If you’ve been collecting since the 2000s or so, you probably remember the #100% Hot Wheels. I know I do, and the reputation that follows them: pegwarmers shelfwarmers.

Its funny how collecting has shifted from 20 years ago to 10 years ago to now. Before the days of Instagram and other social media outlets, we had websites with forums, bulletin boards and chat rooms. Collectors shared back then, but many sites demanded that you used 3rd party hosting services just to upload a photo. Needless to say, it wasn’t as easy to share your collection, let alone photography-level pictures of your cars with instant feedback.

In today’s era of collecting (and high-resolution photography), details are great. Had the #100% Hot Wheels line been around today, I think collectors would have been more inclined to pay its $8 price-point. Today, I’m taking a look at the #’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee from said line, and with one look below, you can see how much detail the 2008 New Models: ’69 Dodge Coronet Super Bee lacks in comparison.

Hot Wheels ’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee from the 2004 100% Hot Wheels / Muscle Car Series (with 2008 New Models ’69 Dodge Coronet Super Bee, reversed)

This comparison isn’t to point out the flaws of the Hot Wheels mainline as many of you know, that’s my bread and butter — I only collect Hot Wheels, and the bulk of my purchases do come from the mainline. Rather, its to illustrate that despite the higher level of detail in the #100% Hot Wheels line its not what Hot Wheels collectors craved at the time.

Today, I have noticed a rise in prices when it comes to the #100% Hot Wheels line and I attribute it to collectors finally realizing how good some of these castings truly were. Case in point: the #’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee.

Hot Wheels ’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee from the 2004 100% Hot Wheels / Muscle Car Series (with 2008 New Models ’69 Dodge Coronet Super Bee)

This release of the #100% Hot Wheels #’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee was released in 2004. It was released in the infamous “oil-can” packaging as collectors often refer to it as such. I know some collectors don’t associate the oil cans with the 100% Hot Wheels line as it didn’t say “100% Hot Wheels” anywhere on the package, however, the line lacks an official name. Plus, after 2003 the 100% Hot Wheels line disappeared, and it was this “oil can line” that used the castings for a couple years before the name resurfaced in 2008. To me, its the same line with different packaging.

I bought this golden-yellow #’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee back when it first came out because, well, Hot Wheels didn’t make a Super Bee at the time and I wanted one in my collection. Four years later, we got the ’69 Super Bee in the mainline, but I still love the 1970 body style of the Super Bee, hence why I love this casting. Its got the “bee wing” grill unique to the ’70 Super Bee and has an #Opening Hood revealing that HEMI engine. Plus, the long body, #Real Riders wheels, matte black roof and silver trim are all nice touches. This is one of the castings that really have me second-guessing my decision to forgo the #100% Hot Wheels line almost 20 years ago. Hey, I was a young collector — in school — and it was hard to spend $8 a car.

Hot Wheels ’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee from the 2004 100% Hot Wheels / Muscle Car Series (top-right view)

Hot Wheels ’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee from the 2004 100% Hot Wheels / Muscle Car Series (side view)

Hot Wheels ’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee from the 2004 100% Hot Wheels / Muscle Car Series (rear view)

Hot Wheels ’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee from the 2004 100% Hot Wheels / Muscle Car Series (with open hood, engine close up)

As much as I like the #’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee casting, this is the only release in my collection. I actually knew very little about it before I began researching it for this article. I found out that in 2004 there were two “limited” releases of it in the oil-can line: a red one and this golden-yellow one. The red one (seen below) was your standard retail release despite it being limited to 15,000 pieces. This golden-yellow release was actually a #Hobby Dealer Exclusive that came in a higher-quality, oil-can packaging, AND was limited to only 7,000 pieces — which is less than the runs of HWC/RLC cars at the time!

Hot Wheels ’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee from the 2004 100% Hot Wheels / Muscle Car Series (red colorway with 2000 30th Anniversary of ’70 Muscle Cars purple release, top view). Photo by Reece Brennan. Used with permission.

Before I go any further, I want to extend a huge, thank you to a collector-friend I met while working on the Hot Wheels Wiki: Reece Brennan. Reece (known as “Reeceracing” on the wiki; @aussiehotwheelscollector on IG) not only gave me some much needed perspective when it came to this series, but he is also responsible for a lot of the quality info on the wiki AND he was kind enough to supply these pictures of the red and purple variants for use in this article. Thanks, Reece!

Speaking of that purple variant… that was the original #First Edition release of this casting which made its debut way back in 2000. It was one of 4 cars released in a set called, “30th Anniversary of ’70s Muscle Cars” in the Hot Wheels collectibles line — which would eventually become the #100% Hot Wheels line. These are definitely excellent releases of the casting and they will most likely find their way into my collection at some point.

Hot Wheels ’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee from the 2004 100% Hot Wheels / Muscle Car Series (red colorway with 2000 30th Anniversary of ’70 Muscle Cars purple release). Photo by Reece Brennan. Used with permission.

Hot Wheels ’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee from the 2004 100% Hot Wheels / Muscle Car Series (red colorway with 2000 30th Anniversary of ’70 Muscle Cars purple release, creative shot). Photo by Reece Brennan. Used with permission.

The funny thing about the #’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee casting is that I may be the only person to call it by that name. Its first release was nameless on the outer-packaging, and the base erroneously says, “’70 Plymouth Super Bee”. The oil-can releases are simply labeled as, “Dodge Super Bee”. I had to do a little research to come up with a name that better fit Hot Wheels brand standards, past what Mattel did in the early 2000s. Fortunately, it was easy because Dodge only used this body style for one year (1970) and it was the last year they used the #Coronet base for the Super Bee upgrade.

As far as this golden-yellow “oil-can” #’70 Dodge Coronet Super Bee, I figured it definitely needed to be shared with all of you. Its kind of been an outlier in my collection but one that definitely deserves its own showcase. If you’re one of those newer collectors that crave the added detail of premium Hot Wheels cars, the #100% Hot Wheels line may be for you. Even if you had been collecting at the time, give the line a second look and you’ll see that it actually fits in quite well with some of the premium releases of today.

RELEASE DETAILS: Golden Yellow Body with Matte Black Roof (metal). Clear Windows. Black Interior. Chrome Grill/Bumper. Black Base (metal). Made in China. Toy# C6754. Released in 2004 as #3 of 4 in the 100% Hot Wheels “Oil Cans” / Muscle Car Series (limited to 7,000 pieces).