Mattel Disney Pixar CARS: 2015 D23 Expo “Big Al” Albert Hinkey, Hinkey
Albert Hinkey arrives at Disney’s D23 Expo LITERALLY hinkey-style in the way back loading bay – unannounced.
This was the proto seen nearly 6 years ago – arrives slightly different but mostly like this.
Thanks for the great pics “Mariela” and “Pablo!”
The released versions sports a giant banner attachment … (plastic, not really a “banner.”)
Mostly accurate.
Pablo notes that it’s not very heavy. My guess is that the two side panels are plastic – easier to glue the plastic banner on plastic.
My guess why the “banner” is Lightning McQueen’s Biggest Fan and not the movie version – I would say it’s 75% trademark and 25% because they were afraid people might be confused he was Steve McQueen’s biggest fan (movie star) or Steve McQueen’s biggest fan (movie director) … yea, there are lawyers making 6-figures who worry about such things.
Back to the diecast.
Perhaps just the face is diecast?
Or maybe the face and the back panel is metal diecast – held together with a plastic side and roof? Pablo says it’s about 8″ long or about the length of Mack & trailer. @3″ wide and @3.5″ tall including the flags.
That would also explain the relatively low price of $35 (well at the D23 Expo).
Of course, you had to get up mighty early to line up to get in – as in 5 AM.
They started the day selling 6 per register visit, then it was 2 PER DAY and now 1 PER DAY so until about 4 PM, Sunday – it’s not easy.
Officially called BIG AL – though of course, there is already a BIG AL in the CARS Radiator Springs back story but you can call me Al.
Thanks for the great pics, “Mariela & Pablo.”
You can still buy tix to D23 Expo but if not, your best bet is probably eBay.
As for the “sellout,” Mattel is apparently only bringing out enough for a day at a time so when they “sell out,” it’s just for the day. Of course, there’s only 2 more days left. If I had to guess, I would say there’s 900 at the show and 100 samples for Disney, Pixar & Mattel.
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14 August 2015
49 Comments
I just found this if anyone is still looking for – Amazon.
I just found this if anyone is still – Amazon.
I was at D23. I had a sorcerer ticket but I knew nothing about Albert Hinkley. In fact I found out about it when a person sitting behind me in a panel on Friday bought one and I saw it. For clarification. Friday was limited to 2 per person. I never saw anyone with 6 or more. Thursday the only people that could shop were sorcerer and we could only shop at The Disney Store (though they did not release the limited items that day), Mickey’s of Glendale (though most of the new pins were not released until Friday and Saturday) and Dream Store. We were escorted to and from the stores and not allowed to walk around the floor. A friend picked up Albert for me and told me they were limited to 2 per person. This was Friday around noon. They were still available at that time.
As to why it was a secret. I do not know. To be honest Kevin and his crew are the only ones I have ever seen go to such lengths to help people obtain limited items. I have seem far too many people buy to sell on eBay. I would like to think this was the reason they kept it a secret and not because of the kindness of someone like Kevin. I was one of those people last time who attended the entire weekend and never was able to get a Convoy Bros until they finally sold me a damaged one on thefts day. I agree that pre-sale is the best way to go. It is a win win for everyone. Why they do not do that like in 2011 I do not know. Without a pre-sale I see no real fair way other than limiting the quantities people can buy.
This time I met fellow attendee’s that were there simply to buy items to sell on eBay. Especially the dolls and tsum tsums. These were sold out by 10:00 am daily. I stood in line with someone who spent $5000 in one trip just to sell on eBay. They openly admitted it. How do the vendors combat that so that more attendee’s can purchase the item other than doing a pre-sale and or limiting the quantities a person can purchase.
I was there on Friday morning and ran straight to the Mattel booth. Limit was 6 per person that morning and by the end of the day it went to 1 per. Mattel didn’t allocate per day like I thought they would and they weren’t expecting such a huge response to people buying even though it was LE 1000. My wife and I ended up buying 9 sets for fellow car collectors. We even got the last Flo Precision Series playsets. It sucks sorcerers weren’t able to go to other booths besides the stores.
I thought with sorcere’s pass you could buy whatever you want (with such a high ticket price) that’s disappointed.
And yes, it was 6 in the beginning and an hour later they limited to 2, 2 per day!
It was obvious they were going to sells fast at that price! I don’t know what Mattel is thinking…
Silly Mattel would of made three times more money if they had made more than 1000.
I feel the pain for those who had tickets for the weekend and then see the booth closed, that’s not right.
We tried to help as many as we could but wasn’t enough, had to refund a lot of people. I even sold my extra without knowing, so I bought one for $99 on ebay to have as a spare.
Reading all these comments from D23 just destroyed all my envy to go to this kind of event…. To be so close to get something unique and not be able to… What a shame!
Im willing to buy if anyone have an extra…. Sallychula at gmail.com. Thank you!
