Back in February, Hot Wheels released the 6-car, #Looney Tunes #Character Cars series. It was a series that contained the Tasmanian Devil, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner and #Marvin the Martian. Despite being the #First Edition of this brand-new Marvin the Martian casting, there was a sense of nostalgia with this one — a familiarity of sorts. Well, it didn’t take too long before I got this one home and freed it from its plastic prison, that I realized the nostalgic sense came from its similarities to a classic Hot Wheels casting — the Red Baron.

Hot Wheels Marvin the Martian from the 2017 Looney Tunes Character Cars Series (comparison shot with Hot Wheels Red Baron)

While I’m not sure if the Red Baron is where Hot Wheels designer, Robert Heath got his inspiration, you can’t help but notice the similarities between the two designs. Side-by-side, they kind of give you a “Then & Now” approach between the early days of Hot Wheels and designs from nearly 50 years later. The Red Baron may have the ultimate edge in nostalgia, but its the #Marvin the Martian #Character Car that really comes through in the detail department. I mean, look at every hard edge on this piece. From the blaster-shaped engine, to the side exhaust, to the metal cab shaped like Marvin’s helmet, the detail is astonishing — something that can be attributed to Hot Wheels master sculptor, Manson Cheung. Manson, took Robert’s 2D drawing and made it come alive via these vivid details.

Hot Wheels Marvin the Martian from the 2017 Looney Tunes Character Cars Series (rear view)

In true Hot Wheels fashion, if there is a license plate on the car, you can almost bet it pertains to something. In this case, the California license plate reads “PU-36” which references the Illudium PU-36, a device Marvin uses in various attempts to destroy the Earth.

This #Looney Tunes #Character Cars release of #Marvin the Martian didn’t seem to last long on the pegs as I found it to be one of the harder ones (of the 6 vehicles in the series) to find. Its definitely a cool casting, as its one that you should take a second look at if you’ve passed it up before.

RELEASE DETAILS: Metalflake Light Green & Yellow Body (metal). Clear Window. Metalflake Gray Interior. Red-Chrome-Rim, Black Off-Road 6-Spoke Wheels. Red Base (plastic). Made in Thailand. Toy# DXT15. Released in 2017 as #6 of 6 in the Hot Wheels Character Cars / Looney Tunes Series.