The #Hot Wheels Race Team cars have always had a following and said following seems to be increasing. Call it a scavenger hunt across all years and series/lines as you really never know when a race team vehicle will show up outside of the yearly mainline series. Its still unclear if the series will return to the 2017 mainline, but if the success of the #HW Race Team (2016) was any indication, it will.

In 2016, all of the vehicles in the #HW Race Team (2016) were released in the patented “Race Team Blue” with varying levels of supplementary graphics. Numbered #1 through #10, the #Mustang in this series fell right in the middle at #5. Its checkered-board pattern feel right in line with the casting’s #Tuner approach. The graphics on this one were courtesy of Hot Wheels designer/graphic designer, Leeway Chang, who ultimately did the graphics for all ten race team vehicles this year.

Amidst all the Hot Wheels #Mustangs that are out there, the Custom’12 Ford Mustang casting may blend in, but its #Tuner inspired, #Race Car package gives it that truly custom approach that the Hot Wheels brand, and collectors, love. Be careful not to confuse this casting (that was introduced in 2012), with the Custom ’15 Ford Mustang introduced in 2015. The first release of the Custom ’12 Ford Mustang casting appeared in the #HWTF #Team Hot Wheels #High-Speed Wheel line, but it has been relegated to basic lines ever since with a consistent showing in the mainline for the 4th straight year. With this #HW Race Team (2016) release being the latest, we look forward to more race-inspired designs for this casting.

RELEASE DETAILS: Metalflake Blue Body (metal). Light Blue Tinted Windows. Gray Interior. Red-Chrome Muscle-Car 5-Spoke (MC5) Wheels. Black Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# DHP39. Released in 2016 as #3 of 10 in the HW Race Team Series.