10/08/2017 — If you’ve never been to a Hot Wheels convention before, you should plan to make it out to Los Angeles for next year’s convention which should be around the 1st week of October. Personally I had too many great highlights, finds and memories to share here as I know most of you aren’t here to hear me geek out, but rather to see the sneaks that were shown at last night’s convention finale. Lots of great information was shared in addition to these images, so I will share that here as well.
2018 Hot Wheels Basic Assortment (Mainline)
Hot Wheels designer Dmitriy “Dima” Shahkmatov took the stage to introduce the 2018 Hot Wheels Basic Assortment (Mainline) since he had a huge part in designing some of the newer castings for 2018. He also introduced his new casting: the Mach Speeder, while cracking many jokes.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Mach Speeder, Legends of Speed
Dima mentioned that Ryu Asada designed the new ’16 Cadillac ATS-VR.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’16 Cadillac ATS-VR
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’16 Mercedes AMG GT3
The Racing Sled was put in as a joke (or was it?) … even if it was, it sounds like a “What If…” series may come to fruition.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: What If…
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’71 Porsche 911
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’15 Ford Mustang GT
Hot Wheels Designer, Brendan Vetuskey had the Chevy Nomad retooled so the large air vents in the hood were like the Classic Nomad. I learned Brendan is quite the stickler for detail, so I’m sure there are other added details in this as well!
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Classic Nomad, HW Flames
Phil Riehlman is taking on more design projects. He designed the new ’17 Jeep Wrangler since he is a jeep guy himself… although his jeep still has stock wheels according to Dima.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’17 Jeep Wrangler
Kool Kombi was introduced… every cheered. The flame / treasure hunt logo was spotted… everyone cheered.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Kool Kombi, HW Art Cars Treasure Hunt TH
Turns out those rumors about Sung Kang’s Maverick were correct after all.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Sung Lang’s Custom Ford Maverick, Factory Fresh
…as were those images of the “Unnamed Hamburger Car” we shared.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Buns of Steel, HW Fast Foodie
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’16 Honda Civic Type R
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’16 BMW M2, Factory Fresh
Another Super Treasure Hunt for 2018 is discovered. The ’17 Camaro ZL1.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’17 Camaro ZL1, Super Treasure Hunt
With that said, Super Treasure Hunts are so 2017, as 2018 basic assortments will contain the HW 50th Race Team Ultimate Chase Car… Malaysian factory workers are going to love this one.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: HW 50th Race Team Ultimate Chase Car
Should be a good year for mail-in promotions once again… now to locate a Kmart that is still open, thats the real trick!
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: 2018 Mail-In Cars, ’70 Chevy Blazer & ’55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser
2018 Themed Assortments
Themed Assortments are back: Chevy Trucks 100th (Walmart), Camaro (Walmart), Decades (Target), ZAMAC Flames (Walmart) and 50th Anniversary Black & Gold.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’52 Chevy, Chevy Trucks 100th Asst
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’67 Chevy C10, Chevy Trucks 100th Asst
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Custom ’11 Camaro (Camaro Asst)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’85 Chevrolet Camaro (Camaro Asst)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’86 Monte Carlo (Target Decades Asst)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’15 Dodge Challenger (Target Decades Asst)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’67 Ford Mustang Coupe (ZAMAC Flames)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’70 Buick GSX (ZAMAC Flames)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Bone Shaker (Black & Gold)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Twin Mill (Black & Gold)
Pop Culture
Pop Culture is back again with five series for 2018. So far, we know Nestle brands will be done again, along with art by DC Comics Artist, Alex Ross … a true inspiration to Packaging Designer, Julian Koiles.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’81 Ford Fairmont, Pop Culture (Nestle)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Custom ’77 Dodge Van, Pop Culture (DC-Alex Ross)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Custom ’66 Dodge A100, Pop Culture (DC-Alex Ross)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Custom ’67 Austin Mini Van, Pop Culture (DC-Alex Ross)
Car Culture
We got a heavy dose of Car Culture which started the last series for 2017 (Cars & Donuts) AND an unexpected 5-car box set which will contain the “6th car” for the five 2017 series: HW Redliners, Air-Cooled, Race Day, Modern Classics and Cars & Donuts. These will be sold on HotWheelsCollectors.com either late this year or very early in 2018.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, Car Culture (Cars & Donuts)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: BMW M1 Pro Car, Car Culture (Cars & Donuts)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Custom 240Z FuguZ, Car Culture (Cars & Donuts)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: McLaren P1, Car Culture (Cars & Donuts)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Subaru Impreza WRX, Car Culture (Cars & Donuts)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Datsun Bluebird 510, Car Culture 5-Car Box Set
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’65 Volkswagen Fastback, Car Culture 5-Car Box Set
Check out that license plate! It was hinted that this Mustang is a shout out to Vanilla Ice.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’84 Mustang SVO, Car Culture 5-Car Box Set
