It finally happened today. My buddy Mike came to pick up my FC RX-7. He will be rebuilding the engine and fixing some other broken things on the car within the next few months. But first, we’re taking both our RX-7s to a car show at our local racetrack for the weekend.
I had turned the FC into a storage space for part of my diecast collection. I had boxes and bags of Hot Wheels, MiniGT, Pop Race, Kyosho, Tarmac Works and Solido models on all the seats front and rear and the trunk of course. And they all had to come out of the car before it left for our team’s garage some three hours away from where I live now.
I haven’t even looked at these items in at least half a year or more, and I’m almost curious to revisit the contents of it all. It’s at a point where it’s difficult for me to memorize them all, although I’m certain I could pinpoint the cars I have if someone showed me photos of Matel’s line-up.
The only question I must face now is: do I sell them all to raise the cash I need for a new turbo, clutch, diff, seats and engine? Or do I find another way? I imagine it would feel painful to let go of everything I’ve accumulated over the past three or four years since the last purge. But it’s just as painful to watch my FC sitting idle in the garage.
Anyway, I still plan on doing a few more unboxing sessions over the next few months, starting with these Silver Series collectibles. A few of these are quite a bit more exciting than some of the Premium peg-warmers on the market. At least that’s how I feel about them, considering they’re only 25% to 40% as expensive depending on the store.
1932 Ford
Photo: autoevolution
Nostalgia will often make people say things like “They don’t make them like they used to.” I think a part of our brain is wired to forget the negative experiences, so that we may live a peaceful life. There’s also the idea that we’re yearning for a period when we were younger, associating it with various aspects of life back then. I’m almost 40 now, and I wish I could revisit the ‘80 and ‘90s to see what a brand-new FC RX-7 felt like driving.
If you’re in your 60s, you might want to experience the ‘60s or ‘70s again. How old do you have to be to fall in love with a 1932 Ford, though? At this point, I’d say anyone who is a genuine automotive enthusiast would be happy to own, drive or even see one of these in the real world. It’s a kind of nostalgia that transcends age, especially if we’re talking about a hot rod like the one Gary Saffer recreated here. The car itself is almost 100 years old, while the casting will be celebrating its 30th anniversary soon.
I might just compile a list of Hot Wheels vehicles that are still around after such a long period. If I ever find the 1998 First Editions release of this Ford, I won’t hesitate to buy it. There are almost 70 different iterations on the market, but only about a dozen of them have had Real Riders wheels up to this point. The latest one showed up in the 2024 Hot Wheels Boulevard series, and it wasn’t that successful in my area.
This Salt Flat Racers release was next in line, and I’ve been thinking about it for almost two years now. I don’t know how it popped up on the pegs this month but felt grateful to find it. Everything about it is perfect: the ZAMAC base, the Fuchs-inspired rims, and the sand affected matte indigo paintjob. With the supercharged V8 up front, I can understand how this design could trigger a lifelong obsession for some collectors. I might fall for it, too.
’65 Pontiac Bonneville
Photo: autoevolution
The ‘65 Pontiac Bonneville feels like a modern machine compared to the ‘32 Ford. And even though it’s an American car too, it looks like it’s part of a completely different world. Mark Jones designed this for the 2003 First Editions series, and it’s the first of four of his castings that are on the list today.
The First Edition had Wire Spoke rims and silver flames across its Pearl Blue body, which to me is reminiscent of the lowrider culture. You could say this casting wasn’t as popular as the Ford, as Mattel only made fewer than 30 variations in just over two decades. It did show up as a Treasure Hunt model in 2004, though, featuring a rather boring Flat Lavender finish with black flames.
That same year, the Hot Wheels Whips: West Cost Customs (Old School) iterations had Bling Real Riders rims, and a cleaner look overall. If you’re an avid Spectraflame collector, the 2006 and 2009 Classics line-up will bring some color into your life with 11 variations to consider.
Only three more Bonneville versions left the factory floor after 2009: two in 2013 and one in 2017. I guess most people thought Mattel abandoned the project, before the company “resurrected” it for the 2026 Pontiac 100th Anniversary set. It’s once again a brilliant combo of Steelie wheels and a Satin Ube Purple finish. And since there are no windows on it, you can get a peek inside the “office”, too.
