While some Hot Wheels collectors may be gawking at the ’55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser in the Car Meet 5-Pack, make sure you aren’t one to look past the #Subaru Impreza. This #Subaru — named “Subaru Impreza WRX” for this release — has a cult following of its own. Originally released in 2004 as part of the FIA World Rally Championship Series, this #Impreza is more #Rally Car than street car, having received a rally-inspired deco more often than not, and this #Car Meet 5-Pack release is no different.

Hot Wheels Subaru Impreza WRX from the 2018 Car Meet 5-Pack (side view)

I mentioned yesterday that the 2018 #Car Meet 5-Pack is essentially the basic level version of the 2017 #Car Culture / Cars & Donuts series as both feature a diverse grouping of cars that you could see at an early morning, neighborhood car show — well, maybe not an Eclipse security car with light bar, but I digress…

All 5 cars from the 2018 Hot Wheels Car Meet 5-Pack loose: ’99 Mustang, Mitsubishi Eclipse Concept Car with Light Bar, ’55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser, BMW M3 and Subaru Impreza WRX

2018 Hot Wheels Car Meet 5-Pack (front view)

Do you know what both series have in common? … An early 2000s #Subaru. Where they differ though, is that the Cars & Donuts #Subaru Impreza WRX is the prior generation “bugeye” #Impreza done with minimal graphics, whereas this #Car Meet 5-Pack release is the succeeding generation Impreza complete with rally graphics since the casting is based off the of the #Rally Car. If you would like to know more about the casting’s rally car roots, make sure you check out the article I did on its First Edition release: the 2004 FIA World Rally Championship Series: SUBARU IMPREZA.

As for the graphics, this #Car Meet 5-Pack release — which is done in the classic Subaru “blue with /gold rims” — features a gigantic “STi” emblazoned on the sides in purple along with the #51 on its rally tag.

Hot Wheels Subaru Impreza WRX from the 2018 Car Meet 5-Pack (top-right view)

Hot Wheels Subaru Impreza WRX from the 2018 Car Meet 5-Pack (rear view)

Hot Wheels Subaru Impreza from the 2004 Hot Wheels Racing / WRC: FIA World Rally Championship series (left) AND from the 2018 Car Meet 5-Pack (right) … head-to-head view

Hot Wheels Subaru Impreza from the 2004 Hot Wheels Racing / WRC: FIA World Rally Championship series (left) AND from the 2018 Car Meet 5-Pack (right) … side-by-side view

This release of the #Subaru Impreza bodes well for fans of the casting. Values of this casting had been rising due to speculation that this casting’s tool was no longer available for production, having run from 2004 to its last appearance in 2014. Fortunately, four years later, we now know that we hadn’t seen the last of this great #Subaru casting that has developed a little bit of a cult following.

Don’t believe me? Check out the values of some of the casting’s earlier releases…

Collectors intrigued by this Subaru Impreza’s past should be delighted to know that this is the metal body / plastic base version of this casting which had its lone appearance in that final 2014 mainline release. I think most collectors would agree that they prefer this metal/plastic combination over its vice-versa alternative. If you don’t have this new #Car Meet 5-Pack release in hand yet, pick it up and open it up, and you’ll be grateful you did. This is one great piece that makes me want to go back and collect the other releases of this casting that I am missing.

RELEASE DETAILS: Metalflake Blue Body (metal). Dark Gray Interior. Light Blue Tinted Windows. Gold 10-Spoke (10SP) Wheels. Metalflake Gray Base (plastic). Made in Indonesia. Toy# FKT59. Released in 2018 as part of the Car Meet 5-Pack.