5 Best Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt Cars of 2002

If you need help remembering what 2002 felt like, I will give you a few hints. Cinemas worldwide embraced the release of the second movie in the Lord of the Rings series. Star Wars had mixed feelings about Episode II- The Attack of the Clones. Rockstar Games introduced Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Brazil won the Fifa World Cup for the fifth and final time.

Michael Schumacher won another F1 World Championship, winning more points than Rubens Barichello and Juan Pablo Montoya combined. As for Mattel's Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt line-up, it once again featured 12 distinct models. The diecast manufacturer released 3,500 TH sets that year, and you can still buy one for up to $350 today.

But if you don't care about the unique packaging, you can get them all for about $100. It's not the same thing, but it gets the job done. I would have thoroughly reviewed the 2002 TH series, but they're less exciting than you'd hoped. So, I'm going for a top-five list instead.

'71 Plymouth GTX

Phil Riehlman designed the '71 Plymouth GTX for its 2001 First Editions debut. It took Mattel less than 12 months to upgrade the casting to the Treasure Hunt series. It featured a Metallic Dark Blue finish and a black roof, and it's the first iteration of the model to use Real Riders wheels.

The blue GTX was the second TH item for 2002, and you can pick one up for anywhere between $10 to $44 (for the short card version). The complete '71 Plymouth GTX collection contains 36 variations, and the most expensive one may require you to spend as much as $145.

Lotus Project M250

Looking at the Lotus Project M250, I immediately thought of the Evora. But there's almost a decade between the two cars. Naturally, after the British manufacturer presented their V6-powered concept, Mattel went ahead and created a tiny replica of it. Mark Jones designed this casting, available between 2001 and 2014. The 2002 Treasure Hunt M250 was the third variation in the line and the first to use Real Riders wheels.

The diecast manufacturer only went down this path again in 2007 with a Gift Card model in black. You only need 14 cars to complete the M250 collection. Even the most expensive will cost at most $60, but the Treasure Hunt Lotus will only require half of that budget.

Ford Thunderbolt

Drag racers are always a popular choice for Hot Wheels collectors. Mattel used this Phil Riehlman-designed casting between 2001 and 2020. But it's unclear whether the manufacturer has shelved the project or not. There are just over 40 variations to look for, and it's rather sad that the latest six were all Multipack Exclusive models. Comparing the First Edition Thunderbolt to the 2002 Treasure Hunt, you'd be inclined to ignore the latter.

The black livery on the debut model looked spectacular, and the TH Thunderbolt only benefits from the Real Riders wheels. Prices for this one vary between $8 to $40, which is relatively cheap compared to other iterations. I've even seen some people asking $1,600 for Error models, but I'm not a fan of the genre either way. I'm a big fan of the 2003 100% Preferred: Ford model in Burgundy, but some of you might choose differently.

Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S

The Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S is an attractive appearance for the 2002 Treasure Hunt series. I'm convinced most endurance racing fans would love to add this to their collection. But, sadly, Mattel shelved the project in 2010. In just under a decade, we saw six variations from El Segundo.

Only two iterations had Real Riders wheels: the 2002 TH variation and the 2003 Hall of Fame: Milestone Moments model. The first featured an attractive livery, mixing white, blue, and black for a sporty look. $6 to $60 will get you this forgotten race car, and the other variations won't cost much more than that.

'40 Ford

The '40 Ford is the second dragster on this list and has been around since 1998. I'm a big fan of the First Edition color scheme, and you won't even mind the standard 5-spoke wheels. In 1999, Mattel dropped a somewhat rare Full Grid Exclusive Trailer Edition with an output of 15,000 units. The same Deep Dish Real Riders wheels appeared on the following Cop Rods model.

Imagine seeing a Police officer driving around in one of these. The 2002 TH Ford Dragster featured a classic light turquoise and white look, with black flames on the fenders. You'll need $8 to $40 to add it to your collection if buying all 12 models is outside your agenda. Strangely enough, the diecast manufacturer last used Real Riders wheels on this casting in 2002. I'll be back with a review of the 2001 Treasure Hunt series soon. Meanwhile, I might order some of the cars on this list for my collection.