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About Michael Zarnock
Expertise
I am able to answer questions about Hot Wheels toy cars and accessories.

Experience

Michael Zarnock (born April 21, 1958 in Utica, New York) is an American author and columnist, who writes collector guides and articles about Hot Wheels toy cars and accessories. Michael's knowledge and his massive Hot Wheels collection has earned him notoriety around the world. Whether it be because of the 8 books and countless articles that he has written about Hot Wheels toys or the sheer size and diversity of his collection, this extensive knowledge has earned him the label, "One of the worlds leading Hot Wheels authorities." Michael is also a 2 Time Guinness World Record holder! First in 2003 and then again in 2007! He is in the record books for owning the "Largest collection of different model cars".

Michael was under contract with Toy Cars & Models Magazine for 6 years where he wrote a monthly Hot Wheels column and price guide, he currently has a monthly column in Die Cast X Magazine..

Bibliography
2008 to Present – Die Cast X Magazine (Monthly Hot Wheels © Column)
2002 to 2008 - "Toy Cars & Models Magazine ®" (Monthly Hot Wheels ® Column)
2002-The Ultimate Guide To Hot Wheels Variations
2002-*The Standard Catalog of Die-Cast Vehicles II
2003-Warman's Hot Wheels Field Guide
2004-Hot Wheels Variations, The Ultimate Guide 2nd Edition
2004-*Toys & Prices 11th Edition
2005-Hot Wheels Accessories, The Ultimate Guide
2005-*The Standard Catalog of Die-Cast Vehicles III
2005-*Toys & Prices 12th Edition
2006-Hot Wheels: A Warman's Companion Guide
2006-*Toys & Prices 13th Edition
2007-Hot Wheels Variations, The Ultimate Guide 3rd Edition
2007-*Toys & Prices - 14th Edition
2007-Warman’s Hot Wheels Field Guide 2nd Edition
2008-*Toys & Prices - 15th Edition
2008-Once Upon A Street Race
(Based on the true story of the time Mike got kidnapped at a street race!)
2009-*Toys & Prices - 16th Edition
2009-Hot Wheels: A Warman's Companion Guide 2nd Edition
* denotes (Hot Wheels Collector Number chapter only)
All of these publications are available at Bookstores around the world.

Awards and Honors
September 2003 Michael was awarded a Guinness World Record ™ for his collection of 3,711 Different Model Cars. Although Michael has more than 15,000 toy cars in his collection, that record was for 3,711 different Hot Wheels model cars. The old record was 1,500.
In 2006, Michael's record was broken by a man in Argentina with 7,000 different models cars.
Michael has since brought his title back to the USA in February 2007 with 8128 different Hot Wheels model cars! Part of this collection is on display at the Childrens Museum in Utica, New York.
2008 Michael was featured in "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" book #5 "Prepare To Be Shocked!" for his Hot Wheels obsession.
 
   

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Collectibles--Toys - serial #'s


Expert: Michael Zarnock - 1/9/2008

Question
hello
what does the 1L before the serial # ?

example: 1L 5649
thank you

Answer
Hi Rob,
Those are the Mattel Product numbers. The 1L is just a code used by them, that's all. The 1L has been showing up at the end of the numbers, not the front (example - L9925 1L). They have shown up on the later 2007 releases and all of the 2008 releases.
Mike

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