I was there first thing on Saturday and they were already completely sold out for the weekend (someone said they sold a few managed boxes on Saturday morning). So they basically sold them all on Friday, leaving all the D23 attendees for the weekend out in the cold. Thy should have made more and done presale.
Sorry “damaged” boxes, not “managed”.
So did they actually only make one thousand (1000) units for sale? Seems to me a waste of resources when the tooling could easily make ten thousand (10,000) — and they’d *still* sell them all. Further, as I have pointed out before, there is absolutely no law or regulation (State or Federal) holding anyone to what is a “limited edition” or its definition. It’s buyer beware on that count.
With luck, we’ll see these again before too long in different packaging that is not unique to the D23 event.
Well…. this will show up on Mattycollector or not? who knows.
Not having one in hand, and not having been at D23 — is there anything on the actual packaging or were there any signs or announcements that this was an item limited to just the 1000 made or if it was just available at D23? If not, we can be hopeful that it was just the first 1000 sold were at D23 — and they’ll eventually make their way to the other collector outlets like Matty.com or the Disney Parks distribution network.
Not to start anything, and I’m just assuming this, I have no real evidence, but I wonder if this was kept a secret to keep people for buying for other people, since they gave others grief that one year for the Convoy Brothers. NascarFan actually got me a Convoy Brothers set that year which I’m eternally grateful for, very cool of him to do that for me and others on here, and someone harassed him and his helpers I remember reading on takefive, which is completely uncalled for. And Kevin, I hope you feel better, thanks again for the Convoy Bros from a few years ago, still my all time favorite in my collection.
-John
I agree. I have a ‘comment awaiting moderation’ from this morning that says this exactly.
John, it is part of it yes. From a well known collector who complained. Not just me but 4 others that day and we were OUTRIGHT LIED TO by Disney and Mattel – and being pointed out in person at that event – aka sold out, then they had a late restock that Sunday.
thank you for the well wishes, all of you
Does anybody knows the original price?
$35.00 plus tax
I am excited about this diecast but not as excited as I was about the Convoy Brothers, probably because I will never lay actual hands on it. As to the secrecy, I think this was D23’s own revenge for the fall-out from the Convoy Brothers and the fact we as fans and collectors banded together behind Nascarfan to get our own even though few of us attended and he bought them on our behalf via arrangements made ahead of time.
If I recall correctly, the D23 organizer from 2013 who was so hot under the collar about it used ‘but people who bought tickets for D23 to get it were left out in the cold’ as the reason Nascarfan was asked to leave. If, however, this secret diecast character sold-out before the weekend concluded, I guess the organizers’ experiment failed anyway. Anyone attending the latter part of the event still left empty-handed, and without the Cars character they came to get. I don’t suppose there are too many congratulations to go around for that but now at least the D23 people can’t hold anyone unfairly accountable for that but themselves.
Personally, I would be happy if every new character was released to market under the same cloak of secrecy. I don’t do backdoor-from-China and don’t want to know what factory workers are taking home in their pockets.
Have we not learned anything from “PRE SALE” pickups? – D 23 did this one year 2011 – worked great – totally out of the way and out of sight. Should have been this way again, and this way for the Convoy Bros. But did we learn anything. Nope.
ALL THIS HAS DONE is the opposite result – INCREASED ebay prices and left out true fans
Exactly.
This is just another finger pointing to those that DO care and DO charge for going to get stuff for others – YES I MADE money – You cant and be able to go – “Fund a vacation”??? what vacation? I WORK at those events. NO to very little sleep and shipping and IRS backlashes.
I guess this is still my fault for not even being there this year as well (as some others have emailed me and pointed out on other groups)
I WAS NOT EVEN AT D 23 you fools!
(MET: Unless I missed something, I don’t think any “implied” criticism of the process was directed at you … in short, most toy companies still treat it as if it’s still 1985 and prior. Back then, if you go to the effort, you can pick up something special. Prior to 1985, that worked as it was pretty difficult to re-sell more than a few of something so the hoarding/helping/buying* was limited – but with the internet & later eBay, you can re-sell anything to a guy who has to have it delivered by a guy in a canoe in the rain forest … the world changed. Distribution has not.
* it’s all depends on whether you’re in front of the line or behind this person. 🙂 ).
NEVER towards you Metroxing of Tizman
I have received a few emails asking for these. Please do not ask me for these or referrals to those that DID go.
I never went this year due to health issues.
I don’t have anyone getting me one or two (as I had hoped) either.
Out of all the people I did get stuff for over the years not one person has asked –
“Hey Kevin can I get you some?”
Not one…. Sad.
I don’t think it is due to folks forgetting you, it’s just that most of us don’t attend either. Did anyone else here manage to get to D23? For me to attend would be a three day drive, or a flight out to LA, the hotel and event ticket prices — for what, to wait in line and buy a Hinkey at the base price of $35? Even at the eBay price I paid ($100) it was a bargain compared to buying one at the show.
