Tag: Race Cars

Orange Track Diecast

2011 New Models: RENAULT MÉGANE TROPHY

French auto manufacturer #Renault had a racing series of its own which was last called the Eurocup Renault Mégane V6 Trophy when it folded in 2013. Originally starting in 1976, this one-make racing series was created and managed by Renault Sport; the motorsport, performance and special vehicle divisions of […]

Orange Track Diecast

Mystery Cars: CHAPARRAL 2D

One of the more under-utilized castings in Hot Wheels history is the Chaparral 2D. It was only used 3 times since its initial 2003 First Editions release. Sure, there are castings that have been “one-and-dones” but considering this Chaparral had a 9-year run, you would assume that we would have seen more releases […]

Orange Track Diecast

Vintage Racing: DATSUN BLUEBIRD 510

The Datsun Bluebird 510 might have been known to be the “poor man’s BMW” but it is certainly the rich man’s Hot Wheel — with this release being the crown jewel of modern day Hot Wheels collecting. Yeah, I went there. With prices soaring to the $200 range […]

Diecast Motorsports

1999 First Editions: OLDS AURORA GTS-1

Hot Wheels and real-life racing have gone hand-in-hand since the days on Snake & Mongoose back in the 1970s. In the 1990s it was #Jack Baldwin “Leading the Way” for the Hot Wheels Race Team. His famous ’93 Camaro race car has become a staple of the Hot […]

Diecast Motorsports

Speed Team Series: ’70 CHEVY CHEVELLE SS

Although it shares the same name as the Hot Wheels ’70 Chevelle SS casting (an all-time collector favorite introduced in 1999), the Hot Wheels ’70 Chevy Chevelle SS casting (introduced in 2013) bares no resemblance. In casual conversations its referred to the “’70 Chevelle Racer” versus the “’70 Chevelle […]

Diecast Motorsports

HW Racing Series: FERRARI F430 CHALLENGE

There is somewhat of a mystery surrounding the Hot Wheels Ferrari F430 Challenge casting. When did it appear? Many collectors (including myself), had believed that the mystery lied within a mystery, in that the first occurrence of this challenge version occurred in the 2009 Mystery Cars — a segment […]

Diecast Motorsports

1997 First Editions: MERCEDES C-CLASS

As a young collector in 1997, the #First Edition of the Hot Wheels Mercedes C-Class brought me a new appreciation for great design. It also taught me that color combination & graphics must fit the product — this was something that curated my love for design and led me down the path […]

Diecast Motorsports

1998 First Editions: IROC FIREBIRD

The IROC Firebird is truly an under-appreciated casting given its real-life racing history. Granted, the International Race Of Champions (IROC) Race had always been run and raced like a professional sports all-star game where the selection of “all-stars” is always a little suspect and the format usually favors […]

Diecast Motorsports

2011 Treasure Hunts: DATSUN 240Z

2011 was the last year before Super Treasure Hunts went into hiding…also known as the “green stripe removal of 2012”. In the 5 years prior (2007-2011), the 2-tier Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt system consisted of 12 to 15 castings that each had a Regular Treasure Hunt and a […]