2011 Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunts: Return of the JDM

I recently started analyzing the 2011 Hot Wheels line-up of cars. It was a time when the regular TH and STH items used identical castings. Mattel changed that in 2012, which was the right way to go. Part one of this story discussed the Tucker Torpedo, the '57 Chevy, the '58 Impala, the Custom '62 Chevy, the Studebaker Avanti, the '63 T-Bird, and the '64 Pontiac Firebird. That's right, part one was an all-exclusive American line-up. But there's some diversity coming up next, albeit at a minimum level. Stick around and find out.

’68 Olds 442

The '68 Olds 442 is one of the two castings in part two that bear Jun Imai's signature design. It first appeared in Modern Classics in 2008, featuring a Spectraflame Olive finish and wannabe Red Line rims. Mattel has only produced 12 variations of the '68 Olds 442, with the last one coming out in 2018. Many would say that the 2011 Super Treasure Hunt release was the casting's career highlight.

But it's certainly more common than the 2013 Convention model, with 1,100 units ever leaving the factory. Despite its rarity, you can still pick one up for around $100 if lucky. That's more expensive than even the Short Card version of the STH, which usually sells for $70 or less. Mattel used a simple livery for the Super Treasure Hunt, as the Spectraflame Brown body only featured a few stripes going down the hood and sides. The Preffered Series Real Riders wheels are an excellent choice, and these are the highlight of the 2011 collectible.

Corvette Grand Sport

The last time we checked, Mattel had produced around 60 Corvette castings with 950 variations throughout history. But I wrote that story almost one year ago, and we all know how prolific a manufacturer Mattel is. I promise I'll do a recount someday soon. Until then, we've got another Corvette Super Treasure Hunt to discuss. The Grand Sport might not be the best Hot Wheels Corvette casting on the market, but you might feel differently depending on when you were born.

Larry Wood designed this for its 2008 release, and there are 25 variations to get if you want the complete collection. Strangely enough, almost half of those came out until 2010, and the rhythm has slowed down over the past decade, so much so that the last one arrived in 2019 with the HW Race Team series. You can expect to pay about $60 for the STH Grand Sport and the regular TH model, which is decent. The difference between the two is evident once you have them side by side, and I can truthfully say that the Grand Sport is one of the more admirable STH models in the 2011 line-up.

’71 Mustang Funny Car

If you've only started collecting Hot Wheels recently, you'll recognize this casting as one of the regular Treasure Hunt models for 2022. The "Wild Pony" looked decent enough in Metalflake Brown with gold five-spoke wheels, but it's a shame it has lost one of its early features: the opening body. Mattel first used this casting in 2004 as part of the Auto Affinity: Rebel Rods series.

It had a metal base and Real Riders Mag-style wheels on the back axle, with six-spoke ones up front. The '71 Mustang Funny Car debuted in the Mainline series in 2005, but several other premium variations have emerged throughout its history. Some more expensive models can sell for $100 or more, but the STH and TH versions are cheap at around $40 combined.

The color combo and graphics on the 2011 STH don't do the casting justice, as it doesn't even come close to variations like the 2010 Dragstrip Demons ones. If Mattel decides to bring this model back to Premium or even RLC, I hope they'll get back the opening body as it deserves. Dragstrip Demons deserve a second chance!

’71 Buick Riviera

The '71 Buick Riviera is a somewhat obscure Hot Wheels casting with only 13 variations released between 2005 and 2017. David Weise designed this one, and you might be happy to know that a Donk-style model has three additional variations. Over a decade of being around, this casting never made it to the Premium series, so the 2011 Super Treasure Hunt is your only chance of having one with Real Riders wheels.

It featured a classic look with a Spectraflame Red finish, a white roof, and Gold RR five-spoke wheels. The cheapest one on the market will cost $30 while adding the regular TH will set you back an additional $10 to $15. If you're only interested in making a profit, this might not be the right Super Treasure Hunt collectible for you.

Datsun 240Z

At last, there's a Japanese machine among all these American collectibles! Phil Riehlman designed this one for its 2006 debut in Pearl White. The 2011 Super Treasure Hunt variation was the first to use Real Riders wheels; the more expensive ones can go for as much as $150. This doesn't come close to rarer variations like the 2017 Convention Model. You'll see several listings on eBay with prices going as far up as $1,500 for one Datsun 240Z.

On the 2011 release, Mattel used a combo of Spectraflame Red and White colors alongside blue stripes, making for an overall slightly crowded livery. We last saw a new Datsun 240Z iteration over three years ago, but you'll find an alternative with the Fairlady Z casting instead if you're a fan of Yoshihiko Matsuo's work.

’80 El Camino

The '80 El Camino was the third and final Spectraflame Gold STH for 2011. Jun Imai designed this casting, and it was first released in 2008 in the Modern Classics series. Mattel produced 11 variations of it until 2016, and then there was nothing but silence for a few years. When it did return in 2021, we saw three less-than-appealing variations with the Art Cars series.

The 2022 Ultra Hots version was decent, but the 2023 iterations were great. As you'd expect, the 2009 RLC model is the most expensive one on the market, with a roof price of $300. By comparison, you can buy both 2011 special items for $50, which sounds like a bargain. Somehow, I feel that the design would have been more successful without the black stripes going down the car's sides. But at least Mattel didn't ruin it entirely by using Hot Wheels decals to cover the whole thing up.

OCC Splitback

You rarely get to see a Super Treasure Hunt motorcycle. Looking back at Hot Wheels STH history, this has only happened four times between 2007 and now. The fictional Hammer Sled came first, the Bad Bagger arrived in 2009, and the OCC Splitback came third in 2011. There has only been one other STH motorcycle since the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy in 2014. While Mattel has been creating more bike replicas in recent years, they only seem to make it as far up as the Treasure Hunt level.

And that's fine for most, if not all, serious collectors. The tiny Orange County Choppers replica debuted in 2009, and we have Greg Padginton to thank for designing it. The 2011 STH featured a Spectraflame Rootbeer paint job, which you might not remember seeing on other vehicles before. The 11th and final variation of the OCC Splitback arrived in 2013, and you can snatch them all up for less than $150, given that the STH will cost around $35 by itself.

’59 Chevy Delivery

It comes as no surprise that the last Super Treasure Hunt item for 2011 is another Chevrolet model. It's the sixth one for the year, and you can't help but wonder if Mattel had any agreements going on with the Detroit manufacturer at the time. The '59 Chevy Delivery first appeared in 2010 as part of the Slick Rides series. Its metal base, Real Riders wheels, and Hurst livery were impressive.

Mattel again resorted to using flames for the STH variation, which doesn't feel like such an inspired move today. In a rather strange twist of events, all upcoming variations were Premium models. But neither was as inspired as the First Edition '59 Chevy Delivery. The casting underwent weird phases, including liveries paying tribute to The Muppets, Star Trek and The Mandalorian. But even these designs have an audience, as some of the prices on the open market range from $40 to $200. I can't wait to see what crazy idea they will develop next.