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’65 Mercury Comet Cyclone, Car Culture 5-Car Box Set
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’13 COPO Camaro, Car Culture 5-Car Box Set
2018 Car Culture will feature increased details (with all vehicles receiving headlight and taillight detail), along with a larger card… and a slightly larger price point. However, by the looks of it, these cars will be worth it! The first three series are Japan Historics 2, Cargo Carriers and Eurospeed.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Datsun Bluebird 510, 2018 Car Culture (Japan Historics 2)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Mazda RX-3, 2018 Car Culture (Japan Historics 2)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Nissan Fairlady Z, 2018 Car Culture (Japan Historics 2)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Nissan Laurel 2000 SGX, 2018 Car Culture (Japan Historics 2)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Nissan Skyline C210, 2018 Car Culture (Japan Historics 2)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Volkswagen T1 Panel Bus, 2018 Car Culture (Cargo Carriers)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Honda Odyssey, 2018 Car Culture (Cargo Carriers)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Ford Transit Super Van, 2018 Car Culture (Cargo Carriers)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Nissan Skyline C10 Wagon, 2018 Car Culture (Cargo Carriers)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16, 2018 Car Culture (Eurospeed)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Audi R8 LMS, 2018 Car Culture (Eurospeed)
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: BMW M1 Pro Car, 2018 Car Culture (Eurospeed)
Team Transport
Once of the biggest surprises was the announcement of the Team Transport line. It will be done at the Car Culture level, but with two vehicles (one of them a behemoth), and the price point will be around $13.99.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Retro Rig & Plymouth Duster Funny Car from the 2018 Team Transport line
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Fleet Flyer & Porsche 962 from the 2018 Team Transport line
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Volkswagen T1 Transporter Pick Up & Porsche Speedster from the 2018 Team Transport line
HWC/RLC releases
The HotWheelsCollectors.com O16 should conclude by the end of 2018, but thats not news. What is news… is that there will be a O16 set where all the castings will be featured in a different color than their O16 release. It will be available exclusively on HotWheelsCollectors.com
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: HWC O16 Custom Eldorado
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: HWC O16 Set
The 2018 Red Line Club Membership car is the Datsun Bluebird 510 (did you expect anything else at this point?). It will have the honor of being the first HWC or RLC vehicle to wear Neo-Classic Redline Real Riders.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: 2018 Red Line Club Membership Car
Super Dope Swag
The Hot Wheels Collector Case was unveiled at the autograph signings and it was revealed that Hot Wheels Designer, Eric Han was the man behind this one. It should retail for around $50 and be out sometime in the fall of 2018.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Hot Wheels Collectors Case
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: Hot Wheels Collectors Case (on wall)
Specialty Assortments
Two really cool assortments were revealed in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary. The first one labeled as “National Promo Asst.” features five modern castings that have the feel of castings that were used in 1968. It appears these will be in stores (in the U.S.) on May 19.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: National Promo Asst 5-Car set
Lastly is the 50th Anniversary Favorites line. This should be a desirable set.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’56 Chevy – 50th Anniversary Favorites
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: ’71 AMC Javelin – 50th Anniversary Favorites
Live Samples
As if the slideshow wasn’t enough, Jimmy, Dima, Brendan, Julian and Mike shared with us some live samples of these cars (and others), right there on stage.
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: FEP SAMPLES 2
31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention FINALE SNEAK PEEK: FEP SAMPLES 1
That’s it! What was your favorite? Please feel free to share below.
Categories: News
ORANGE TRACK DIECAST 
The one thing with the Nomad… I wonder if Brendon included the stacked headlights like on the original Classic Nomad? As you mentioned, he likes to add little details. Wonder if that will be one of them. I haven’t seen a clean front shot of the 3D print of the new Nomad tool (at least I think it was a 3D print on that board).
After having Brendan explain, and seeing the details he captured in the retooled O16 cars first hand, I have the utmost faith that he didn’t miss that.
Is one of the prototypes on the table the new 2018 Mustang ?
Its some sort of new Mustang. Just not sure the year / trim level as I didn’t get a chance to ask. Let me see if I can find out for you.
There is a prototype on the table that has a white base and a blue body, is that the prototype for the 2018 mustang?
Wow 2018 is gonna be Best year for hotwheels in along time. They’re all my favorites. And they’re all awesome. I will be on the hunt for all of those in 2018 thumbs up.
That Yellow VW Bus will DEFINITELY be on my list for this Upcoming years Hunt….Thank you!!!
I like the Redline club Datsun blue bird I have been trying to get into the club.And I know its full but there website is terrible. Sorry Hot Wheels
Hang in there. These won’t be available until the RLC Membership opens back up at the beginning of 2018.
Thanks man definitely want to get in the Redline club so I am being patient thanks for your response.
Brad, thanks for taking the time to compile the pics, lots of great info to keep up with for this year.
Hi Brad thanks for the show 2018 looks like alot of fun