We are in the midst of the holiday season and, for me, it’s a great time to reminisce.  Reminisce about years past, reminisce about the past year. The same goes for my collection. It is a great time to look back at what you’ve accumulated in the last year, and it is also fun to look back at past holiday models. Hot Wheels has released holiday models in all product tiers: basic to ultra-premium.

For several years, Hot Wheels had a premium line of holiday cars called the #Holiday Rods — which were essentially #Christmas-themed vehicles. Today’s #Showcase features the #’52 Chevy Truck which was the #Chase piece in the 2008 Holiday Rods.

Hot Wheels ’52 Chevy Truck from the 2008 Holiday Rods (side view)

Hard to not notice the #Christmas tree in the back, huh? This release of the Hot Wheels #’52 Chevy Truck is certainly one of the more memorable #Chase pieces from over the years as the tree in the back was tooled up specifically for this limited-run release, only to never be seen again. By today’s Hot Wheels efficiency standards, it seems like such a waste to tool up a new element of a casting, only for a limited run. This was 2008 however, and I seem to recall it was seen (internally at Mattel) as a little “gift” to collectors.

Hot Wheels ’52 Chevy Truck from the 2008 Holiday Rods (tree in truck bed view)

During this time period, the folks at Hot Wheels were notoriously known for leaving little #Christmas “Easter Eggs” on, or inside, the occasional holiday release. From tooling up a snowmobile — instead of a motorcycle — for the #’55 Chevy Panel; to adding in presents to the back of the #Hiway Hauler; to tooling up a Santa to hang out the window of the Tail Dragger, Hot Wheels had some Christmas swag.

Perhaps it was the idea of former Project Management Specialist, Lisa Matwijiw whose last name is on the doors of this release. Lisa left Mattel in 2010, but back then she managed the collaboration of what is now referred to as the @hotwheelsdreamteam (Design, Graphics, Marketing & Packaging) when it came to new adult collector premium lines. Her name also appeared on the first release of this casting when it was released in the 2007 Hot Wheels Classics. To see other #Cars that feature the names of Mattel Employees, make sure you check out the tag.

Hot Wheels ’52 Chevy Truck from the 2008 Holiday Rods with the 2018 HW Metro Super Treasure Hunt

Since the Hot Wheels #’52 Chevy Truck was released in 2007, there have been 20+ variants released of the truck — none of which have an interior. That includes the Super Treasure Hunt that was released last year (seen in the image above). Also, as I mentioned earlier, this #Holiday Rods release was the only one that had the #Christmas tree in the back.

Hot Wheels ’52 Chevy Truck from the 2008 Holiday Rods (rear view)

So, other than a lack of an interior, this release of the #Holiday Rods #’52 Chevy Truck has it all. #Spectraflame Paint, CHECK! #Real Riders — with #White Wall Tires to boot — CHECK! A #Chase element, CHECK! #Christmas swag, CHECK! In my opinion, that is what makes it cool and highly-desirable when it comes to collectors. This release doesn’t come cheap these days so best of luck if I’ve somehow turned you onto it.

Hot Wheels ’52 Chevy Truck from the 2008 Holiday Rods

What Hot Wheels cars are you chasing this holiday season? … What are you reminiscing about? Let us know in the comments below! Merry Christmas. Happy Hannukah. Happy Holidays. HAPPY HUNTING!