Magical Hot Wheels

Hot Wheels Yellow Submarine

2016-10-09T08:40:00.003-04:00

When i started collecting Hot Wheels as an adult in 1996 I couldn't have imagined that there would be a Yellow Submarine in a Hot Wheels package. But twenty years later here it is: the Hot Wheels Yellow Submarine. It was also twenty years ago today Sargent taught the band to play, too!

Of course, it all started with the 1969 movie. Hippy dippy psychedelia graphics that still hold up today: of their time yet still timely.

The movie had a good soundtrack (left) sporting six Beatles tunes on side one and the George Martin Orchestra's instrumental music on side two. The movie featured many more Beatles songs not on the album until reimagined in 1999 as the "Yellow Submarine Songtrack" (right). Note the yellow sub is the sole graphic on the reissue. An iconic image.

The first popular diecast version was by Corgi. Very cool and it nicely captures the overall spirit but it's a bit long - perhaps stretched to enable the pop-up Beatles. As it rolls the periscopes turn. Corgis were 1/43 scale and the sub, while not likely to any particular scale, is approximately 5-inches long. Corgi's Yellow Submarine has been reissued over the years due to its popularity.

In the '60s and '70s Corgi was well-known for their licensed vehicles: '66 TV Batmobile, James Bond 007's Aston Martin, Man From UNCLE, Monkee Mobile, etc.

Along comes Mattel in the 2000's going after those licenses and others. We now have numerous 007-related vehicles (Aston Martin DB7, Lotus Esprit,etc.) and Batmobiles, Scooby Doo's Mystery Van, K.I.T.T. and even Star Trek Enterprise.

I was very pleasantly surprised late last year when I saw a Hot Wheels preview list of 2016 vehicles indicating "The Beatles Yellow Submarine". Wow! Could it be?!

Yes!! Let's start with the stunning packaging that sports all four Beatles in their glorious cartoon images positioned so they're standing behind the toy with the cartoon sub behind them. The package makes for perfect display. To date I have found only one of these and I can't bring myself to open it. Hard to find, no doubt, due to the huge Beatles fan base wanting these, too.

The vehicle is gorgeous with accurate proportions, colors and details especially impressive for a dollar toy. It's almost three inches long which is impressive. It sports four tiny wheels on the bottom to enable it to roll - it is a Hot Wheels after-all.

Concurrently, Mattel released a premium line of Yellow Submarine themed automotive vehicles with movie-related graphics. Nice but they pale in comparison to the sub.

In a cosmic way I just found this comic in today's paper. A reminder of the timelessness of the Yellow Submarine franchise.

I challenge you to stop humming this tune for the rest of the day.

All together now...

Hot Wheels Acura NSX

2015-07-06T16:18:00.005-04:00

Mattel brings us the 1990 Acura NSX in their HW Workshop 2015 series. Introduced in 1990 by the Honda Motor Company the NSX brought the world of exotic sports cars to otherwise staid Acura lineup. Acura was known for its well-made but conservative TLs and ILs.

The Hot Wheels is quite accurate and very well done. Acura tampo on the hood and tailights/backup lights along with unexpected injection molded plastic exhaust pipes make for a fine reproduction. The windows and roof are cleverly one-piece emulating the real car's black painted roof.

The 1:1 car is below.

For 2016 Honda reintroduces the NSX and she's a beauty.

There is also a Hot Wheels version of this exciting car.

Hot Wheels James Bond 007 Goldfinger DB5

2014-09-07T15:47:00.001-04:00

As part of the 2014 HW Workshop/HW All Stars line Mattel introduces the 1963 Aston Martin DB5 made famous in the 1964 James Bond Goldfinger movie.

For a dollar toy it is beautiful and reasonably accurate for a 1/64 scale car. Attention to detail front and back are sweet with the round instead of squared wheel wells being the most obvious detraction. Tampo headlights and hood ornament are a nice touch as is the film-accurate license plate number (appearing only in back). The grey plastic grille even looks good instead of chrome. And yes the steering wheel is on the right side.

However, it sports none of the film gadgets that made it famous: ramrod bumpers, tire slashers, rotating license plates, armor sheild or most noticeably the ejector seat that made the 1960's Husky/Corgi Jr. so popular. Perhaps a tampo line would suffice to indicate where the hatch would be.

I applaud Mattel for the DB5 because it looks great but it's a bit of a stretch to market this as a James Bond vehicle. See a silver DB5 and one immediately thinks Bond, James Bond.

Hot Wheels Volkswagen Kool Kombi Bus

2014-05-30T04:21:00.003-04:00

The 2013 HW Showroom series brought us this fantastic vehicle.

