/05/2008 9:15:38 PM PDT by potlatch ("OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE REMAIN SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER")
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To: potlatch

.

Almost

Walton used an old chain hoist hanging from a big branch of the tree

But he used an old rusty bicycle chain around the engine - and it broke

Luckly nobody lost any toes


11 posted on 09/05/2008 9:29:13 PM PDT by devolve ( "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it." - Elect a cokehead *08 !)
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To: devolve

Well I think I’d be standing waaaay back while they did that!!


12 posted on 09/05/2008 9:33:52 PM PDT by potlatch ("OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE REMAIN SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER")
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To: potlatch

My brother was there too

The 3 of us caught the engine as the chain broke


13 posted on 09/05/2008 9:47:46 PM PDT by devolve ( "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it." - Elect a cokehead *08 !)
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To: devolve

Yikes! But I was forgetting that someone had to be right there in order to position it right!! Lucky no one was hurt.


14 posted on 09/05/2008 9:49:32 PM PDT by potlatch ("OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE REMAIN SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER")
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To: potlatch

In the shop I rig the hoist so it moves sideways

The car can be slowly rolled forward of back

We use aircraft grade bolts on everything and the best chain we can buy

Easiest cars to drop an engine into were the XKE Jags

The whole forward tilting front section forward of the doors and windshild can be removed at the front hinges

You can walk right into the engine compartment then

It’s like Tinker Toys with power hoist and air wrenches then

You can swap in an enigine in under 10 minutes with a Corona in one hand if you set things up safely and correctly


15 posted on 09/05/2008 9:59:36 PM PDT by devolve ( "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it." - Elect a cokehead *08 !)
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To: Coleus

My brother gave me his banged up ones to play with, but kept his pristine ones that came in the corvette shaped box. He is holding on to those until his son is old enough to care for them.


16 posted on 09/05/2008 11:29:54 PM PDT by neb52
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To: potlatch

17 posted on 09/06/2008 5:58:28 AM PDT by devolve ( "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it." - Elect a cokehead *08 !)
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To: IncPen

ping


18 posted on 09/06/2008 8:52:33 AM PDT by Nailbiter
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To: devolve

BEAUTIFUL cars!! I’ll take two...lol


19 posted on 09/06/2008 12:17:02 PM PDT by potlatch ("OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE REMAIN SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER")
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To: devolve

[You can swap in an enigine in under 10 minutes with a Corona in one hand if you set things up safely and correctly]

Lol, and I’m sure you DID - many times!


20 posted on 09/06/2008 1:04:17 PM PDT by potlatch ("OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE REMAIN SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER")
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