Just last year, the 1988 casting of the #Lamborghini Countach was revived for the Walmart Exclusive Lamborghini Series. This year, there is a new version of that famous 1980s #Countach design. For far too long, many collectors couldn’t tell where the wonky design of the original Countach casting began and the almost naturally ‘tooned aspects of the real car ended. Enter the race-inspired #Lamborghini Countach Pace Car, a #2018 New Model in this year’s #HW Exotics Series.

Hot Wheels Lamborghini Countach Pace Car from the 2018 HW Exotics Series (red colorway) with the 2017 Lamborghini Series, Lamborghini Countach (1988 casting)

The Hot Wheels #Lamborghini Countach Pace Car is a vast improvement upon its 30-year-old counterpart. The casting rides lower, and is by far, a crisper, cleaner design — and heck, it has a light bar! The light bar itself is quite the innovation combining parts of the interior and window piece to form a two-color piece. Sure, it would have been nice to have the blue and red aspects of the real car’s light bar, but its totally understandable given Mattel’s 4-piece requirement for mainline castings. Just the fact that they were able to pull off this two-color light bar in the mainline is a feat within itself. Thank you, Hot Wheels Designer, Ryu Asada!

Wait, did I just say there is a real version of the #Lamborghini Countach Pace Car?…

Hot Wheels Lamborghini Countach Pace Car from the 2018 HW Exotics Series (both colorways, on orange track)

Indeed. The #Lamborghini Countach Pace Car could have been seen pacing the 1981-1983 Monaco Grand Prix — and, if you look closely at the 1982 and 1983 pace cars for the event, you’ll notice the inspiration behind the red & white colorways AND the graphics on them. I know the #2018 Hot Wheels year is essentially over but is a yellow colorway too much to ask for??? This is just a terrific pair, and I look forward to upcoming liveries on this casting.

Hot Wheels Lamborghini Countach Pace Car from the 2018 HW Exotics Series (both colorways)

Hot Wheels Lamborghini Countach Pace Car from the 2018 HW Exotics Series (both colorways, rear view)

The red colorway of the 2018 #HW Exotics Series #Lamborghini Countach Pace Car was the first to appear, starting in the 2018 “K” cases — making it the #First Edition of this casting. The #50 is certainly a tribute to the Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary this year and the red was in fact, one of those three colors (red/yellow/white) of the 1982 Monaco Grand Prix Countach #Pace Cars.

RELEASE DETAILS: Red Enamel Body (metal). Light Blue Tinted Windows. Gray Interior. Chrome Aero Disc (AD) Wheels. Red base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# FJV79. Released in 2018 as #9 of 10 in the HW Exotics Series (#217/365 in the 2018 mainline).

The white colorway of the 2018 #HW Exotics Series #Lamborghini Countach Pace Car came next, starting in the 2018 Hot Wheels “P” cases — which just started showing up within the last week. Short of some magical store exclusive colorway, there will not be that third (yellow) color of those 1982 Monaco Grand Prix pace cars. Unfortunate, yes, but lets be grateful for these two exquisite renditions of the Lamborghini Countach Pace Car. New Model of the year? Feel free to comment below with your thoughts.

RELEASE DETAILS: White Enamel Body (metal). Red Tinted Windows. Gray Interior. Chrome Aero Disc (AD) Wheels. White base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# FJY15. Released in 2018 as #9 of 10 in the HW Exotics Series (#316/365 in the 2018 mainline).