The first Hot Wheels release was green. Note the clever flipped tailgate improvising as a wing. It's a bit cartoonish ala Dave Deel's finest right down to the surfboard tucked inside the tailgate.

The real deal.

There's even a LEGO version.

What does the future hold for the Kombi? VW has teased with concepts over the years.

Update: VW introduced the ID. Buzz in 2025. Beautiful design but sadly EV's were declining in popularity and the Buzz will not be back in 2026.

Hot Wheels Bread Box

2013-09-07T16:12:00.001-04:00

Hot Wheels Bread Box a cool custom featuring panoramic sunroof. This was introduced as a 2010 New Model. Mattel dropped the New Model segment for 2013 preferring to simply blend new castings with old.

The first Bread Box release sported cool Post Office-like graphics.

In time a similar paint scheme was used on the "unmarked" Treasure Hunt. The package no longer proclaimed "Treasure Hunt", instead a small circular branding identified it to the initiated.

Inspiration for the Bread Box came from the Jeep FJ-3 Fleetvan, a compact delivery van manufactured by Willys Motors and Kaiser-Jeep from 1961 to 1965. The FJ-3 was produced first as the right-hand-drive postal delivery vehicle seen below. The FJ-3A had an additional 19 inches of rear overhang.

Tupac Maltese

2013-03-25T13:51:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite CDs by Tupac Maltese.

USPS Muscle Cars (Forever®) Stamps

2013-03-10T16:27:00.000-04:00

With the newly issued Muscle Cars (Forever®) stamps the U.S. Postal Service celebrates five iconic automobiles from the muscle car era of the late 60s to early 70s. Muscle cars are probably the most desirable cars to adult collectors. Not surprisingly, each of the Postal Service's choices has been issued by Hot Wheels over the years.

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

1966 Pontiac GTO

1967 Shelby GT-500

1970 Chevelle SS

1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda

According to the USPS website, "Muscle Cars is the third issuance in the America on the Move series. The stamps were designed by art director Carl T. Herrman. The first issuance in the series, 50s Sporty Cars (2005), was followed by 50s Fins and Chrome (2008). The Muscle Cars stamps are being issued as Forever® stamps in self-adhesive sheets of 20 (4 of each design)."

Hurry! Get these great new stamps while they're still hot.

Hot Wheels Bump Around | HW Racing 2013

2013-02-20T15:43:00.001-05:00

This could be my favorite Hot Wheels of all time.

Based on the scale of a small wheel this wild ride is way bigger than 1/64. Perhaps 1/32 or even 1/24.

Not sure why Mattel went with dark chrome base when it would have been more accurate in black plastic. Ironically in this time of cost-cutting wherein many Hot Wheels have plastic bodies because it is cheaper. And the base looks exactly like diecast though it's plastic.

Most cars in the HW Racing line have diecast bases and many have plastic bodies. This produces a lower center of gravity which is excellent for track set racing. The Bump Around seems like an odd choice for the racing line.

If you want a bigger bumper car that your kids to ride on you won't do better than the Radio Flyer 740 Classic Bumper Car (Google Affiliate Ad) seen below.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: A Hot Wheels I'd Like To See

2013-01-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

I'd like to see a Hot Wheels 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

The new Stingray is drop dead gorgeous.

The rear end is already somewhat controversial but I like the Camaro influenced taillights lending it a nice family resemblance.

The '09 Corvette Stingray Concept was introduced by Mattel in their 2010 lineup and is a beauty.

In 1968 Mattel jump-started the Corvette revolution by introducing the toy car as one of the original 16 Hot Wheels before the real one hit the streets. This third generation Vette was an all-new body style radically different from the previous one.

The '14 can't be too far behind.

2012 Hot Wheels Car Of The Year Award

2013-01-05T06:35:00.001-05:00

HTBomb's 2012 Hot Wheels Car Of The Year Award goes to

Larry Wood's Altered Ego.

Likely the most controversial release of 2012 the Altered Ego is also the car of the year. Some people love it, some people hate it. A few have even attempted to "fix" it by chopping it up and moving the front wheels back to where they belong. That's cool but boring.

A note about how the award was decided. Other blogs attempt to legitimize their choices by accepting votes yet the fine print reveals only a handful of people took the time to vote. Here at Magical Hot Wheels Blog we simply go with what we like.

For more about the Altered Ego go here.

Vintage Hot Wheels Ads

2012-12-24T08:44:00.001-05:00

Back in the 60s Mattel ran many ads in comic books. The following ad introduced many kids to the exciting new world of Hot Wheels cars. It featured the original 16 castings.

