When a poll was run on HotWheelsCollectors.com (HWC) earlier this year to decide the 10 castings to make up 2017’s #HW Flames Series, one casting that was pretty much assured a spot was the increasingly & ever-so-popular #’55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser. Designed by Brendon Vetuskey, this #Gasser has already had several high-profile releases in various Hot Wheels lines since its first appearance in 2013. That type of dominance has only been exhibited by a handful of Hot Wheels castings that include the likes of the Volkswagen Drag Bus, ’67 Camaro and Bone Shaker. In what will surely be another fantastic year by the Hot Wheels brand in anticipation of their 50th Anniversary in 2018, the ’55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser kicks off 2017 with a bang!

While most 2017 mainline Hot Wheels don’t appear until the actual “A” case assortment which is usually released late September / early October, this gasser snuck into the “Q” case assortments (from 2016) as part of the “First-to-Market” cars at the September 24th Kmart Collectors Days. The new year came early and I can’t tell you a single collector that wasn’t happy to see this one appear in their case at Kmart that day.

The #55 on the sides is done in such a playful manner, one that is iconic of many #Gassers. These 3D looking, cartoonish fives play with the flames in the deco as they appear to be sucking them in one end and spitting them out the other. Kudos to the graphics designer that did this one! With this being the first mainline car to be released to the masses for 2017, and with it being such a popular casting, we are almost surely guaranteed several recolors of this one throughout the year. In fact, images of a white colorway have already surfaced so its only a matter of time before your #’55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser collection will continue to grow.

RELEASE DETAILS: Satin Dark Red Body (metal). Clear Windows. Chrome Interior. Chrome 5-Spoke (5SP) Wheels. Black Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# DTX80. Released in 2017 as #2 of 10 in the HW Flames Series (12/365).

UPDATE 12/22/2016 — The blue colorway will be released in the “E” case assortments soon. This one was found in a 9-Pack.

RELEASE DETAILS: Blue (metal). Clear Windows. Chrome Interior. Gray 5-Spoke (5SP) Wheels. Black Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# DVB74. Released in 2017 as #2 of 10 in the HW Flames Series (109/365).

While both of these wear essentially the same graphics as the Red Edition release, they are from separate segments. Therefore, the Red Edition release is not part of this HW Flames article but can be seen in the group shot below. Check out the @orangetrackdiecast Instagram for more photos of this trio!

Hot Wheels ’55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser from the 2017 HW Flames Series (both) and 2017 Red Edition Series (white)