Hot Wheels of the Day

Z-WHIZ

Hot Wheels Golden Machines 6-Pack

RELEASE YEAR: 1979 • CASTING DESIGNER: Larry Wood

The #Z-Whiz has the distinction of being the first car produced by a Japanese auto manufacturer to become a Hot Wheels vehicle. The Z — produced by #Datsun, which later became Nissan — is at the forefront of this casting’s name which is a mashup of “Z” and the informal, North American exclamation, “Gee-Whiz”. Though it was the first Japanese car to become a Hot Wheels vehicle, it is not the first #JDM vehicle as the steering wheel configuration for this Hot Wheels casting is based on the left-hand drive North American version of the Datsun 240Z produced in the 1970s. The Z-Whiz made its first appearance as part of the 1977 Hot Wheels lineup.

In 1979, Hot Wheels released the fifth version of the #Z-Whiz as part of the Golden Machines 6-Pack. This #Multi-Pack Exclusive release features a gold-chrome body, #Blackwall wheels, and Flying Colors style graphics. The tampos (graphics) are a recolored variant of the ones that appeared on the first release. This theme was the same across the other five vehicles in the set which also included the #Corvette Stingray, Hot Bird, Jaguar XJS, #Race Bait 308, and Spoiler Sport.

Color (material): Gold-Chrome (metal)
Chassis (material): Unpainted (metal)
Windows: Light Blue
Interior: Light Blue
Deco: “DATSUN Z” Flying Colors style graphics
Wheels: Chrome Blackwalls
Country of Manufacture: Hong Kong
Toy# (SKU): 2861

ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE (Loose in Near-Mint to Mint Condition, May 2024)

$52.10 —

Please note that OTD is part of the eBay Partner Network (EPN). OTD will receive affiliate compensation from the EPN thanks to readers like you clicking on the above link and purchasing items. Think of it as a great way to support OTD!

Despite being 45-years-old, and the Hot Wheels #JDM segment booming, value of the Golden Machines: #Z-Whiz isn’t on the rise. Due to the casting’s age — produced by Hot Wheels from 1977 to 1984 — you’ll find more nostalgic “blackwall era” Hot Wheels collectors collecting this one, rather than today’s import collector. That isn’t to say there isn’t crossover, it’s strictly an observation.

If we simply compare to the Hot Wheels #Z castings of today, you’ll see why newer collectors will shy away from it. The detail of Hot Wheels from the ’70s and ’80s fails in comparison to that of today. Back then, Hot Wheels weren’t made for the collector segment as Mattel really didn’t recognize us (collectors) until the mid ’80s. So, Hot Wheels from this era were designed as toys — go figure! In addition to that mindset, the tooling process for a casting was far different back then. Castings were sculpted in large blocks of wood, and then used by the production team in Hong Kong to make the diecast tools. Today, castings are designed entirely on screen and then 3D-printed to ensure fit/aesthetics long before the casting ever gets tooled before going into production. While it may seem like I am going off on a tangent here, I am pointing this out because I believe casting aesthetics to be the biggest determining factor as to why newer collectors from the “Treasure Hunt era” don’t venture into Hot Wheels vehicles from the ’70s and ’80s.

$50+ may seem like a lot to put down for a common car from 1979. I will remind you that this is for a near-mint to mint version of this car. My example here is considered more in the “good condition” category. For this release in this kind of condition, the value drops substantially as there are far more available in this kind of condition. $10 to $20 is a pretty standard range for the Golden Machines: #Z-Whiz in this condition.