Not only did Hot Wheels look great but they could do something Matchbox couldn't: race down the track. Kids like me wanted their Hot Wheels to be the fastest and it was easy to set up match races in one's room. Best of all: no batteries required; only required gravity to make it work. The iconic loop was introduced in the earliest of sets.

Battery powered devices were introduced to compete with then popular slot car tracks. These enabled Hot Wheels to zoom around a closed circuit race track.

Later ads switched to photos which were not as cool looking. But the idea of challenging to a race was very tempting. Mattel also ran TV commercials but that is a topic for a future post.

Hot Wheels Porsche 908 Spyder Hybrid

2012-12-12T16:20:00.003-05:00

Gorgeous new hybrid from Porsche. Another beauty from Hot Wheels. Poised on my desk this car looks real with tampo headlights and Porsche emblem, realistic dark grey interior with 3-spoke steering wheel and well-bolstered racing buckets. When Mattel designers nail it they really nail it.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is a mid-engined sports plug-in hybrid powered by a 4.6 litre V8 engine and two electric motors. Porsche plans to manufacture 918 units as a 2014 model with deliveries starting winter 2013.

*From the 2013 HW Showroom segment.

Hallmark Ornaments: A Hot Wheels Christmas Keepsake

2012-12-01T06:32:00.000-05:00

Hallmark has a tradition of producing annual ornaments. I have collected a few of them over the years primarily those dealing with my favorite redline years. The Deora is among the first Hot Wheels cars and this ornament is a miniature replica of the car in its blister pack complete with collector button.

Deora

And who can resist a Silhouette with tiny vinyl carrying case? I couldn't.

Silhouette

Not to mention everyone's elementary school favorite lunchbox and Thermos.

Splittin' Image

In honor of Hot Wheels' 30th anniversary Hallmark created a TwinMill on orange track loop. Classic.

TwinMill

The ornaments look great even without a tree and I hang mine from a shelf in the display cabinet with my redlines. Thanks to the Internet many of these are still easily found. Why not start your collection today?

Hot Wheels '55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser

2012-11-14T06:18:00.001-05:00

Introducing Mattel Hot Wheels Chevy Gasser new for 2013 from the HW Showroom series.

Gassers were a part of the early drag racing movement that began during the mid-1950s and continued all the way through the late-1960s. They paved the way for faster cars like the altered wheelbase A/FX (or “Altereds”) and funny cars.

The Hot Wheels gasser has authentic primer gray paint and hand-letter style graphics. My only issue is it leans a bit too much to the rear so much so that it looks like it's lifting off the starting line.

The concept was to simply provide as much weight transfer over the rear wheels as possible to provide the best traction. Tall tire was the name of the game with gassers, so radiused rear wheelwells were par for the course, as were fenderwell headers and weight-saving punch holes found across the front suspension and frame.

I think you'll agree that the gasser look is quite sexy. And Mattel captured the overall aesthetic quite nicely.

2013 Hot Wheels Special Edition Camaro

2012-11-01T18:18:00.001-04:00

Finally, a Hot Wheels car you can drive to the supermarket. Ever wonder what it would be like to drive a Hot Wheels car? Well wonder no more. Chevrolet has announced the 2013 Hot Wheels Special Edition Camaro. Sporting Hot Wheels stickers on bodywork, front grille, sill and banks, wheels and a few other places not to mention discreet flames on the hind quarters. It even has redline stripes on the wheels.

All this can be had for under seven grand plus the price of a Camaro, with V6 and V8 options in coupe and convertible.

While I enjoy collecting Hot Wheels I'm not quite ready to announce it to the world.

The Camaro is a fitting tribute as the first Hot Wheels released back in '68 was the Custom Camaro (a reasonable facsimile seen next to the '13 in the Sema photo above. And Camaros remain collector favorites.

If you can't come up with the cash for the real car you can surely spring a buck for the regular issue toy version available soon at your favorite toy store or department.

The newest Hot Wheels Camaro...

Hot Wheels Special Edition Camaro

And the first...

Hot Wheels Custom Camaro

Hot Wheels Altered Ego

2012-10-20T16:52:00.003-04:00

Today I found a TH Surf Crate but opened the Altered Ego.

AA Fuel Altered (AA/FA) class of drag racers is the subject here. Mattel has done numerous dragsters and funny cars over the years including the latest Funny Side Up but this is the first custom fuel altered.

The controversial design element is the front wheel wells left open. Gives the car a somewhat odd yet unique look. Cool place for the driver to crawl in and out perhaps.

Altered Ego would be totally awesome if the body flipped open. I like the positive negative flame graphics and the name, too, especially in the retro font on the front spoiler.

Designed by veteran Hot Wheels designer Larry Wood this 2012 New Model is just the thing to get your drag racing blood pumping.

Check out Awful Awful Fuel Altereds!

