Photo: Mattel
Earlier today, I met my friend's 5-year-old son. I was amazed to see how big his diecast collection was. He had a miniature truck he drove around the paddock all day. And to think, so many of us hurried up to become adults.
Since the '70s, Mattel has amassed a huge line-up of Hot Wheels castings. Some are replicas of real-life vehicles, and others are fantasy-type cars. I have never been a fan of the latter. But that doesn't mean I will always ignore them. The diecast manufacturer's designers have experimented with various styles and themes. You'll see donut cars, hot-dog cars, and so on.
I prefer looking at collectibles that are at least loosely based on existing models. We've had plenty of these recently, but I'm unsure how successful they are with older audiences. Kids may be more prone to buy them, as they won't likely care about brands if the car looks cool enough. Since joining the Hot Wheels team, Dmitriy Shakhmatov has designed dozens of castings, including the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, the '15 Land Rover Defender Double Cab, and the '16 Mercedes-AMG GT3.
I could write several stories about all the collectibles he has worked on. But I will only focus on the Muscle and Blown for today's story. It's a half-muscle car, half-hot rod hybrid, with a V8 engine up front. If you think about it, there's a hint of Dodge Viper in there, which makes it attractive to a wider audience.
It debuted in the Mainline Rod Squad mini-series in 2021, featuring a Matte Blue finish with gold accents. The best part about it (besides the V8 engine) is that it has mismatched wheels front and rear, and I'm a big fan of the Aerodisc rims. Mattel used the same setup for the next two variations, but the 2022 HW Drift model was a Treasure Hunt special.
The 2023 Car Meet 5-Pack was pretty cool in Metalflake Green, but still not enough to make me want one for my collection. The latest marketing idea from Mattel might yield better results. After all, who doesn't want to have at least one golden Hot Wheels at home? Like the Mega Wrex Monster Truck, this item will be available in Meijer stores.
The good news is that you'll only need to spend $10 on Hot Wheels items to redeem the Golden Muscle and Blown. This time, the tiny "drift car" has Aerodisc wheels on both axles and a livery that isn't annoying. If you're into the idea, it will be available between April 28, 2024, and May 11, 2024. At least it should be available in that period if there are enough of them in stock. I have already seen several people on eBay selling five or more of these cars, but prices shouldn't go to insane levels anytime soon. Will you get one?
I prefer looking at collectibles that are at least loosely based on existing models. We've had plenty of these recently, but I'm unsure how successful they are with older audiences. Kids may be more prone to buy them, as they won't likely care about brands if the car looks cool enough. Since joining the Hot Wheels team, Dmitriy Shakhmatov has designed dozens of castings, including the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, the '15 Land Rover Defender Double Cab, and the '16 Mercedes-AMG GT3.
I could write several stories about all the collectibles he has worked on. But I will only focus on the Muscle and Blown for today's story. It's a half-muscle car, half-hot rod hybrid, with a V8 engine up front. If you think about it, there's a hint of Dodge Viper in there, which makes it attractive to a wider audience.
It debuted in the Mainline Rod Squad mini-series in 2021, featuring a Matte Blue finish with gold accents. The best part about it (besides the V8 engine) is that it has mismatched wheels front and rear, and I'm a big fan of the Aerodisc rims. Mattel used the same setup for the next two variations, but the 2022 HW Drift model was a Treasure Hunt special.
The 2023 Car Meet 5-Pack was pretty cool in Metalflake Green, but still not enough to make me want one for my collection. The latest marketing idea from Mattel might yield better results. After all, who doesn't want to have at least one golden Hot Wheels at home? Like the Mega Wrex Monster Truck, this item will be available in Meijer stores.
The good news is that you'll only need to spend $10 on Hot Wheels items to redeem the Golden Muscle and Blown. This time, the tiny "drift car" has Aerodisc wheels on both axles and a livery that isn't annoying. If you're into the idea, it will be available between April 28, 2024, and May 11, 2024. At least it should be available in that period if there are enough of them in stock. I have already seen several people on eBay selling five or more of these cars, but prices shouldn't go to insane levels anytime soon. Will you get one?
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