2024 Hot Wheels Ultra Hots Mix 1 Is a Winning Combo of Eight Cars

I fell in love with the Ultra Hots Porsche 934.5 from Mix 2 of 2023 from the very first moment. But it has been challenging to find one that's not halfway across the world. Most people were probably surprised to see Mattel reviving the Ultra Hots series in 2022. And yet, here we are, looking at the fourth Mix in three years. Let's get straight to business.

'66 Pontiac GTO

It's wild to think that the '66 Pontiac GTO casting has only been around since 2020. Mark Jones designed this replica of the American icon and drew inspiration from a fellow designer's road-going vehicle. So far, it has been a premium-exclusive model, with only two iterations over the past four years.

Both were part of the Boulevard series, and I'd pick the second one over the first any day. It looks perfect in a simple Metallic Pale Blue paint job, rolling on 5-Spoke Mag-Style Real Riders wheels. Despite not using the same Premium-wheel design, the Ultra Hots variation is equally impressive in Spectraflame Purple.

Triumph TR6

I'm thrilled that Mattel opted for the '80s look when designing the blister card art. You could start an Ultra Hots collection from scratch, and it would be great with the matching liveries and wheels. John Violette designed the Triumph TR6, debuting in the 2009 New Models series. As you'd expect from Hot Wheels, this is a modified version of the classic British vehicle.

You could have bought 20 iterations until 2021. It came to a point where it wasn't even clear whether the diecast manufacturer had shelved the project. Spectraflame Gold is an interesting color choice for the track-ready TR6, and the white lines do an excellent job of spicing things up. This casting has never had a premium release or a Spectraflame paint job. The new Ultra Hots Triumph could be the best iteration out of El Segundo.

'71 AMC Javelin

The '71 AMC Javelin is a curious appearance for the new Ultra Hots Mix. Mattel last used this casting in 2018 as part of the 50th Anniversary Favorites series. And there are only two other iterations to look for: the First Edition model from 2011 and the 2012 Hot Wheels Racing: Muscle. The latter is as close to diecast perfection as possible, with a Metallic Dark Grey paint job and yellow stripes on the hood and sides.

The new Spectraflame Blue Javelin is just a little behind, though. With the detailed headlights and tail lights, you could mistake it for a Premium model if it had RR wheels. You can always swap the UH rims for a different design, but then you'd be straying away from the central theme of the series. You might feel differently, but the Javelin is one of the best five cars in the upcoming Mix.

'73 BMW 3.0 CSL Race Car

The defining ratio of the new Ultra Hots mix is 4:3:1. Allow me to explain: you'll find four American vehicles inside, three from Europe, and a single Japanese one. BMWs are always extremely popular with Hot Wheels collectors, and the '73 BMW 3.0 CSL Race Car won't hang around on any peg for too long. It was a short time since we saw the Fraser Campbell-designed model inside a Car Culture 2-Pack set next to the new BMW 320 Group 5.

With 11 variations on the market already, the Ultra Hots Bimmer is the first of two iterations coming up in 2024. It's also the third one in eight years to feature a Spectraflame paint job. The black, white, and blue combo suits it well, but I'm unsure about the gold wheels. They might be a minor inconvenience for some collectors, but it could have been worse.

Mazda REPU

Any geeky rotor-head will tell you that the Mazda REPU is the perfect truck. I've never seen one up front, but I imagine delivering "overnight parts from Japan" in this somewhat forgotten Japanese machine would be cool. Jun Imai designed this casting for its 2017 Daredevils debut, and we have seen 12 variations so far.

Mattel used it for the Super Treasure Hunt series in 2019, but it went almost unnoticed with a set of black Real Riders wheels and a Spectraflame Dark blue paint job. The Spectraflame Aqua paint highlights it better, although you might consider deleting the white and green afterburner flame decals. There's only one way to go about it without ruining a perfect Ultra Hot collection: buy two models and go wild with only one!

80's Pontiac Firebird

Mattel first used the '80s Firebird in 1983, making it the second oldest casting on this list. Interestingly enough, the name of its debut series was The Hot Ones. Forty years and over 40 variations later, you're now looking at the 2024 Ultra Hots release in Spectraflame Red. It is the first new design after an almost decade-long hiatus and only the sixth iteration to show up in the 21st century.

These days, young collectors would opt for Vetuskey's '84 Firebird instead, as it's a more modern design. But the Ultra Hots series evokes the past and reminds us of Mattel's rich history. I'd be ready to bet that this is the last time we'll ever see a new iteration of the Hot Wheels 80s Pontiac Firebird, but don't quote me on that just yet.

'81 Ford Fairmont

The last American car in Mix 1 of the Ultra Hots series for 2024 is the '81 Ford Fairmont. It debuted one year earlier than the Firebird above and shares the same designer: Larry Wood. As a JDM enthusiast, this is the least appealing item in the new Mix. But I'm sure older collectors will strongly disagree. Despite being around for so long, there are only so many variations of this casting to look for.

Mattel launched seven between 1982 and 1995 and two more in the 21st century. The most recent one was part of the 2018 Pop Culture: Nestle series. You won't find RR wheels on any other iteration. Spectraflame Dark Teal is a good choice for an older vehicle like this, and come to think of it, I've never seen one driving down the road before. Am I too young for this?

Volkswagen Käfer Racer

As we've seen in previous years, a complete Mix of Hot Wheels Ultra Hots contains eight vehicles. The Volkswagen Käfer Racer is the last one here, and it managed to gain a cult following in just seven years since its debut. Mark Jones designed this baby Porsche 935/78-81 'Moby Dick' machine, which has already had a Toy Fair and a Super Treasure Hunt release.

Spectraflame Deep Red wasn't an awful choice for the STH VW, but it doesn't stand out as much as Spectraflame Gold does. Some of you may argue that it's even better than the BMW, but it's all a matter of personal preference. I'd have to see one next to the Javelin and the GTO before deciding which is best.