5 Best Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt Cars of 2004

But toning down the appetite for more tiny cars is impossible if you spend multiple hours a week looking at them online. The Hot Wheels Universe is seemingly infinite, and there's always an exciting car to discover that you did not know about previously. My trip down memory lane led me to the 2004 Treasure Hunt series, which wasn't as good as the 2005 one.

Still, some hope is left here, so I've handpicked the five best collectibles from that year for a more extensive analysis. Let me fill in the blanks if you need help remembering what 2004 was like. Dubai started the ambitious Burj Khalifa project, which would become the world's tallest building. Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook, and Rockstar Games introduced Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

I spent countless hours playing that game and Need for Speed: Underground 2 that year. And Japanese gamers got their first taste of Gran Turismo 4 several days before New Year's Eve. Usher's "Yeah" topped the Billboard charts, but I'm sure motoring enthusiasts will fondly remember "Get Low" by Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz.

Meanwhile, Hollywood gave the world some good movies, including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Incredibles, I Robot, and one of my all-time favorites: The Chronicles of Riddick. Michael Schumacher's iconic series of victories ended in 2004, as he scored his last F1 World Title. Mattel's line of Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt models that year featured more fantasy castings than anyone would have wanted.

Some were better than others, and I came close to including the Altered State collectible on this list. It's a replica of a car that Hot Wheels expert Mike Zarnock owns, but that didn't feel like a good enough reason to me. The best part about the 2004 collection is that you can pick all 12 cars up for $200 or less.

1965 Pontiac Bonneville

Let me start by saying that Mattel doesn't make any of the five castings on this list. The diecast manufacturer has shelved all these projects, so finding each collection can take time and effort. The 1965 Pontiac Bonneville was the first Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt item for 2004. Mark Jones designed this casting, and the world had only seen three variations before the TH release.

It was the first time it featured Real Riders wheels, and there are reportedly two slightly different models to look for. One has the TH decal flipped upside down, and some people ask as much as $100 for this iteration. You can still get the Flat Lavender Bonneville for $20 or less if you don't care about that "feature."

But if you're like me, you might like the Hot Wheels Whips: West Cost Customs (Old School) release much better. Mattel painted this red and fitted it with Bling Real Riders wheels, and it's just what you'd want to see with a vehicle like this. It will cost about as much as the TH Bonneville, so it's up to you how you'd best like to spend your money.

Cadillac Cien

I have never seen the Cadillac Cien concept car live, which I cannot say about many cars of the 21st century. I still remember watching photos of it growing up, and it's a real shame that the automotive manufacturer canceled the project. It looked like an F-22 Raptor on four wheels, featured a 750 hp V12 engine, and likely cost around $200,000.

But we can be thankful that Mattel followed up on the idea. Using Phil Riehlman's design, the Cien casting debuted in the 2003 First Edition series, featuring a silver paint job with a black hood and roof. It had red-tinted windows and 5-spoke wheels, and it did have some potential. So the next step was to move it up to the Treasure Hunt series in 2004, where it sported a black finish, red flames, and Deep Dish Real Riders wheels.

Despite everything, the Cadillac Cien is one of the most affordable Treasure Hunt models I've ever encountered: several listings for $7 or less. You can set up a TH collection on a budget if you want to. Mattel only made one more variation of this casting with Real Riders wheels, and it appeared that same year as part of the Auto Affinity: Got Speed? Series.

Super Smooth

Judging by its name, this might sound like a fantasy casting. But Alec Tam drew inspiration from Tucci Engineerin's 1939 GMC pickup truck, built over 20 years ago. Mattel used this casting for a short time between 2002 and 2006. A total of ten variations ever left the factories in Malaysia and Thailand, and three of them featured Real Riders wheels.

The first one came up in the 2003 Early Times series, but it had a strange mixture of colors, including silver, pink, yellow, and blue. A second, almost identical variation followed, albeit it used different colors for the same type of livery. The 2004 Treasure Hunt model had a more traditional look, with a Metallic Copper and Light Gold finish.

With gold flames and RR Wheels, though, this might be less appealing by today's standards. Its current market value ranges between $10 to $50, so keep that in mind if you ever decide to add it to your collection.

Splittin' Image

Occasionally, I see a Hot Wheels fantasy casting that makes me forget I only collect licensed vehicles. Ira Gilford designed the Splittin' Image for its 1969 debut in Spectraflame Antifreeze: the first of 18 variations to appear that year. It popped up again in 1973 for the Shell Promos series and vanished for almost 20 years. Having two cockpits for one car sounds like something we might see in the future and could work well for ride-sharing services.

Imagine people's reactions to seeing a 1:1 scale version of this casting driving down the road. That thought alone makes this casting a lot more appealing. And there are plenty of variations to look for if you're interested, most of which even feature a metal base. One of the key selling points for the 2004 Splittin' Image is that it is the first and only variation to have ever had Real Riders wheels.

The Metallic Pearl White paint job might have been tedious without the lavender flames and the purple-tinted windows, but I feel Mattel could have come up with a more futuristic livery than that. For a price of $10 or less, it could be worth picking this up, even for the RR wheels.

Meyers Manx

The Meyers Manx was the last Treasure Hunt model for the 2004 series, and it's also the final item on our list today. I came close to renting a replica of this car in September, but it was all booked out by the time I decided. I also remember driving one of these in an old Grand Theft Auto game, probably the third one in the series.

As for Mattel's tiny version of this somewhat iconic vehicle, it survived between 2003 and 2014. There are 24 variations to look for if you're into the whole beach-going theme here, all featuring a metal base. This entire collection should cost less than $400, depending on your negotiation skills. The 2004 Treasure Hunt was the second iteration ever, and it looked great in blue with a white interior and Real Riders wheels.

There are plenty of surprisingly cheap options online, and you can get some figurines to accompany it for the perfect diorama. I've already taken notice of the two Auto Affinity: Down & Dirty variations, which look great in Lime Green and Orange. Would your Five Best Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt Cars of 2004 list look differently than mine?