ERTL® ADDS NEW PRODUCTS
TO ITS POPULAR JOHN DEERE LINEUP
Glen Ellyn, Ill. (March 25, 2003)-They're for kids . .
. for collectors . . . for everyone who's ever admired an American
icon-John Deere's famous green-and-yellow farm equipment. Produced
by Ertl, a brand of Racing Champions Ertl (NASDAQ: RACN), they're
the latest additions to the popular John Deere collectibles lineup
that's been a hit since it was introduced in 1947, and they're arriving
in stores now.
"These 1:16-scale replicas are the real deal," said Bill
Walters, Managing Director of Ertl. "We've selected some of
John Deere's best-known farm implements, the ones that almost everyone
has seen in the fields hard at work, and we've precision-crafted
them with amazing detail in heavy die-cast metal. And we didn't
stop there. We've given them free-rolling wheels, we've made them
steerable, and we've even built-in hitches so they can really get
out and do the job. Above all, we've built-in the quality that's
synonymous with the Ertl name."
And, he added, "Besides being attractive enough to grace any
collector's shelves, these replicas are rugged enough to stand up
to kids' serious play action for hours of great fun."
The new additions to the John Deere lineup for 2003 and their suggested
retail prices include the 4310 Tractor with Mower $22.99; X485 Lawn
Garden Tractor, $15.99; 950 Utility Tractor, $14.99; 2755 Tractor
with Cab, $24.99; Tractor with Cab and Loader, $29.99; and Tractor
with Wagon, $24.99. In all, Ertl will introduce more than forty
new John Deere replicas in a variety of scales during 2003, and
the entire lineup can be previewed on the Racing Champions Ertl
website.
Racing Champions Ertl (www.rcertl.com) is a leading producer and
marketer of innovative collectibles and toys targeted at adult collectors
and children. The Company's diverse product offerings include scaled
die-cast replicas of John Deere agricultural equipment and NASCAR
stock cars, other licensed vehicle replicas, pre-teen toys, sports
trading cards, racing apparel and souvenirs, and collectible figures.
These products are sold under the Company's market-focused brand
names, including Racing Champions®, Ertl®, Ertl Collectibles®,
American Muscle™, AMT®, W. Britain®, Press Pass®,
and JoyRide Studios™. The Company reinforces its brands and
enhances the authenticity of its products by linking them with highly
recognized licensed properties including NASCAR, NHRA, John Deere,
Harley-Davidson, Case, Polaris, Caterpillar, Ford, General Motors,
DaimlerChrysler, Texaco, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, HIT
Entertainment, Nintendo, Sega, and Electronic Arts. The Company's
products are marketed through multiple channels of distribution,
including mass retailers and specialty and hobby wholesalers and
retailers, OEM dealers, and to corporate accounts for promotional
purposes. The Company sells through more than 20,000 retail outlets
located in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
