Just a little over a decade ago, Hot Wheels Red Line Club members voted this #Volkswagen Karmann Ghia into existence. #RLC #sELECTIONs are a series of polls that collectors vote in. The polls typically consist of several choices including casting, color and wheels. RLC members vote in these polls and the collective top choices are executed in Hot Wheels form. Preorders are taken on HotWheelsCollectors.com, and the vehicles is made-to-order. Nearly a year later, the release hits collectors’ mailboxes. In my opinion, sELECTIONs is easily the best perk of being a member of the RLC.

In 2007, the #Volkswagen Karmann Ghia beat out collector-favorite castings in the Dairy Delivery, ’70 Chevelle SS and the ’68 Mustang, to win the second #sELECTIONs bracket for that year, back when there were four per year. It was a bracket that pitted Classics castings versus Ultra Hots castings — the two premiere collector lines of that time. The end result was a Spectraflame Orange Ghia with #Real Riders 5-Spoke Wheels.

Hot Wheels Volkswagen Karmann Ghia from the 2007 RLC sELECTIONs series (side view) with the HWC series 6 VW Drag Bus

What ultimately transpired was the #Volkswagen Karmann Ghia received the same graphics as another HWC/RLC #VW from 2007. The HWC Series 6: Volkswagen Drag Bus featured Spectraflame Orange paint, RR5SP Wheels, ghost flames, and some black & gray striping. The graphic designer at the time decided to carry over that motif to the #sELECTIONs Ghia — making the two an unofficial set.

The similarities between the #Volkswagen Karmann Ghia and the #Volkswagen Drag Bus extend past those found solely in this release. Both castings are heavily-modified #VWs, fit for the drag strip. Both were designed by Hot Wheels Designer, Phil Riehlman, and both had a short, one-off stint in the mainline for their debut.

Hot Wheels Volkswagen Karmann Ghia from the 2007 RLC sELECTIONs series (package view)

Hot Wheels Volkswagen Karmann Ghia from the 2007 RLC sELECTIONs series (top-right view)

Hot Wheels Volkswagen Karmann Ghia from the 2007 RLC sELECTIONs series (side view)

Hot Wheels Volkswagen Karmann Ghia from the 2007 RLC sELECTIONs series (rear view)

Whats crazy is that the #Volkswagen Karmann Ghia was essentially a brand-new casting at the time of it being voted into #sELECTIONs lore. Just a couple months earlier, the #First Edition of the casting appeared in the 2006 First Editions — in the last case assortment of 2016, via a limited run. The hype surrounding the casting was high and that boiled over to the voting where the Ghia took down the collector-favorites listed above.

Hot Wheels Volkswagen Karmann Ghia from the 2007 RLC sELECTIONs series (top off, rear view) with the HWC series 6 VW Drag Bus

Personally, the #Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is one of my favorite Hot Wheels castings, and this release is among my favorite releases — if not, the favorite. The #Spectraflame Orange paint is super vibrant and smooth, hugging every round edge of this casting. The touches of matte black on the roof-mounted air intake and on the rear spoiler contrast the bright orange extremely well. Also, this release is the only variant of the Ghia to feature #Real Riders 5-Spoke Wheels, which you have to admit sit well on this low and muscular casting.

For those that were Red Line Club members back in 2007, that year will be the height of what was jokingly called the, “Blue Real Riders Club”, because four out of the five sELECTIONs for that year were voted to have #Real Riders and some hue of blue spectraflame — it was a favorite combination for collectors at the time. This bright orange Ghia was the only 2007 #sELECTIONs vehicle to defy the blue, and collectors responded by ordering a total quantity of 10,003.

RELEASE DETAILS: Spectraflame Orange Body (metal). Clear Windows. Chrome and Black Interior. Chrome Real Riders 5-Spoke Wheels with Goodyear Tampo. Chrome-Plated Base (metal). Made in China. Toy# L2111. Released in 2007 as #2 of 4 in the 2007 RLC sELECTIONS series (limited to 10,003 pieces).