’65 Mustang 2+2 Fastback
Photo: autoevolution
Even though I currently own about 1,000 Hot Wheels collectibles, I don’t think I’ve even scratched the surface on Mattel’s complete selection of cars. And I’m not even talking about all the variations available, but only about the total number of castings. I don’t think I’m exaggerating by saying that pursuit this hobby is easily a lifetime adventure.
This ’65 2+2 Fastback is just one of many Mustang castings out there. It’s one of my favorites alongside the slightly more modern Mach 1. Interestingly, Alec Tam designed both this and the ’69 Ford Torino Talladega I unboxed recently, back in 2008. The Mustang has had an average of about two variations each year since its debut, and even the basic ones were quite nice.
I bought my first one in 2022, and it was the subject of one of my favorite Hot Wheels photos ever. It was stunning in Ivy Green, and I didn’t think Mattel could do better than that. Still, I didn’t go after this casting’s first Silver Series variation, as everyone was so busy fighting over its Chase variation.
I am just as happy with the Vintage Club release in Sunburst Yellow that uses the same rims. Sure, it’s not a Spectraflame finish, but the rust and weathering effects give it an even more authentic look. Let’s face it: it’s a barn find! Seeing that the manufacturer decided against pursuing the same theme for the next mix, I thought about an idea. I’ll leave a few Hot Wheels models out in the sun and rain for a few weeks and see what they end up like.
’70 Pontiac GTO Judge
Photo: autoevolution
Pleasing everyone is impossible, so you’re better off not even trying. That said, it’s only natural that some Hot Wheels sets will look more enticing to you than others. If you’re a JDM enthusiast, you might not care about the RVs or the donuts on wheels.
If you’re all about Muscle Cars, tiny European hatchbacks will look boring. You get the gist of it. I didn’t know I’d fall so hard for the Pontiac anniversary mix. I’ve never even driven or been a passenger in one before. The only model that left a lasting impression on me is further down this list today, so I’ll talk about it in a minute.
I thought it would be my favorite one, but things can change once you release a Hot Wheels collectible from its blister card. I drove a second-generation Pontiac GTO in Gran Turismo 7, but I can’t genuinely remember anything about it. So why has this ‘70 GTO Judge almost made me fall in love?
It’s Jun Imai’s creation from back in 2011, but this is only its 10th iterations ever. I like it better than the only other Premium variation on the market, which showed up in the 2012 Boulevard series. Having discovered it so late, I can only hope the people in El Segundo don’t plan on shelving the project anytime soon.
Porsche 356 Outlaw
Photo: autoevolution
I initially planned to use the Vintage Club 911 for this story, but somehow managed to lose it in storage. I’ve since found it, but I had already taken photos of the 356 Outlaw. The only other Silver Series Porsches I can think of for 2026 are the Cayman S and ‘71 911 in Neon Speeders, the 934/5 in the Pantone Mix, the 917 LH in The Hot Ones, and the 911 GT3 and Boxter Spider in the Multipack section.
Ok, I had forgotten about some of those, so it seems Porsche fans do have quite a few collectibles to chase after this year. I’ve had the 356 Outlaw on my must-have list for a long time now. It has been on the market since 2016, and I’m still certain the 2017 Car Culture: Air-Cooled is the best variation out there.
There’s also a Boulevard 356 in yellow to think about, and even a Super Treasure Hunt version if you don’t mind paying as much as $300 for one. Honestly, you’re better off just finding the Collector Edition release in Spectraflame Red. The most affordable option if you need o have it in a Spectraflame Color is to go after last year’s The Hot Ones model, which I might unbox soon.
The Vintage Club 356 is one of two iterations for 2026, and I’m happy to report it has a metal base. It’s the second heaviest collectible in today’s story, weighing 40 grams! That’s only one gram lighter than Jay Leno’s Premium Mazda Cosmo Sport for reference.
Volkswagen “Classic Bug”
Photo: autoevolution
Mattel’s Porsche 356 Speedster is just a bit more exciting for me compared to the regular 356. But which side will you be on in the “duel” between Porsche’s first car and Volkswagen’s “Classic Bug”?
These two are related if you think about it. We all know which one sold more units, but we also know which one was more special overall. If you want to keep the comparison strictly in the 1/64th scale world, the result might be different.
While the Porsche has had almost 20 variations so far, there are only six of them for the Classic Bug, which makes the latter slightly more desirable. The Bug has also been a Premium-exclusive model so far, showing up in Car Culture, Boulevard and Replica Entertainment before making an appearance in the Silver Series.
