Every morning when I wake up, I look at my diecast display. Seven RX-7s are “parked” beneath my TV, with two more Porsches keeping them company. It always amazes me how much joy they can bring just by standing there.
Treasure Hunt
Eight cases in, the Treasure Hunt series has been rather colorful this year. I’d spend money on Case A’s ’47 Chevy Fleetline or Case F’s Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400. I ignored the Tooligan recently, but I’d probably smile if someone gave me the yellow Draggin’ Wagon from Case G.
Now, we’re looking at the first two-wheels TH collectible of the year: the Honda Super Cub Custom. It’s Fraser Campbell’s work, and it debuted in 2023 with a white/red theme. I’m more fond of last year’s Dollar General exclusive model in white/yellow, but the Treasure Hunt variation isn’t that bad either.
Mattel opted for a Dark Gray finish, and the Honda logo made way for the TH one. It’s not something I intend to buy, and I’d much rather have a different two-wheeler in this case. But Super Cub owners will likely feel different about the whole thing.
Super Treasure Hunt
The Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution is the ninth Super Treasure Hunt model for 2024 and the first replica of a Japanese car. It has been mostly a European affair so far, with five names on the list: the BMW 507, the ’89 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG, the ’60s Fiat 500D Modificado, the Audi 90 Quattro, and the Volvo P1800 Gasser.
I know one more Italian beast is coming up later this year, but JDM fans can rest assured. Mattel has got something planned for them, too. Dmitriy Shakhmatov designed the Pajero casting, which debuted in the 2023 Mud Studs series. The First Edition release was the best so far, but it can’t stand the way of the STH.
I’m not entirely convinced by the color combo on this iteration, even though Spectraflame Copper usually makes for a great choice. That may be because I do not like the 6-Spoke Real Riders wheels. One thing’s for sure: it’s not likely to become the most popular Super Treasure Hunt of the year. Even so, I spotted one listed for over $100 on eBay.
Case J Highlights
Let’s see what else Case J has in store with those two special collectibles out of the way. I’m not the one to collect fantasy castings, but I’ve spotted a few interesting ones here. Not only is “Total Disposal” a great name for a garbage truck, but it would also do a good job in the backdrop of a diorama. I noticed plenty of collectors raving about the Custom ’68 Camaro when it debuted a while ago.
And I’m sure they’ll also be happy about the third variation. Although the livery seemed familiar, I don’t remember seeing the Speed Bump casting in the Mainline series. Brendon Vetuskey designed it a few years ago, but it has mainly been part of Monster Truck sets. That makes perfect sense, and it’s kind of fun to see a wrecked car on this scale.
The West Coast Flyer was much more exciting as part of the iD line, but I’ve never been too big on trains. As for the Mod Rod, I’m not sure it belongs to the Art Car series. It seems to have strayed away from its origins, but Mattel is likely trying to appeal to new audiences by going down this route. Suppose the diecast manufacturer keeps coming up with cool concepts like the Mailed It, I might have to change my opinion on Fantasy vehicles.
Have you ever seen a Grumman LLV mail van that can run the 1/4-mile (402 meters) in 10 seconds? Well, this one looks capable of doing that; it even has a wheelie-bar! However, RLC members might not buy into the “Always on time” motto on the van’s side. The King ‘Kuda has had several awesome appearances since its 2002 retool, and you don’t even want to know how expensive some of the older ones are. The new King of Hearts livery is a great match for it, although I’d rather have one of the Halloween models instead.
I was shocked but happy that the new 1966 Triumph Tiger 100 casting features a non-removable rider. It makes the whole thing so much more realistic, and I can see myself buying this once it arrives in stores. Not to mention, it ties in with something I’m about to do in a few weeks. I’ve been thinking about doing a story focused on Hot Wheels items with no wheels for some time, too.
I know that sounds ironic, but plenty are out there. After seeing the latest iteration of the Proper Chopper, I know it needs to happen ASAP. After several unfortunate color combos for the Pagani Zonda R, I can finally be happy, as yellow makes it pop. The wheel setup is still not ideal, but changing them isn’t that difficult.
“Later Crater” is a new addition to the Hot Wheels line-up, and I first thought it looked a bit like the Group C Fantasy racer. Astronomy and Sci-Fi enthusiasts might take a liking to this vehicle, although I can’t imagine it will ever become as revered as other licensed items. Craig Callum also designed the Birthday Burner, a piece of cake with an engine and wheels. Talk about a wild imagination! It should join the Dessert Drifter in the Sweet Rides series.
It’s great to see a new iteration of the ’95 Mazda RX-7, especially if you’re a rotary enthusiast like me. I haven’t added one of these to my collection for some time now, but they give me hope that someday I’ll have an FD sitting in my garage next to the FC. The McLaren P1 is back with an interesting color and is now part of the Quarter Mile Heroes mini-collection. I was pretty happy with my P1 collection a few years ago, but have since sold it to fund other projects.
The new RSQ Team Chevy Tahoe looks like a Class A Peg Warmer, and there are only a few iterations I’d like to add to my collection. The most recent one came out in 2022 with the Gotham City PD livery. The latest variation of the ’69 Mercury Cougar Eliminator is the best one I’ve seen in years, and it almost feels like a Premium collectible. It features a simple design that works great on a wide selection of Hot Wheels cars, and I’m grabbing one as soon as possible.
How can you tell Mike Whiddett is one of the most famous pro drifters? Well, look at how many of Mattel’s collectibles feature his name, and then try to find another driver who’s represented just as well. He’s one of the reasons why I became obsessed with RX-7s, and I can’t wait to see what his plan with the 787D is. The DeLorean Alpha5 is the last interesting appearance in the latest Mainline case. After its special debut last year, we’ve had two boring iterations in 2024. But the latest one might avoid becoming a peg warmer.