The 1998 Collection
Similar to 1997, 40 collections were released for the mainline in 1998 as well. The packaging design was modified seasonally to the thin blister style in the fall. This grouping is the standard release without bonus vehicles. French/German, Spanish, and Italian collections are shown. Interestingly, one of the Italian sets has an early Hasbro sticker applied which is the first instance of the company change over occurring. Two error collections are shown including a dramatic up-side-down error and an incorrect vehicles/insert error (#9 Porsches on #5 Volkswagens insert). Preproduction collections sealed on 1997 cards are shown for a number of sets which were obtained from China. Notice how the 1997 Indianapolis 500 packaging was used for the inserts in these sets.
Similar to 1997, 40 collections were released for the mainline in 1998 as well. The packaging design was modified seasonally to the thin blister style in the fall. This grouping is the standard release without bonus vehicles. French/German, Spanish, and Italian collections are shown. Interestingly, one of the Italian sets has an early Hasbro sticker applied which is the first instance of the company change over occurring. Two error collections are shown including a dramatic up-side-down error and an incorrect vehicles/insert error (#9 Porsches on #5 Volkswagens insert). Preproduction collections sealed on 1997 cards are shown for a number of sets which were obtained from China. Notice how the 1997 Indianapolis 500 packaging was used for the inserts in these sets.
1998 Super Pack, Target Custom Car Shop, and Multi-Pack Collections
Similar to the years before, two different Super Packs were issued in 1998 as well. Two versions of the Target exclusive Custom Car Shop Collector set were released with vehicle variations. Pre-productions of this set include a collection with no stop sign, a packaging mock-up with test shot building and a distortion limit sample in military packaging. 2-pack multi-sets were sold with 2 random collections (#16 and #17 are shown here) as well.
Similar to the years before, two different Super Packs were issued in 1998 as well. Two versions of the Target exclusive Custom Car Shop Collector set were released with vehicle variations. Pre-productions of this set include a collection with no stop sign, a packaging mock-up with test shot building and a distortion limit sample in military packaging. 2-pack multi-sets were sold with 2 random collections (#16 and #17 are shown here) as well.
1998 Bonus 5-Vehicle Collections
22 different collections included 5 free bonus vehicles as a spring promotion. Many of the bonus vehicles are unique to this release and can be difficult to complete. The packs shown here can be used to verify all the 1998 bonus vehicles. Included here are all USA release sets and UK sets with signed sample labels affixed to the card-backs. (The USA sets have a "J" shape hanger and the UK sets have an enclosed oval on the card.) Duplicate sets include different bonus car configurations. An error collection is also included with the Plymouth Firebird replaced by a duplicate Pontiac Grand Prix. Three preproduction sets are shown with the same 1998 card back unlike those using the 1997 card backs in the main section above. Notice the purple prototype test shot figures in Collection #25 (labeled #39)! Incorrect ambulance present from 1997 #30 too. The inserts for these unusual preproduction sets are from the 1997 series.
22 different collections included 5 free bonus vehicles as a spring promotion. Many of the bonus vehicles are unique to this release and can be difficult to complete. The packs shown here can be used to verify all the 1998 bonus vehicles. Included here are all USA release sets and UK sets with signed sample labels affixed to the card-backs. (The USA sets have a "J" shape hanger and the UK sets have an enclosed oval on the card.) Duplicate sets include different bonus car configurations. An error collection is also included with the Plymouth Firebird replaced by a duplicate Pontiac Grand Prix. Three preproduction sets are shown with the same 1998 card back unlike those using the 1997 card backs in the main section above. Notice the purple prototype test shot figures in Collection #25 (labeled #39)! Incorrect ambulance present from 1997 #30 too. The inserts for these unusual preproduction sets are from the 1997 series.
1998 Exploration Early Bonus Collections
These sets included a bonus vehicle from the Exploration Earth series (found in the themes section), but were only sold in Italy. A design mock-up prototype is included here with a USA card-back, but with a later-stage Galoob black-and-white printed artwork copy for positioning/approval possibly.
These sets included a bonus vehicle from the Exploration Earth series (found in the themes section), but were only sold in Italy. A design mock-up prototype is included here with a USA card-back, but with a later-stage Galoob black-and-white printed artwork copy for positioning/approval possibly.
1998 Mini-Pack Collections
Similar to earlier years, 2-vehicle mini-packs were also released in 1998. These appear to be from the USA, but one has a French import sticker on the card-back. One of the packs shown below contains figures and 1 vehicle and a personal favorite.
Similar to earlier years, 2-vehicle mini-packs were also released in 1998. These appear to be from the USA, but one has a French import sticker on the card-back. One of the packs shown below contains figures and 1 vehicle and a personal favorite.
1998 (1997) Indianapolis 500 Collections
Five collections for this series were released in 1998 as well as a mini-pack of 2 vehicles repeating those found in the 1997 First Row collection. Indianapolis 500 Winners of the '60s and '80s are larger 10-vehicle packs. These larger sets were likely not sold in the USA. The 1997 Starting Grid (shown on the card-backs) was not released, but 2 pre-production sets appeared in the USA in 2019. No others had ever been found before and the set was thought not to exist.
Five collections for this series were released in 1998 as well as a mini-pack of 2 vehicles repeating those found in the 1997 First Row collection. Indianapolis 500 Winners of the '60s and '80s are larger 10-vehicle packs. These larger sets were likely not sold in the USA. The 1997 Starting Grid (shown on the card-backs) was not released, but 2 pre-production sets appeared in the USA in 2019. No others had ever been found before and the set was thought not to exist.
1998 Motor Mouths Collections
These seriously over-sized "Micro Machines" took the brand to an extraordinary length with compromised detail and a significant shift to "toys" from collectibles. 10 of these were released per the back of the pack, but not all are presented here since the interest is low for the series.
These seriously over-sized "Micro Machines" took the brand to an extraordinary length with compromised detail and a significant shift to "toys" from collectibles. 10 of these were released per the back of the pack, but not all are presented here since the interest is low for the series.
1998 National Geographic Collections
This series is composed of 3 sub-series (Expedition Collections, Voyages Collections, and Dinosaur Collections) and known from the USA, Italy (see full collection below), Australia, and Spain. (Note: For the Australian #6 UNDERSEA WORLD, the flooring color of the RIB is tan which is different from the all gray color compared to the release from other countries.) Thin and thick blister inserts are also known for the series (See #4 Space Pioneers examples below) due to the seasonal packaging transition to thin styling. #4 World Catastrophes appears to have not been released in the USA making it more difficult to locate and considered rare. Mini-packs with 1 vehicle and figures were also released with two versions shown below from the Expedition Collections series. CRETACEOUS #5 shown below is a preproduction sample on a 1997 Military Card which is an interesting find from China.
This series is composed of 3 sub-series (Expedition Collections, Voyages Collections, and Dinosaur Collections) and known from the USA, Italy (see full collection below), Australia, and Spain. (Note: For the Australian #6 UNDERSEA WORLD, the flooring color of the RIB is tan which is different from the all gray color compared to the release from other countries.) Thin and thick blister inserts are also known for the series (See #4 Space Pioneers examples below) due to the seasonal packaging transition to thin styling. #4 World Catastrophes appears to have not been released in the USA making it more difficult to locate and considered rare. Mini-packs with 1 vehicle and figures were also released with two versions shown below from the Expedition Collections series. CRETACEOUS #5 shown below is a preproduction sample on a 1997 Military Card which is an interesting find from China.