It’s one of only two collectibles in the Vintage Club set to have a ZAMAC base (alongside Sooo Fast). Rust and weathering are part of the story as well, and I think Mattel could’ve pushed the theme even further: some body damage, cracked rims or windows, hanging exhaust pipe: you name it!
Jaguar Lightweight E-Type
Photo: autoevolution
For an item with “Lightweight” in its name, this Jaguar E-Type is the heaviest casting for today’s story (42 grams). It’s also the last one here that Mark Jones designed, and you may remember seeing its First Edition release in the 2019 Car Culture: Team Transport series.
It jumped on the ZAMAC trend in 2020 for the Iconic Racers Collector Set before another Car Culture variation arrived in 2021. To me, it was the least desirable in that British Horsepower set, as the Gulf-themed McLaren F1 had everyone’s attention.
If you’re an E-Type enthusiast, you should know this one is just an entry-level design. Bryan Benedict created a Roadster version for last year’s Mattel Creations Collaboratory series. And then there’s the one Lindsey Lee envisioned as a Red Line Club exclusive release with two variations between 2023 and 2025.
I know you could argue that the Lightweight version that was part of the 2024 Virtual Garage (Series 9) is rarer still (4,350 units), but I tend to stay away from that series. The Metalflake Blue finish with white stripes on the National Icons E-Type almost feels like a reverse take on what we had in British Horsepower. It’s much better this way!
’06 Pontiac GTO
Photo: autoevolution
Brendon Vetuskey has designed several Pontiac castings during his Hot Wheels tenure. He started with the ‘67 Firebird 400, moved on to the ‘73 Firebird a few years later then came up with the Custom ‘67 Firebird in 2017.
The more you look at his list of achievements, the more you understand that he’s a big Firebird enthusiast. He owns a few in the real world after all. Up until this year’s 1985 Pontiac J2000, the 2006 GTO was the only non-Firebird Pontiac he created for the El Segundo-based manufacturer.
I’ve somehow never bought one until this week, even though the First Edition was part of the 2021 Factory Fresh series. I confess seeing it in yellow persuaded me to add it to my shopping cart. Mine has a big crack in the rear quarter panel section, as if it had previously hit a pole.
It’s not a deal-breaker, but at the end of the day I’m facing an unusual turn of events. I thought it would be my favorite car in the set, and right now it feels slightly underwhelming. The wheelie bar and “parachute” in the back add some extra points, but nostalgia over the older models prevails once again.
Ford Escort RS2000
Photo: autoevolution
You will have noticed by now that there’s no Japanese car in today’s unboxing story. Germany and the United States are in the spotlight, and the Ford Escort RS2000 is next on my list. Come to think about it, both last two cars here are Fraser Campbell’s work.
While I acknowledge the Escort RS2000’s rally heritage, I’ve never had any real-world interactions with it nor has it ever captivated my imagination like some Japanese sports cars have. I’m almos certain I bought the First Edition variation in 2023, as I still have the image of it all imprinted in my memory.
But I haven’t followed up on any of the next iterations. It had a big moment in 2024 by joining the Super Treasure Hunt series sporting a Spectraflame Green finish, and then it seemingly vanished off the map in 2025.
The C5 wheels are a nice match for the Rally Racers Escort, although they can feel a bit repetitive at times. Can we get at least two or three more rim designs in 2027? I’d rate the Escort P3/5 for the set, higher than the Honda S800 and the Datsun 510. However, it still ranks lower than the Lancia 037 for me.
’87 Audi Quattro
Photo: autoevolution
Meanwhile, the last vehicle in today’s story takes top honors. I have spent way too many years driving Audis and dreaming about turbocharged 5-cylinder engines to proceed otherwise.
I know some people might confuse this casting with the ’84 Audi Sport quattro at times, which is why I “parked” both inside my Miami diorama for the photoshoot. The ‘84 model is just a Mainline release but gets extra credits for also being a Treasure Hunt.
I love the Aerodisc wheels, but they’re arguably just one step beneath the white Star 5-Spoke design on the ‘87 Quattro. With the IMSA-derived ‘90 Quattro up front you start noticing the differences between them, even though the liveries look similar.
The ‘87 Audi has only had four previous variations so far, and the Super Treasure Hunt one won’t come easy. The only question on my mind is: why don’t we have a Premium iteration for it yet?
