2011 Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt Series Was Almost an All-American Affair

It's no surprise that some Hot Wheels cars sometimes sell for $1,000 or more, but that's what you get with limited-edition models. For regular collectibles, prices will rarely soar past the $150 mark. And that's not exactly cheap for a vehicle that is just three inches long. As we've pointed out before, the deeper you dive into this hobby, the more expensive it becomes.

And some collections can be worth as much as $100,000 or more, although they still need to be completed. We've looked at several Super Treasure Hunt series in past stories, so what's so special about the 2011 one? This was the last year that the starting point for the Regular TH and the STH was the same casting. That must have been quite confusing in the day, especially for rookies. Of course, if you were aware that the STH came with premium paint and wheels, identifying them was a lot easier.

Tucker Torpedo

Let's start by looking at the Tucker Torpedo, something kids these days might have never even heard about before. More than 70 years have passed since Preston Tucker built the Tucker 48 automobile, and you'll probably want to watch Francis Ford Coppola's movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream once you become aware of this car's existence. But we'll delve more into that topic some other time; let's focus on the Hot Wheels replica of it for now. Larry Wood designed the casting, and it was only around between 2009 and 2012.

The first year alone gave the world seven variations as part of the Classic Series 5. All these had a metal base Spectraflame paint jobs, but only some featured Real Riders wheels. 2011 was a big moment in this casting's history, as it graduated to both Treasure Hunts and Trea$ure Hunt$ levels. Seeing them next to each other is your best bet at telling them apart, and I must admit that even the regular version is nicely done, too! You can get them both for around $50 if you are lucky enough. And that sounds like a bargain, considering today's market situation.

’57 Chevy

Euro and JDM cars were not a big part of the Super Treasure Hunt series more than ten years ago. Most Hot Wheels collectibles were replicas of cars built in the USA. And this '57 Chevy was part of the 2011 STH and TH line-up. Whereas the Tucker Torpedo is a more modern casting, the '57 Chevy existed before most young collectors were born. Larry Wood designed this one, and Mattel released it in 1977 as part of the Flying Colors series.

Several variations came out until 1983, before a nearly ten-year-long hiatus. But the '57 Chevy had been upgraded with Real Riders wheels when it returned. There are almost 60 different iterations of this casting, but you also need to know that a few dozen more are available with the engine protruding through its hood. In 2020, collectors could chase after a Super Treasure Hunt version of the '57 Chevy that featured a Spectraflame Pink finish and yellow Real Riders Steelies.

But some of you might not be aware that this is the second STH version of the casting, as the first one came out in 2011. As with the Tucker Torpedo, it's not easy to distinguish the STH from the RTH. If you've ever seen Real Riders wheels, you'll be okay, but an untrained eye won't know the difference. Pricewise, expect to pay between $45 to $125 for the 2011 STH, which sometimes seems more expensive than the 2020 model.

’58 Impala

If you pay attention to this list, it's almost as if Mattel chose the castings for the STH line-up by following a precise timeline. First, we had the 1948 Tucker Torpedo, then the 1957 Chevy, and now we're on to 1958 with a Chevrolet Impala. This trend appears valid throughout the entire first part of our 2011 Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt story. Larry Wood was also in charge of designing this model, and it's about the same age as the Tucker Torpedo. It first came out in 2007, and all of the five variations that year featured a Spectraflame-type paint job.

Despite being around for 15 years, there are only 12 variations of this casting on the market. The most recent one came out in 2022 as part of the Treasure Hunt series. But today, we're more interested in the two special releases of 2011. These featured different shades of Magenta, but the Real Riders Steelies made the STH stand out. With any luck, you could get your hands on the '58 Impala STH for $30. That's not to say you won't see pricier listings on the market.

Custom ’62 Chevy

The third Chevrolet on our list today is a scaled-down replica of a 1962 pickup truck. In true Hot Wheels fashion, this vehicle is slammed to the ground, and most of the 33 different variations feature a surfboard in the back. Rob Matthes designed the casting for its 2008 release, and some changes occurred in 2016 as the pickup truck gained a sunroof and received a broken surfboard instead of the original design. Still, the 2023 Pop Culture: Vintage Oil iteration used the original tooling similarly to the 2022 Classic Pickups Collector set version.

By browsing online listings, you'll notice that the two most expensive variations of the castings are the 2019 Collectors Convention one in Dark Blue and the 2010 Slick Rides release in Blue and Silver. Either can fetch as much as $300 per item, almost three times more expensive than the two TH collectibles of 20111. But modern collectors might not appreciate the tribal patterns on the sides despite the theme this vehicle has going on for it.

Studebaker Avanti

The Studebaker Avanti is a vehicle from a bygone era, and it had a very short life by any standard. The Studebaker Corporation built less than 6,000 of these between 1962 and 1963 at its Indiana factory. The standard Avanti used a 289 ci V8, good enough for 240 hp. And a modified version of the American luxury coupe crushed multiple world records at the Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching a top speed of over 170 mph (270 kph).

That's alright, even by today's standards! Mattel's 1/64th-scale replica lasted only briefly, entering the scene in 2009 and ending in 2011. That's right, the last two iterations of the tiny Avanti were TH and STH collectibles! With no complicated graphics, the Spectraflame Gold body looked great rolling on White Line Chrome Turbine Real Riders wheels. But the Avanti's failure to penetrate the market is still felt today, as most Hot Wheels versions cost between $20 to $40. Sure, if a Short Card is what you're looking for, those values can increase to as much as $75.

’63 T-Bird

Mark Jones designed the '63 T-Bird for its 1998 First Editions release, which featured a Metalflake Teal finish and a white interior. A Limited Edition emerged in 1999, and several more special items appeared in 2003. Mattel produced over 30 variations of the '63 T-Bird before seemingly retiring it in 2013 when it was last seen in the Mystery Models series.

But it had its moment of glory in 2011, as the Spectraflame Green T-Bird looked like it came straight from a '90s rap video. Most of these T-Birds aren't expensive, unlike some of the Hot Wheels Ferraris we discussed recently. $20 to $50 will get you the STH version; buying a complete collection should take at most $500.

’64 Pontiac GTO

The last collectible in Part One of our 2011 Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt story is the '64 Pontiac GTO. The casting came out in 2006 with five different Ultra Hots versions. If you want the whole collection, there are 11 other variations to get, which means it's rare compared to other more commercial castings. The 2016 Red Line Club release is the most expensive, priced at over $100. But there are more exciting ones to look at.

The 2011 Spectraflame Teal STH feels inferior to some early Ultra Hots models with a more powerful vibe. But you might feel differently. $30 to $80 will buy you both the TH and STH GTOs, and then you can start playing a game of "Spot the difference between them." This Super Treasure Hunt could've topped the charts in part one of our story with a different livery. But alas, I'd fancy having a Tucker Torpedo on display instead.