Its official! Beatlemania has hit the Hot Wheels Collecting world here in 2016. Last week, the dump bins for The Beatles Yellow Submarine 6-car series started showing up at Walmart stores a couple days after The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas had them for sale in their Beatles Gift Shop. With the actual Yellow Submarine casting appearing in the Hot Wheels mainline concurrently, these 7 cars have created a mini Beatlemania among Hot Wheels enthusiasts.
With the Yellow Submarine and the 6-car series selling in the triple digits just a couple weeks ago, Hot Wheels collectors and profiteers ambushed their area Walmarts in search of striking it rich. Some took to social media to brag of their dump bin pillages as others only took what they wanted. After striking out at numerous Walmarts here in Phoenix, I was able to find the only car from the series I really wanted for under $5-shipped — the Mini Cooper (aka: Morris Mini).
Hot Wheels Morris Mini Cooper from the 2016 The Beatles Yellow Submarine Series (Walmart Exclusive) … George Harrison side
Released in part of The Beatles “Yellow Submarine” 50th Anniversary celebration, the graphics are actually based on the 1968 film of the same name. Four of the six vehicles in the series featured one of each of the four Beatles while the other two represented the Yellow Submarine and the Blue Meanie. The Mini Cooper we are showing today features former Lead Guitarist of The Beatles, George Harrison, on one side; while the other side features all four Beatles — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison & Ringo Starr. Rounding out the graphics are images of flowers and butterflies all over the sides and top of this #Mini.
Overall, its been a great year for Mini Cooper (Morris Mini) collectors. We have already seen two colorways from the HW Art Cars series version with whats looks to be another colorway in white appearing before the end of the year, and also this fabulous Beatles version touting graphics of one of the greatest bands of all time. Sure, we’d love to see the metal base with pop-off body return, but in terms of releases we could end up with four, or even more, by the year end.
RELEASE DETAILS: Red Body (metal). Tinted Windows. Lime Green Interior / Hood Scoop. Gold-Chrome 10-Spoke (10SP) Wheels. Gold-Chrome Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# DML72. Released in 2016 as #4 of 6 in the Walmart Exclusive series, The Beatles Yellow Submarine.
Categories: Showcase
ORANGE TRACK DIECAST 
I’ve been visiting 3 different Walmarts trying to find the Beatles line. I end up finding the empty bins. When I ask employees, I’m told that “a couple of guys came in every day at opening looking for them. They were there when brought out and left with two shopping carts full of these.” So maddening! I finally lucked out and found one complete set, no “Screen Time” Yellow Submarine, though. So fed up with Mattel. I blame them for artificially creating a demand.
You can’t blame Mattel for promoting their products. Its does stink that I was unable to find these at retail though.