There are a lot of fans of the Hot Wheels #Skylines these days. Its evidenced by every time there is one inserted into a series or line, its always among the first to get snagged at retail. Personally, I like Nissan Skylines but they don’t resonate as deeply with me as they do with other collectors — and I’m totally okay with that! I am a Hot Wheels collector through and through. So, when it comes to the Hot Wheels #Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X — the “Hakosuka” — I have a small, intimate collection of ones that appeal to me. As I say all the time, “collect what you like”, and this is evidence of me practicing what I preach.
Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X from the 2017 International Tokyo Toy Show with four other white casting variants.
Chances are, you’re spotting the all-white one in the front, and the name of this article clues you in to where this variant came from. Since I don’t collect this casting, I am certainly not up to date on any rare variants of it. It was really, by chance, that I happened to be at the charity auction at the 31st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention on Friday, October 6, 2017, watching this item go up on the block. A couple days prior, I had seen it in a charity auction preview on HotWheelsCollectors.com and figured it was a prototype like most of the items Mattel donates, tend to be. NOTE: Prototypes are uber-cool, but way out of my price range.
Low and behold, Hot Wheels Designer Brendon Vetuskey steps to the podium and announces this white skyline is an actual production piece that [then] Hot Wheels Designer, Jun Imai had made for the 2017 International Tokyo Toy Show. Brendon said that the car was produced in extremely limited quantities for the kids to color on at the show.
To most collectors, having such a rare piece used as a kids toy seems sacrilegious, right? Well, it is a brutal reminder that what do choose to collect is just that: a kids toy. Fortunately, Mattel had saved at least one, and chose to donate it to the convention’s charity auction to raise money for a great cause. The story alone was worth it for me.
Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X from the 2017 International Tokyo Toy Show with colored markers
So you are probably thinking I won it, huh? Shelled out the big bucks? Nope. I actually know the winner very well, but it wasn’t me…
So how did I obtain the one you see here? Well, a year later (at the LA convention once again), I found it for sale in one of the rooms. The provenance lined up with what I knew, so I bought it. I am sure many collectors looked right past it, not knowing how truly special this piece is — how RARE it is.
This variant of the #Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X is very similar to the 2017 Nightburnerz release. They share all the same components with the exception of the graphics. Fortunately, there is one tiny detail that separates them, and if I didn’t have a friend that owned a verified one already, I would have been very skeptical that I actually obtained the rare piece — and not some, tampo-washed custom.
Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X from the 2017 International Tokyo Toy Show with Nightburnerz release (head-to-head)
The base code on the bottom is stamped with a “K21” designation, meaning this variant was assembled between May 22 and 26, 2017. That was only a little over a week before the International Tokyo Toy Show opened to public on June 3, 2017. I have examined well over one hundred of the 2017 Nightburnerz release, and found production/base codes that range from K14 to K19, meaning this one was produced after that run. It makes sense though, as I assume Jun — who wasn’t available for comment — had needed an all-white car at the last-minute, meaning it had to be something already in production, and this Skyline’s Nightburnerz production run made it the perfect candidate.
Being that this #Skyline was intended to be colored, painted, CUSTOMIZED, there is no telling how many made it away unscathed. I am just glad that I was able to obtain one so I could pass along the story that was told to me. Its these kind of releases that are fun to collect, no matter the casting. And, to have this avenue to share it with you, makes it even better.
Thats it! The story has been written. It will be interesting to see how many do turn up. For now, you are looking at one of the last, unscathed relics of the massacre known as the “kids customization event” at the 2017 International Tokyo Toy Show.
Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X from the 2017 International Tokyo Toy Show
Categories: Showcase
ORANGE TRACK DIECAST 
To color a piece like this is almost like burning a vintage decorative candle! It was made for burning, but if you do, you ruin it!
Anyhow, how about a showcase for the Corvette Stingray Super Chromes Treasure Hunt. What a stunning piece!
I’ll see what I can do about that. 😉
👍
I just bought one that has his signature and 17 on the top of it. Id love for him to verify it.
I absolutely love Hot Wheels 1/64 diecast . I’ve been a true fan since my older sister bought me what became known as the ‘Sweet 16’ in ’68 . I was already heavily into hot-rods , customs , and drag racing . My point is that , sorry , but I’ve never heard any of the original customizers use the term ‘customization’ . I can’t remember when I first heard it , but it just seemed off . I’ve read all there is to know about Ed Roth , Gene Winfield , the Alexander brothers , the Barris brothers , I mean , I could go on . All of them ! But they never used that word . The car is a custom or custom car . The car has been customized . This person is customizing his car . I’ve never heard any of them describe the amount of work as ‘customzation’ . It was a ‘mild custom’ or ‘full custom’ . I would love to find out how they feel about it , or maybe simply not bothered . Pete UK