Trucks have long been popular in the Hot Wheels line. These days, any truck with Real Riders seems to fly off the pegs. I’m sure some people wonder why Hot Wheels trucks are so popular considering the Hot Wheels brand was built around the “fastest metal cars in the world!” slogan.

While the Matchbox brand (also owned by Mattel) is pumping out some nice realistic trucks as of late, its Hot Wheels applying that California custom car culture to the trucks thats making them so popular. Take for instance the Hot Wheels Sandblaster. Designed by the “Hot Wheels Designer on fire” Jun Imai, and released in the 2010 New Models Series (shown below), the Sandblaster is a highly customized 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Jun did a great job with this casting giving it the custom light bars in front and on top along with the support frame in the bed — making it ready to conquer a sandbox near you!

With Hot Wheels releasing the brand-new ’17 Ford F-150 Raptor starting with the “E” case (in a month or two), and Ford scheduled to release the real truck over the summer, growing enthusiasm for the Raptor trim level of the F-150 will only continue. Kids and adults alike have taken a liking to the customized Raptor trucks so its no wonder that Hot Wheels will now have the 1st and 2nd generation Raptors in its lineup. You almost kind of wonder if its the toy car companies, such as Hot Wheels, that have inspired the automotive industry to start marketing these “pre-made” custom trucks.

As mentioned, the Hot Wheels Sandblaster has been around since 2010 and has already been released in several great color schemes, including jungle (shown), desert and snow variations in its initial 2010 New Models release. Its a truck that has the youth of today putting down the video games and going out to build “cities” in their sandbox — along with some “middle-aged” collectors. Oh, and it also displays well so thats a win-win combo.

RELEASE DETAILS: Matte Olive Green Body (metal). Clear Windows. Gray Interior. Copper-Chrome Off-Road 5-Spoke Wheels. Black Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# R0945. Released in 2010 as #27 of 44 in the 2010 New Models Series (released internationally as #30 of 52 in the HW Premiere).