Post by ferrari512s on Jan 9, 2014 10:00:21 GMT -5
Bruce Pacals Details of purchasing the Pink "Rear Loading" Beach Bomb
Image courtesy of Bruce Pascal
Let me tell you the whole story. In late 1999, I read in article about a pink RLBB that been sold by Chris Marshall of Ohio for the record sum of $72,000. Understanding $72,000 was a lot of money, I thought to myself that if you compare that amount to other record-selling collectibles, then maybe it wasn’t such a high number after all. For example, the 1804 silver dollar, just a coin, sold for over two million. The Honus Wagner baseball card, an original penny item, sold for over one million. And look at all the paintings and sports cars selling in the millions. Hmm, maybe not so bad. But too late for me—it had been reported sold by the paper.
One month later, reading a different newspaper, I saw the same article, but with a different ending. That article said the deal should close soon. I knew something was fishy. I then tried to locate Chris Marshall, with no luck. So I tracked down the newspaper author, and he hooked me up with him. Wouldn’t you guess, the buyer had second thoughts, and after putting a deposit down, he still had not come up with the funds.
Chris and I negotiated a deal over the next few months. I was able to apply the down payment the other person had put down and negotiate a price that I was comfortable with. It was clearly a new record for a toy like this, but I had confidence the die-cast hobby for Hot Wheels would grow, and years later, I would look back to this purchase as a smart move.
Chris flew in from Ohio and gave me the car, and I gave him the check. He had a great sense of humor, too. I unwrapped the car and noticed he put a fake car in the tube. After my small heart attack, he handed me the real deal, and I have owned it since then.
Image courtesy of Bruce Pascal
Letter of Authenticity
Image courtesy of Bruce Pascal
How about this instead...
To: Mr. Bruce Pascal 24 April 2001.
Dear Bruce,
You requested a brief history of my involvement with the Hot-Wheels VW Beach Bomb.
I worked for Mattel Toys from 1967 to 1986, 19 years. During the late 60s and early 70s my function was as a Liason Engineer between Products and Research and Development on all toys and Hot Wheels products, particularly automated equipment.
During this time the VW Bus was run on an engineering pilot producing around 200 products for reliability testing and assemblability.
After this Pilot, concern was expressed that the VW bus would not function with the power booster and several of the engineers involved were asked to take samples home and see if our children had any problem with this defect.
We found that our children 'were' disappointed by the fact that VW Bus' could not be power boosted. Report was made to management and subsequently the design changed to one with a wider body which functioned with the booster well. (Surf-Boards were moved to the sides)
I retained my test car as was Mattel's policy with test toys. The vehicle has been in my attic at the above address for 30 years and was only retrieved at your request.
Enclosed in addition to the VW Bus are ten other cars which have been in the same box for the same length of time.
Trusting this note is adequate for your records.
Sincerely,
Image courtesy of Bruce Pascal
Let me tell you the whole story. In late 1999, I read in article about a pink RLBB that been sold by Chris Marshall of Ohio for the record sum of $72,000. Understanding $72,000 was a lot of money, I thought to myself that if you compare that amount to other record-selling collectibles, then maybe it wasn’t such a high number after all. For example, the 1804 silver dollar, just a coin, sold for over two million. The Honus Wagner baseball card, an original penny item, sold for over one million. And look at all the paintings and sports cars selling in the millions. Hmm, maybe not so bad. But too late for me—it had been reported sold by the paper.
One month later, reading a different newspaper, I saw the same article, but with a different ending. That article said the deal should close soon. I knew something was fishy. I then tried to locate Chris Marshall, with no luck. So I tracked down the newspaper author, and he hooked me up with him. Wouldn’t you guess, the buyer had second thoughts, and after putting a deposit down, he still had not come up with the funds.
Chris and I negotiated a deal over the next few months. I was able to apply the down payment the other person had put down and negotiate a price that I was comfortable with. It was clearly a new record for a toy like this, but I had confidence the die-cast hobby for Hot Wheels would grow, and years later, I would look back to this purchase as a smart move.
Chris flew in from Ohio and gave me the car, and I gave him the check. He had a great sense of humor, too. I unwrapped the car and noticed he put a fake car in the tube. After my small heart attack, he handed me the real deal, and I have owned it since then.
Image courtesy of Bruce Pascal
Letter of Authenticity
Image courtesy of Bruce Pascal
How about this instead...
To: Mr. Bruce Pascal 24 April 2001.
Dear Bruce,
You requested a brief history of my involvement with the Hot-Wheels VW Beach Bomb.
I worked for Mattel Toys from 1967 to 1986, 19 years. During the late 60s and early 70s my function was as a Liason Engineer between Products and Research and Development on all toys and Hot Wheels products, particularly automated equipment.
During this time the VW Bus was run on an engineering pilot producing around 200 products for reliability testing and assemblability.
After this Pilot, concern was expressed that the VW bus would not function with the power booster and several of the engineers involved were asked to take samples home and see if our children had any problem with this defect.
We found that our children 'were' disappointed by the fact that VW Bus' could not be power boosted. Report was made to management and subsequently the design changed to one with a wider body which functioned with the booster well. (Surf-Boards were moved to the sides)
I retained my test car as was Mattel's policy with test toys. The vehicle has been in my attic at the above address for 30 years and was only retrieved at your request.
Enclosed in addition to the VW Bus are ten other cars which have been in the same box for the same length of time.
Trusting this note is adequate for your records.
Sincerely,