After a 4-year hiatus, the #Custom Volkswagen Beetle is back in the mainline as part of the #2019 Hot Wheels #Volkswagen Series. This time however, we get the retooled version of the casting with roof rack and a plastic base. If you remember, the change to this casting occurred mid-run of the Volkswagen 5-Pack back in 2016. The older version of this casting still exists for premium use as its #Car Culture / Air-Cooled release is evidence of that, but all basic releases going forward will utilize this plastic base tool.
Hot Wheels Custom Volkswagen Beetle from the 2019 Volkswagen Series (rear view)
If there is some sense of familiarity surrounding this release — maybe even some graphical déjà vu — its because the 2018 Red Edition: Volkswagen T2 Pickup was released just a couple months ago in the same color and very similar graphics. The fact that they both wear the same white-rim, black #Steelie 8-Spoke Wheels, makes me think this pair was no coincidence.
Hot Wheels Custom Volkswagen Beetle from the 2019 Volkswagen Series (with 2018 Red Edition VW T2 Pickup, Loading)
The only downside of this being an exquisite Hot Wheels pairing is that the #Custom Volkswagen Beetle doesn’t fit on the back of the #Volkswagen T2 Pickup. I know these are “Hot Wheels Scale” so the #Beetle is a little larger versus the T2 Pickup being a little smaller than it should, and I am okay with that … still glad to have this pair.
How about that weathered deco that Hot Wheels has been doing lately? I was just talking with my Australian collector-friend, Reece about this yesterday and we are both fans of it. He believes the first modern instance of this was on the Custom ’56 Ford F-100 from the 2017 HW Hot Trucks series — a release that I was quite fond of. Whoever decided to finally do a grunge-style tampo answered the call from collectors who had been clamoring for such, for years; so kudos to that fine graphic designer.
As I mentioned earlier, this #2019 Hot Wheels release of the #Custom Volkswagen Beetle wears the #Steelie 8-Spoke Wheels (ST8) — a first for this casting! I am typically not one for a means to an end, but if this casting NEVER wore a different wheel again, I would be 100% okay with it wearing the ST8 wheels from here on out. They honestly look like they were made for this casting!
This 2019 #Volkswagen Series release is out now as many have spotted it already in Hot Wheels 20-Packs and on the blister card as part of the #2019 Hot Wheels “C” case assortment. It will be a lot harder trying to find the 2018 Red Edition: Volkswagen T2 Pickup so if you are still in the need of one of those (to make an excellent pairing), you may one the grab one now at a local show, or off a secondary market sales site. Its still early in the year so, I hope *fingers crossed*, that we will see this #Custom Volkswagen Beetle recolored at least once, in one of the other two colors of last year’s HW Hot Trucks: Volkswagen T2 Pickup.
RELEASE DETAILS: Red Enamel Body (metal). Clear Windows. Gray Interior. White-Rim, Black Steelie 8-Spoke (ST8) Wheels. Black Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# FYD61. Released in 2019 as #8 of 10 in the Volkswagen Series (#69/250 in the 2019 mainline).
Categories: Showcase
ORANGE TRACK DIECAST 
Yep, I am really looking forward to this casting and the other models in the VW series. The mint green would be a really nice recolor option I think. The blue is too close to what was used in the VW 5 pack from a few years ago.
I like the color choice and the stamps of the vehicle
I like the color of the vehicle and The Stance of the vehicle
Sorry I’m late to the party.
I get these mostly to mod, and really celebrate the amazing interior work in this model. fuel tank, split window, even a very reasonably well replicated engine that is impossible to see under the hood.
i was pretty surprised.