How many times must we say it? Given the right graphics treatment, some of these less-than-popular #Unlicensed Hot Wheels can really stand out! After multiple colorway releases in the 2014 & 2015 mainline and a less-than-stellar Snow Stormers 5-Pack release earlier this year, the #Dune Crusher was released as the last regular #Treasure Hunt for 2016. See the #Flame Logo (TH)?

Hot Wheels Dune Crusher from the HW Daredevils (also a 2016 Regular Treasure Hunt)

Well, suffice to say, designer of the Land Crusher (which is now the Dune Crusher), Leeway Chang, finally gave his casting a welcome graphics scheme in the eyes of this collector — as he also served as the graphic designer for this release. Maybe it has to do with its plastic body (which assuming if there was a 1:1 it would have one), but the casting just doesn’t wear the colored-plastic body well. However, the black plastic (for some reason) shows off the body lines well despite being covered heavily in graphics. Those #49 Hot Wheels graphics are very #Off-Road Vehicle -esque as this vehicle looks like it could be a Dakar #Rally Car.

Hot Wheels Dune Crusher from the HW Daredevils (also a 2016 Regular Treasure Hunt) … off orange track

It seems as though Leeway himself was delighted on how his casting/graphic design came out as he featured it on his autograph sheet at the 30th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention earlier this month. Fortunate collectors who were able to find this #2016 Treasure Hunt will notice that the vehicle illustration on the package matches the one on Leeway’s autograph sheet.

AUTOGRAPH SHEET of the Hot Wheels Dune Crusher from the HW Daredevils (also a 2016 Regular Treasure Hunt) … designed and signed by Leeway Chang

As cool as this design is (both casting and graphics-wise), this release of the #Dune Crusher shouldn’t be super hard to find. Granted, its a regular #Treasure Hunt but its of a casting that (I’m venturing to guess) not many people collect as this time. So even if you can’t find one locally, you won’t have to shell out the big bucks to obtain one on the secondary market. Heck, the one you see here was obtained from another collector at the convention for $2 — and that is with it being recently released! So search high, search low, track down those 2016 “Q” case cars and grab this one if you see it as its definitely worth grabbing one if you see it.

RELEASE DETAILS: Black Body (plastic). No Windows. White Interior. Red-Chrome Rim, Black Off-Road 6-Spoke (OR6SP) Wheels. Red Enamel Base (metal). Made in Malaysia. Toy# DHR54. Released in 2016 as #6 of 10 in the HW Daredevils Series (also a 2016 Treasure Hunt).