Hot Wheels 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012-10-20T16:48:00.003-04:00

Today I Opened a Hot Wheels 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. That's the new new Beetle. It's the turbo model by the way. Nicely done is a black skyroof and black topped spoiler.

Well done are tampos for head and tailights, VW emblem and license plate. Not so niice are the too small wheels/tiresl. Lately Hot Wheels has been using oversized tires that ruin the look '71 Trans Am Firebird and '70 Toyota Celica come to mind. Here we get the opposite effect.

The roofline is squat compared to the real car. Overall, instead of a cool hot rodded classic we have a tame rendition of an uber cool auto.

For a bit of fun with the old New Beetle check out this great VW Bug Coupe CD Player.

Hot Wheels Funny Side Up Funny Car

2012-10-02T19:05:00.000-04:00

Today I Opened A Hot Wheels Funny Side Up.

Not a fan of plastic bodied diecast but on a funny car it's a natural. After all, real funny cars have fiberglass bodies.

This flopper's plastic body is easily removable adding another realistic touch. Place the diecast chassis with plastic engine and roll-cage nearby and you're on a roll.

Another cool aspect is that some of the body is clear plastic: rear window and spoiler, side vents, front grille and windshield. Yet it appears to be monolithic. How'd they do that?!!! Closer inspection reveals what appears to be a two-part process: red plastic injected first then clear. Nice.

I like the name, too: a nice play on my sunny side up breakfast.

Hot Wheels Batman The Bat

2012-09-08T07:00:00.002-04:00

Hot Wheels has brought us many Batman related vehicles in recent years including the fabulous '66 TV Batmobile.

In honor of the movie The Dark Knight Rises Mattel brings us The Bat. The what?! The Bat. "But that vehicle flies" you say.

Right you are. And so does the Hot Wheels version if you fling it into the air (for a second or two only to crash straight down like a brick).

"But Hot Wheels should have wheels" you say.

Not this one. But alas it is not alone in the Hot Wheels lineup.

For example, how could you forget 1998's Fathom This?

Or the classic Goodyear Blimp released in 1992.

Or the Propper Chopper from way back in 1980.

Did I leave any out?

The Bat is certainly a creative choice for a Hot Wheels vehicle. But it looks cool and I hope kids, big and small, enjoy it.

Hot Wheels 68 Ford Ranchero Treasure Hunt

2012-08-19T08:06:00.002-04:00

Today I opened a Ford Ranchero.

I don't open many Treasure Hunts but could not resist this one.

The truck sits just right and the paint/tampo combination is gorgeous.

Hot Wheels DW-1 / Dan Wheldon Lionheart

2012-07-14T20:04:00.001-04:00

Today I opened a Hot Wheels DW-1 / Dan Wheldon.

Super Treasure Hunt quality without the hysteria. A fitting tribute to Indy racer Dan Wheldon.

I'm a fan of 80's Real Riders and this fits in nicely with all of those Indy cars.

If you like to read about the Indy 500 you may like Indy 500 By Pimm . If you prefer diecast try this fabulous 1/18 scale racer Replicarz GL10926 Greenlight 1-18 2011 Dan Wheldon Indy 500 Winner:

Hot Wheels Double Loop Dare 2012 X Games

2012-07-03T05:46:00.000-04:00

Team Hot Wheels set a Guinness World Record at the X Games in Los Angeles last weekend for their feat on life-sized replicas modeled after a toy track set called Double Dare Snare.

The iconic orange loop will surely bring back childhood memories to many.

LEGO 30160 DC Universe Super Heroes Batman Jetski

2012-06-17T15:11:00.001-04:00

Just finished building the Batman and Jetski polybag.

Best five bucks I ever spent. Well-detailed Jetski with lots of play action (moving fins, flick shooting rockets, rocking base). Complete with Batman minifig (my first in black). Awesome!

Nintendo Wii Lego Batman: The Video Game (Google Affiliate Ad)

Dale Jr. Mountain Dew Batman NASCAR

2012-06-04T19:32:00.003-04:00

I digress a bit because I'm disgusted by something I just saw on the Internet.

Dale Jr. is proud of his new Batman DARK KNIGHT movie paint because, "it’s pretty cool that the paint scheme they picked is the one I helped create." Seems there was a Mountain Dew contest to pick the scheme to be used for Dale's NASCAR Impala.

I'm sorry but when my car gets hit by bird poop on the hood it's nothing to brag about.

LEGO Batman and Hot Rod Batmobile

2012-05-16T14:51:00.001-04:00

I once again digress for LEGO Batman. Here he is with a custom hot rod (MOC) Batmobile designed and built by Tiler.

Check out more of his great work here: Flickr