Hot Wheels of the Day

Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 EVO II

Hot Wheels X Period Correct

RELEASE YEAR: 2018 • CASTING DESIGNER: Mark Jones

There are a handful of “holy grails” in modern Hot Wheels collecting and this #Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 EVO II is one of them. Referred affectionately as the 190E, this #Collaboration between Hot Wheels and #Period Correct — a clothing brand out of southern California — serves as Hot Wheels collectors’ introduction into hypebeast culture.

Mattel and Hot Wheels had teamed up with brands prior, allowing said brands to release collaboration vehicles through the brands’ web sites and in-store. I recall how the Troy Lee Designs #Texas Drive ‘Em sat in the TLD shop for months in 2011 despite a run quantity of 1,100 pieces. Nowadays, that piece is a grail in and of itself. In late 2018 however, a new breed of Hot Wheels collaborations were born. First came the Tanner Fox “Guaczilla” drop on October 1, 2018, followed by the Period Correct 190E drop on December 8, 2018 and the Supreme Team Transport drop in February 2019, which exposed our little Hot Wheels collecting world to mainstream profiteers whom resell online products for a living. As someone who has been an RLC member since year one, you could tell something was building with Hot Wheels in the world of hype. Each sellout approached quicker and quicker culminating with the Supreme sale which lasted a mere 16.6 seconds.

Thankfully, the Period Correct 190E lasted a couple minutes, despite pretty much being a record at that time. Most Hot Wheels collectors who were on the Period Correct site right at sale time, seemed to be able to score the piece whereas the same couldn’t be said for future Period Correct sales.

This Hot Wheels 190E was different! The #Period Correct #Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 EVO II wasn’t on the bulk of Hot Wheels collectors’ radars as some saw it as an “overpriced premium” whereas others proclaimed the deco was hideous. Yes, these were comments I remember hearing. Others, like myself, realized the impressive detail that went into this piece, and knew that it wouldn’t be too common. Plus, the retro-inspired deco was actually pretty cool!

For those that know DTM racing (German Touring Car Championship) from the ’90s, you know how the 190E dominated. You are also familiar with Klaus Ludwig driving the #3 Sonax 190E to victory in the 1992 season — Mercedes’ first DTM title in Group A. The deco on the #Period Correct 190E certainly celebrates that era of racing with a very “period correct” inspired deco that serves as a tribute to said car — so at least I believe that to be the case.

Color (material): White & Dark Blue (metal)
Chassis (material): Unpainted (metal)
Windows: Clear
Interior: Black
Deco: Grid Pattern with Blank White Roundel, Period Correct Logos
Wheels: Chrome-Rim, Black Real Riders Aero (RRA) Wheels
Country of Manufacture: Thailand
Toy# (SKU): N/A

ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE (In Original Packaging, January 2023)

$1,005.15 ▲

Value-wise, the $1,000+ market value you see above seems absurd for the #Period Correct #Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 EVO II — or for any Hot Wheels car for that matter. I’m sure the folks at Period Correct would have never expected this car to sell on the open market for close to the cost of a 1:1 EVO body kit. I know Hot Wheels collectors didn’t!

In terms of overall rarity, the production numbers were never published. Collectors have speculated this one to have a run 750 pieces — a number that I believe was based on how many were loaded into the Period Correct shop that day.

So many cool things could be said about the deco on this #Period Correct #Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 EVO II. Pulling off the grid pattern on the curves of a vehicle is one thing, but the fact that the grid wraps around the entire car is quite the feat.

The old adage “WIN ON SUNDAY SELL ON MONDAY” adorns the rear bumper of this car. If I remember correctly, it was the name of the line that Period Correct was selling in December 2018. The phrase basically equates to the impact weekend auto racing has on automotive sales come Monday morning.

The ironic thing is that the same could be said for this release and the impact which it had on future collaborations — especially Period Correct. Hot Wheels and Period Correct would do two more collaborations (4 vehicles altogether) and the vehicles ended up selling out in less than a minute. Meanwhile, this 190E has transcended the modern day ceiling for Hot Wheels collecting.