The 1999 Collection
For 1999, 50 different collections were released, however, due to the transition from Galoob to Hasbro this year, some sets were extremely low production (e.g. #18, #20, #23, #24, #36, #48, #50) compared to others. This has caused collectors to pay solid strong premiums for some vehicles/figures from these collections and even others from the more common sets because the vehicles were unique to the 1999 release. As an added difficulty, many of the vehicles were released as variations (some very minor like lights/blinkers and others fairly dramatic like the atom artwork on the sprint car in collection #8). These sealed sets comprise all 50 collections with many of the variations, however, other variations have been found as well which will be added soon as pictures of loose vehicles are taken. 1999 collection card designs are easy to detect with the purple background and thin blister. The card-back and catalog did not show pictures of the vehicles.
For 1999, 50 different collections were released, however, due to the transition from Galoob to Hasbro this year, some sets were extremely low production (e.g. #18, #20, #23, #24, #36, #48, #50) compared to others. This has caused collectors to pay solid strong premiums for some vehicles/figures from these collections and even others from the more common sets because the vehicles were unique to the 1999 release. As an added difficulty, many of the vehicles were released as variations (some very minor like lights/blinkers and others fairly dramatic like the atom artwork on the sprint car in collection #8). These sealed sets comprise all 50 collections with many of the variations, however, other variations have been found as well which will be added soon as pictures of loose vehicles are taken. 1999 collection card designs are easy to detect with the purple background and thin blister. The card-back and catalog did not show pictures of the vehicles.
1999 Vehicle Variations
These images are taken from the 1999 Collection sets above for comparisons of known variations found sealed. Additional loose variations will be added here when pictures are taken and uploaded.
These images are taken from the 1999 Collection sets above for comparisons of known variations found sealed. Additional loose variations will be added here when pictures are taken and uploaded.
1999 Foreign Mainline, Errors, and Pre-Production Collections
The 1999 series was released in the standard format in many countries with Spain, Italy, Argentina, and a France/Germany (import label only on card-back) presented here. Unlike in the USA, these were sold in the respective countries the entire 1999 year making it possible to locate the lower production/less common sets in these markets. A pre-production packaging prototype on a 1997 Canadian card is shown and 3 incorrect vehicle error collections (14, 18, & 20).
The 1999 series was released in the standard format in many countries with Spain, Italy, Argentina, and a France/Germany (import label only on card-back) presented here. Unlike in the USA, these were sold in the respective countries the entire 1999 year making it possible to locate the lower production/less common sets in these markets. A pre-production packaging prototype on a 1997 Canadian card is shown and 3 incorrect vehicle error collections (14, 18, & 20).
1999 Bonus 5-Vehicle Collections
This spring 1999 promotion in the USA resulted in these vehicles being the most common from the 1999 mainline series by comparison to the standard non-bonus mainline releases. This is due to Hasbro no longer selling the 1999 series in the USA after the spring sales. The 5-vehicle bonus offer yet again included many unique vehicles. This grouping of collections will assist in determining all that were released, but more are found in the 1999 Sea Explorers and Military 5-vehicle bonus collections as well that are missing here. Note: #5 Street Trucks includes a known variation for the Ford Model T Pickup.
This spring 1999 promotion in the USA resulted in these vehicles being the most common from the 1999 mainline series by comparison to the standard non-bonus mainline releases. This is due to Hasbro no longer selling the 1999 series in the USA after the spring sales. The 5-vehicle bonus offer yet again included many unique vehicles. This grouping of collections will assist in determining all that were released, but more are found in the 1999 Sea Explorers and Military 5-vehicle bonus collections as well that are missing here. Note: #5 Street Trucks includes a known variation for the Ford Model T Pickup.
1999 Target Exclusive Candy Cane Collections
An exclusive offering from Target was available in 1999 for the Christmas season. It is believed these 5 collections represent all the known variations of the vehicles offered. An error civilian vehicles on military card is known and shown below as well.
An exclusive offering from Target was available in 1999 for the Christmas season. It is believed these 5 collections represent all the known variations of the vehicles offered. An error civilian vehicles on military card is known and shown below as well.
1998/1999 Carabinieri Collections (Italy Only)
Italian only collections for the Carabinieri were released in 1998 and 1999, however, it appears they spread over into 2000 as well possibly considering the additional collections offered that year. The 1998 release includes the Italian GiG logo and the 1999/2000 release includes the Hasbro logo. The collection was expanded from 5 collections to 7 between years and variations to window coloring are known. Unfortunately, no copyright details are present on these collections to better assist in further release identification. (The 1998 playsets show 5 collections though and the large helicopter has a 1997 copyright.)
Italian only collections for the Carabinieri were released in 1998 and 1999, however, it appears they spread over into 2000 as well possibly considering the additional collections offered that year. The 1998 release includes the Italian GiG logo and the 1999/2000 release includes the Hasbro logo. The collection was expanded from 5 collections to 7 between years and variations to window coloring are known. Unfortunately, no copyright details are present on these collections to better assist in further release identification. (The 1998 playsets show 5 collections though and the large helicopter has a 1997 copyright.)
1999 Winner's Circle Collections (Hasbro)
NASCAR-themed racing sets were released in 1999 under the Hasbro logo presumably in the fall once the transition from Galoob was complete. Various types of collections were sold under the Winner's Circle logo presented below. Signed Hasbro green tag samples, revisions, and corrections are also shown.
NASCAR-themed racing sets were released in 1999 under the Hasbro logo presumably in the fall once the transition from Galoob was complete. Various types of collections were sold under the Winner's Circle logo presented below. Signed Hasbro green tag samples, revisions, and corrections are also shown.
1999 Racing Collections (Hasbro)
The European market issued a similar racing theme as the Winner's Circle, but simply titled, "Racing". The Sound Blaster collections were increased to 4 from 2, but the Competition Sets were kept as 5 similar to the Winner's Circle Dueling Drivers number of released sets. Other collections similar to the Winner's Circle Racing World and vehicle packs were released in 2000, but with modifications for the European market.
The European market issued a similar racing theme as the Winner's Circle, but simply titled, "Racing". The Sound Blaster collections were increased to 4 from 2, but the Competition Sets were kept as 5 similar to the Winner's Circle Dueling Drivers number of released sets. Other collections similar to the Winner's Circle Racing World and vehicle packs were released in 2000, but with modifications for the European market.
1999 Collector Edition Corvettes
20 different vehicle releases were planned for this series, but only 19 of them are readily found. The silver '61 Hardtop (CE 3R) apparently suffered from a serious production issue and only a handful are known. The others released indicate the production ranged from 6,700 or 20,000. Card-backs are each different for this series, but only 4 are shown here as examples. These are larger than the normal Micro Machines size, but highly detailed.
20 different vehicle releases were planned for this series, but only 19 of them are readily found. The silver '61 Hardtop (CE 3R) apparently suffered from a serious production issue and only a handful are known. The others released indicate the production ranged from 6,700 or 20,000. Card-backs are each different for this series, but only 4 are shown here as examples. These are larger than the normal Micro Machines size, but highly detailed.
1999 Ship in a Bottle Collections
A single ship-in-a-bottle was released in 1999 for the Titanic. Two versions of the set exist with and without "H.M.S." Australia and Italy versions are shown.
A single ship-in-a-bottle was released in 1999 for the Titanic. Two versions of the set exist with and without "H.M.S." Australia and Italy versions are shown.