Now that the Stars & Stripes series has become pegwarmers in most Walmarts in the United States, most collectors have been able to get their hands on these. Assembling the blister cards to create an #American Flag mural (with two bald eagles), some collectors have even got creative with their displays. For American collectors here in the United States, the summer time is a great time to display your patriotism as the summer is loaded with American holidays.

Memorial Day kicks it off as thats always the last Monday in May, followed closely by Flag Day, which is today, June 14. Independence Day is the 4th of July, and Labor Day closes out the summer the first Monday of September. More recently, Patriot Day was added to the mix honoring those who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Hot Wheels has produced some pretty cool patriotic cars & trucks over the years and its always cool to see collectors posting their photos of them on all the social media sites, message boards and blogs on the various American holidays.

After being one of the harder to find 2012 New Models, the truck has been relatively easy to find as of late as its mainline releases in 2014 and 2015 have warmed the pegs. One has to wonder if the amount of plastic in the casting has an affect on the popularity of it as the larger castings usually tend to be a little more popular due to the perceived value of more car for the same amount of money. Plastic or metal, who doesn’t love racing a couple haulers on the drag strip though???

Keeping with that motif, one of my personal favorites from the 2016 Stars & Stripes series is the #Hiway Hauler 2. Overall, the simple Stars & Stripes design on this casting works. It screams trucking on the Interstate, summer barbecues, America, and most importantly, Hot Wheels. Get your flags out today — whether it be in front of your own house, in your photos of Hot Wheels online or both! This Hiway Hauler 2 should be on the pegs of your local Walmart now. Get out and grab it before it heads out of town for the summer.

RELEASE DETAILS: Metalflake Silver Body (metal). Blue Cargo Box (plastic). Chrome Windows. Red-Chrome 5-Spoke (5SP) Wheels. Red Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# DLV25. Released in 2016 as #7 of 10 in the Hot Wheels Stars & Stripes Series (Walmart Exclusive).