As if you couldn’t already tell, its been all Hot Wheels #Fast & Furious / Original Fast series this week here on OTD. Why? Well, simply put: because I love this mix (as if you couldn’t tell). These five cars have been so long overdue that I decided to finally give them their due. In this 5-car set, there is no mistake as to who the leader is: Dominic Toretto. He was the head of his family of friends in The Fast and the Furious (2001), and his #’95 Mazda RX-7 is featured prominently in the middle of the card art.
Its kind of funny when you look back at The Fast and the Furious (2001) and see Dom introduced as this father figure of this import-driving, family of misfits, before he was ultimately rebranded as this guy who only drives American muscle. So while Dom was sweeping the underground import scene in Los Angeles, he was driving his Mazda RX-7.
The folks at Hot Wheels ultimately decided not to tool up a new casting for this release. This is most likely due to the fact that the existing #’95 Mazda RX-7 casting is a pretty close match despite it not having a huge wing on the back like the #Movie Car. Also, there were already three new castings making their debut in this series so that might have had something to do with it as well.
Hot Wheels ’95 Mazda RX-7 Casting Family Photo (March 2019)
Either way, its hard to be disappointed with the way this release came out. It is officially the sixth release of the Hot Wheels #’95 Mazda RX-7, and the first to be in a premium line. If you take anything away from this, know this: we now have a premium version of the Hot Wheels ’95 Mazda Rx-7 … come on #Car Culture!
Unlike the Mitsubishi Eclipse from this series, there are no glaring omissions of sponsor logos as this is a pretty accurate representation of the color and graphics the #Movie Car wore in The Fast and the Furious (2001). Hats off to Hot Wheels graphic designer, Steve Vandervate for nailing the recreation of this design.
Perhaps the most interesting choice for this release was the wheels. The 20-Spoke Wheels used on the #Movie Car were certainly unique. Obviously, Hot Wheels has nothing close to those, so the #Real Riders Modern Concave Wheels were used in place. They aren’t used all that often — and I know some collectors dislike that fact that you can’t see through them — but I have to say that they really work well with this design.
I would be remiss to not mention the details. The details on this #Fast & Furious / Original Fast series release of the #’95 Mazda RX-7 are amazing — to say the least! Just look at the photos of the front, and/or the rear, of the car and you’ll see what I am talking about. Every light is layered with multiple colors of paint and even the grill insets are painted. I will be picking up a couple more of these when I see them next — this release is that good. And like I said before, I hope this release really opens the door for this casting to see the light of day in #Car Culture.
For now, we do have a premium #’95 Mazda RX-7 — and while the design may be a little busy for some collectors’ taste — its a great recreation of Dom’s original ride in the #Fast & Furious franchise.
RELEASE DETAILS: Red Body (metal). Tinted Windows. Tan Interior. Chrome Real Riders Modern Concave Wheels. Red Base (metal). Made in Thailand. Toy# GBW82. Released in 2019 as #3 of 5 in the Fast & Furious / Original Fast series.
Categories: Showcase
ORANGE TRACK DIECAST 