5 Best Hot Wheels Chase Cars From 2022

While browsing through the hundreds of models on display, the man behind the counter said he wanted to show me something extraordinary: he had two Hot Wheels Chase cars inside his desk and was selling them for just $40 apiece. I hesitated and left without buying them, but now I realize that's the lowest price for such a collectible. You see, Chase items are for the Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture series, what Super Treasure Hunt cars are for the Mainline series.

Mattel hasn't disclosed any official numbers, but most people estimate they're much rarer than the STH vehicles. With Real Riders wheels and a Metal base, they're certainly more exciting. Some might not like the black-on-black take on the series but to each their own. Chase models have been around since last year and each of the eight mixes that year had its dedicated model.

Today, I'll review five of the best Hot Wheels Chase cars from 2022 based on my preferences. The only item I didn't have a tough time excluding was the '33 Willys from the Dragstrip Demons set- I didn't fancy it. The '12 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series came close to a spot inside the Top 5, but I would have rather seen an older MB model. As for the '73 Volvo 142 GL, Mattel would have been better off upgrading the BMW M3 E46 to Chase status instead. But that's just my personal opinion.

1. Corvette C8.R

The Corvette C8.R is the oldest casting here, debuting in 2021. It's one of the most exciting Hot Wheels designs in recent years, and it's no wonder Ryu Asada designed it. Starting in the HW Race Day Mainline series, it looked fantastic in yellow with black 10-spoke wheels. A Red Edition variation was available next in select stores. But it soon graduated to Premium status by joining the Team Transport series in its first year.

In 2022, it entered the first Car Culture mix of the year: American Scene. Anyone with $10 or less in their pocket could have bought the white, red, and blue C8.R. But only a few lucky collectors found the black Chase version of this casting. Your best chance of finding one in the wild is to order a factory-sealed box of ten items and hope for the best. If you want to buy one from an online market today, you'll typically have to pay between $70 to $100, more than ten times its initial price.

2. Lamborghini Countach LP 5000 QV

The remaining four items on this list have several things in common. One of them is that they all debuted in 2022. Secondly, Mattel upgraded the castings to Chase status from their first release to attract more attention from potential customers. The Car Culture: Jay Leno's Garage mix had two Lamborghini Countach LP 5000 QV inside.

The standard variation featured a red Rosso Siviglia paint job and Real Riders 8-Spoke wheels. But car 0/5 for this set was the black Nero Tenebre Countach with Real Riders Aero wheels. There's little hope of ever finding this collectible online for less than $60, while some sellers ask for as much as $120 for theirs.

3. Lamborghini Essenza SCV12

The Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 is one of the wild castings Mattel has come up with in recent years, but it wouldn't have happened if Lamborghini hadn't created the original. Phil Riehlman designed the 1/64th-scale replica, and it fittingly debuted in the Exotic Envy mix alongside other iconic supercars such as the Bugatti EB110 and the Koenigsegg Agera R.

From a visual standpoint, the two-tone, green and black variation is more exciting as it shows off the lines of the car. But the Chase model is downright sinister from any perspective, including the price. You're lucky if you can find one for $80, but it can go up to $200 in some cases. It will be even more expensive in 12 months, so you'd better act fast.

4. LB-ER34 Super Silhouette Nissan Skyline

But you might have guessed which of the 2022 Chase models is the most popular. Collectors and scalpers are all into Skylines, and Mattel knows that very well. Mark Jones designed the casting for its Mountain Drifters debut, and the Liberty Walk Super Silhouette body kit has undoubtedly turned the heat up to 11.

The two-tone, black, and red Skyline is exciting enough, but the black-on-black one looks ready to cause chaos at the Tokyo Auto Salon just by looking at it. Consider sitting down for the next piece of information. The LB-ER34 Super Silhouette Nissan Skyline Chase prices vary between $240 and $1,000 on eBay. That's already diving into Red Line Club territory for cars that don't even have a serial number. It might be too much if you ask me.

5. Mazda RX7 FC Pandem

The Mazda RX7 FC Pandem is my favorite Chase casting of 2022; there is no surprise here. I've bought all the FC variations Mattel has released but have yet to add this rare one to my collection. It needs to be done, as it would go perfectly with my black FC3S, but I'm unsure if I'm willing to pay as much as $250. Common sense dictates that this collectible shouldn't cost more than a full tank of gas, which usually takes about $100.

It's a good thing there are still offers set at $60, and my only complaint with this model is that it should have had slightly bigger wheels. While at it, Mattel should've chosen a different body kit. I'm sure die-hard FC fans would have rather had a replica of Mitsuru Haruguchi's D1GP machine instead. But this design is still better than nothing, and I hear a new variation is coming up in just a few months.