5 Best Hot Wheels Collector Edition Cars of 2023

I pride myself in knowing many things about Hot Wheels cars: colors, models, prices, history, etc. But learning about Mattel's million-dollar idea is a process that always continues. As with real cars, it helps to stick to a specific niche. Some collectors will tell you everything there is to know about the Super Treasure Hunt line of items; others are diehard Red Line Club enthusiasts.

It's much easier to keep track of the rarer items and more exciting. For over a decade now, Mattel has promoted a Mail-in/Collector Edition series. The concept is relatively simple and, I suspect, highly effective. To increase sales for a specific partner/retailer, you must buy several items to redeem a special collectible. The value was set at $20 in the past, and the diecast manufacturer used store-exclusive models to make everything even more appealing to the audience.

2008 marked the first season of the Collector Edition series, with four cars: the Volkswagen Drag Truck, the Dairy Delivery, the '56 Chevy Nomad, and the Purple Passion. Mattel increased the number of items in the collection to five starting in 2013 and then to six in 2017. For each year, the designers in El Segundo decide on a color-based theme: 2022 featured the Spectraflame Blue look, 2021 had a Spectraflame Aqua Green finish, and so on.

Meanwhile, for the past few years, we've also had one ZAMAC vehicle to go for, so those are pretty popular, too! I'll rank the five best Mail-In cars for 2023 in today's story. As the entire series featured six items, I had to cross the Custom '93 Nissan Hardbody (D21) off the list. It's a personal preference, and some might organize it differently.

5. Morris Mini

I've saved what's best for last, so for now, let's start with the Morris Mini. It was the Target Mail-In for 2023 and also the last of its kind to become available to collectors. Phil Riehlman designed the Mini for its 2000 debut, which means it's the oldest casting on this list. Mattel opted to use a shade of pink for the 2023 collection called Spectraflame Pale Pink.

Another common feature for five of the six cars is that they're rolling on Real Riders Steelies, which is always a great go-to design with Hot Wheels. Like the other items in the series, the Morris Mini also has the additional Red Line feature on the tires for more desirability. The most expensive one I've spotted on eBay will cost you $70, but several options are available for less than $30, so you should start there.

4. Jaguar Lightweight E-Type

The Lightweight E-Type is the first Jaguar to appear in the Collector Edition series, and it takes P4 for 2023 in my books. Mark Jones designed this casting for its 2019 Team Transport debut. Please don't take me wrong; I still think it looks great. But the First Edition model was perfect in British Racing Green, just one step above the Pink model. Before the Kroger Mail-In version, Mattel had only released three iterations of this casting, all featuring Real Riders wheels.

You'll find fewer listings for less than $30 for the pink Jaguar, while the most expensive can still cost $70. It's cool to see that the diecast manufacturer has used numbered decals for each car in the 2023 series, so it's easy to tell that the Jaguar was the second one this year. It's also the second replica of a car built in the United Kingdom and one of three Euro cars in the 16th season of Collector Edition models.

3. Ford Bronco R

Mark Jones and Phil Riehlman worked together on designing the Ford Bronco R. Although this casting has been around for less time than the Jaguar, there are more iterations to look for: seven in total! It was off to a solid start in 2021 with the Car Culture: Hyper Haulers series, and it only arrived in the Mainline series earlier this year. Mattel even used this casting in the iD series in 2022, when it featured a Spectraflame Black finish.

Like the Jaguar, the Ford Bronco R was a Kroger Mail-In model. It was the fifth car of the 2023 series and the only one not rolling around on Steelies. Instead, it sits on a set of Off-Road Real Riders 8-Dot wheels, which match the theme of this wild truck. The Bronco R will cost anywhere between $30 and $50, which is a reasonable price for what it is. I wish we'd get some information as to how rare these items are.

2. Custom '67 Pontiac Firebird

The name Brendon Vetuskey often makes me think about the Red Line Club exclusive models. But he has designed other castings, too. The Custom '67 Pontiac Firebird is one of them, and the First Edition model replicates his real-life car. Since 2017, Mattel has unveiled 11 variations of this casting, only three of which are slightly more unique. The first was part of the 2021 Hot Wheels: Boulevard series, while the second appeared in the iD: Rod Squad collection that same year.

With no new iteration in 2022, Firebird enthusiasts must have been thrilled to see the Wal-Mart-exclusive version of this car. It's the only item in the 2023 Collector Edition series not to feature the pink theme, as it has a ZAMAC finish instead. Finding one for less than $30 is feasible, but you're usually looking at a $35 to $40 budget if you want a mint card.

1. Porsche 993 GT2

My favorite Hot Wheels Mail-In car for 2023 is also the first one of the series. I've talked about HW Porsches several times, and I've always been fascinated by how amazing these tiny cars look. Jun Imai designed this casting a decade ago, and it's one of the most sought-after models in Mattel's portfolio. There are 18 iterations to look for, including a Super Treasure Hunt, several Premium ones, and a HWC Gulf Special. You'll need a serious budget for them all, and it's interesting to note that Mattel opted for a slightly different shade of pink for the 993 GT2 as opposed to the other four cars.

Spectraflame Rubine Red does a great job at highlighting the Dollar General Mail-In model. Unsurprisingly, some sellers are asking as much as $120 for this collectible, while the more affordable listings have it sitting at just over $40. But that doesn't shock me; I paid over $10 for the 2017 Mainline version, and that's because the former owner had grown tired of it.