Thanks, just bought one for 99.00 free ship – no outer box. I would like a complete one should you see it comeup for the same price.
Sorry to hear that Kevin, must have missed where you originally posted that you weren’t going this year. Hope you’re doing better.
hello Kevin, I was one who requested (in a panic moment) after one of these. My apologies for loading this upon you, and condolences on your turn of health may you get well in a timely manner.
I also contacted getmecollectibles (again in that panic mode) – so within the hour I had secured one off ebay as on observation the prices had inflated markedly.
youre fine, thanks
Can anyone pick one up for me if possible?
Thanks, Nick.
I suspect I’ll replace the banner with a correctly worded one once mine arrives — and I see what sort of effort it will require.
(MET: Good luck!)
In looking at a way to replace the supplied banner with a properly worded one, it occurred to me that the outer box artwork “Big Al” arrives in is essentially the starting point to use for creating the correct artwork in photoshop. The three words needed are right there, in a close enough font, they just need to be moved around and scaled to each other properly, then add the “95” to it and print it out on thick material.
(MET: You can print them to water transfer label paper).
Here’s going to be the problem. The diecast model is too short in height compared to the length. Thus, the properly worded banner will be taller than the body if printed correctly for length, and too short in length if printed to fit the existing height. Decisions, decisions.
Biggest and best surprise in years. When the rumor leaked two weeks ago that Albert Hinkey would be sold at D23 it was a shock since there were no prior notices as with the convoy Bros. We know now that Mattel can keep a secret and a big one :). And can keep it out of the back door market. Thank you Mattel for answering our wishes and now please just finish the final few cars in the Meet the Cars book and the Blu Ray Cars finder game.
Answering WHAT wishes??? I don’t recall wishing for a secret release of a non-canon mis-named character to a few hundred scalpers in one location! I think I’ll just have the Kroger Bakery make me a cake just like this. I get hungry just looking at it.
The wish was that Albert Hinkey would get made. The hints were all there that D23 OR sdCC would be the venue for his release. Met posted back in 2010!
Lizzie: The only guy strong enough to fix that road is Big Al!
Ramone: Lizzie, the guy left, like, 15 years ago.
Lizzie: Then why are you bringing him up, you lemon?
I always assumed “Big Al” was a dump truck or similar large vehicle in Radiator Springs, and no relation to Albert Hinkey.
This is not THAT Big Al.
This is Albert Hinkey, a completely different character.
I know that its not the same character John, thats why I posted the script. I don’t know if anyone knows who the Big Al is that Lizzie was talking about.
(MET: The comic book has Lizzie saying something – I can’t remember if we see a shadow of Big Al? I think he was a big tow truck? My faulty memory? Anyone have the comic handy?)
I’ve always pictured Big Al being a dumptruck or something.
Mattel needs some collectors on staff to help guide their marketing.
Years ago I rebuilt a ‘Lesney King Size’ #K-19 Scammell dump truck, made the eyes for it, and that’s what is a place-keeper in my collection for “Big Al”.
Saaaaaaaaaaaawwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!
It’s all diecast what you care about? What about the movie??? did you hear that Cars 3 was announced at the D23 Expo??? C’mon let’s pay attention to the film, it’s the reason why we all buy the toys after all…
Cars 3 was announced quite some time ago. Nothing new about it was released at D23 other than an uninformative poster with the words Cars 3 on it.
Wow, this one was done in the utmost of secrecy, usually we know well in advance whether we’re getting a D23 exclusive. eBay already has them for anywhere from $100 to $175.
I officially hate Mattel.
9+ years of hunting and thousands of dollars spent, and they go and hide this at D23.
That being said, the banner isn’t canon to the movie and the name is NOT Big Al.
And now my comment is awaiting moderation…
(MET: You racked up another comment! You’re well on your way to redeeming the coupon towards the 1/2000th of a cent thing … you know why I comment in the comment not “reply” because the spam filter has filtered ME … I asked for a refund but then I realize I paid zero dollars. You get what you pay for. 🙂 ).
I gave the Mattel rep at the booth an earful about doing a Disney Pixar Cars club. I said, look how you sold out Albert Hinkey in one day! There is a huge collectors market out there, and hello? You are making collector level playsets and die cast now (we were standing right next to their display of new Radiator Springs sets). I guarantee you there are more are collectors than He-Man and more are bring born (or turning 2) every day!
You’re right. I dig He-Man as much as the next person and do have a soft spot for the Minis they’ve done in the MOTU series but it’s harder to give one to your toddler, what with all the ‘destroy destroy destroy’ behind it. Cars characters have a much greater and universal appeal. To people of all ages. Cars are friendly. Well, maybe not Cars 2 characters but the original Cars characters will always make children happy. Planes too.