2008 Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt Collection of 24 Cars Can Cost $400 or More

And that applies to Bitcoin, real estate, and diecast collectibles, too. The likely fictional Satoshi Nakamoto invented Bitcoin in 2008. I already reminded you about some of the most exciting events of that year in part one of this story. But I've got a few more facts to help remind you what life was like 15 years ago. HTC launched the Dream smartphone, the world's first commercially available device to use the Android mobile operating system.

Google launched its new Chrome web browser just two years after the company had acquired YouTube. I'll remind you that Mr. Beast was just ten years old in 2008 and four years away from starting his YouTube channel. Cinemas worldwide also started showing The Slumdog Millionaire, a movie focused on the drama experienced by a teenager from Mumbai.

Last but not least, 2008 was also the year that Ken Block shocked everyone by releasing the first installment of the Gymkhana series. At the time, he was still driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STi, and he likely didn't realize how big of an impact this video would have on everyone watching. But what about Hot Wheels Dragos? Yes, let's get back to the topic at hand.

We saw two fantasy cars and four licensed vehicles in part one of our 2008 Super Treasure Hunt review. And it's the same setup for part two. But I would argue that the second part of the year was considerably more exciting, thanks mainly to three of the six collectibles I'll discuss in a minute. But before I do that, I recommend you try to find the Red Line Club 24-car set, which contains all the STH and TH models of the 2008 series. It will cost around $400, and it's a much better idea than looking for and buying them all individually.

Dodge Challenger Funny Car

Larry Wood designed the Dodge Challenger Funny Car almost 20 years ago. We first saw it in the 2005 Real Riders series, sitting on Mag-Style RR Wheels. One of the best features of this casting is that it has a flip-up body, like you'd see on a real Funny Car. Once you add a set of RR Wheels, it all becomes even better, and there are plenty of such variations to look out for. The 2008 TH had a Metalflake Dark Brown finish and regular 5-spoke rims, while the STH showcased a Spectraflame Brown paint job and Deep Dish Real Riders.

This collectible would have been infinitely better without the "Treasure Hunt" decals, but Mattel addressed this concern with the following iterations of the casting. In some situations, you will see this item listed for $200, but that does not mean you should pay more than $50. Most sellers have listed it for that price or even less, and plenty of options exist. Once you've bought the STH, you should look into the other Premium variations, several of which are part of the Dragstrip Demons series. It's a shame that Mattel discontinued this casting.

Dodge Viper

I was chatting to a fellow rotary owner, and he mentioned that had he not bought his RX-7, he would've opted for an E36 M3 and a Dodge Viper. The FD competed with the Viper for Playboy's "Sexiest Car of the Year" award in the early '90s, and Mazda's creation won! But the American sports car is still in a league of its own: it's scary and exciting at the same time. I've never driven one, so I must settle for Hot Wheels replicas.

This casting debuted in the 2006 First Editions series, featuring a Metalflake Blue finish and white stripes running down the middle of the car. Mattel came up with three more variations that first year before bringing on a series of Spectraflame-painted vehicles in 2007. The 2008 Treasure Hunt iteration lost some points with collectors due to the OH5 wheel design, but that was no longer an issue with the Super Treasure Hunt model. It's the best iteration of this Viper casting, and you'll have to pay about $60 for it in the worst-case scenario.

16 Angels

Just by reading the name, only some adult Hot Wheels collectors would choose to buy this. But there's one exciting side to it despite that: it's supposed to have a 16-cylinder engine inside. But can a fictional power plant make up for the fact that this is an unlicensed model? I don't think so. Nathan Proch designed the casting for its 2004 debut, featuring a purple finish and yellow flames.

The 2005 Toy Fair variation can sell for as much as $250 and runs on Co-Molded 6-spoke wheels. The Real Riders rims made the Super Treasure Hunt more attractive to collectors, and you'll still see some sellers trying to get $100 for the TH and STH combo. But some people will sell theirs for as low as $20. Choose the more affordable option and thank me later.

’64 Buick Riviera

The '64 Buick Riviera is next; this casting has been around since 2002. Mattel used it in the Hall of Fame: Greatest Rides series the following year, fitting it with a Real Riders 6-spoke wheels set. Two more special variations followed suit, but it took several years before the TH and STH models appeared. The more common iteration featured a Magenta finish, and Wire Spoke wheels, and it was probably quite exciting for 2008.

The diecast manufacturer turned up the heat for the Super Treasure Hunt iteration, with prices typically ranging in the $30 area. Interestingly, this casting reached Super Treasure Hunt status again in 2013, and we last saw a new design in 2019! A complete collection of the '64 Buick Riviera will require you to buy just under 40 cars, so a budget of around $500 should do the trick.

Drift King

I've been involved in professional drifting, one way or another, for more than a decade now. And it almost saddens me that Mattel has used the name "Drift King" for a fictional casting with no connection to the sport whatsoever. But that's how marketing works. You notice a trend and try to take advantage of it. But I doubt it worked for the diecast manufacturer on this occasion. Mark Jones designed this casting for its 2007 release, so the TH and STH iterations came up shortly after.

The vehicle featured an exposed engine in an attempt to become more attractive. But even looking at the Super Treasure Hunt, I would only buy it for the RR wheels. I would strip them of it, use it on a different collectible, and forget about the fictional Drift King. But I'm too emotionally involved with the sport to think otherwise. Most people will try to sell theirs for $20 or less, so don't believe the hype that it's worth over $100.

’69 Camaro

The last Super Treasure Hunt item for 2008 is also one of the best ones on this list. I've already discussed how Chevrolet is the King of the Hot Wheels STH series, with the most appearances recorded since 2007. This particular had a strong debut as a Toy Fair model that same year. If you can look past the OH5 wheels, the TH variation was lovely, too. But the STH is on an entirely different level.

The Spectraflame Blue paint job looks stunning with the black stripes and the contrasting white interior. You also get the perfect wheels for any miniature Muscle Car, which all adds to the perfect combo. As a result, prices for the TH and STH mix can go up to about $100, which is a fair trade. There are plenty of other rare and exciting variations of the '69 Camaro, so much so that this casting deserves a story of its own soon.