5 Hot Wheels Cars That Mattel Needs to Revive

One of the things life will teach you is that you have to let go. Some are stubborn enough to resist, but let's not forget that you cannot reverse entropy. (at least as far as we know). The more you learn about Hot Wheels cars, the more you'll realize how vast Mattel's tiny Universe is. Each year, the manufacturer develops new castings, series, and designs for existing models.

With such an influx of collectibles, some existing projects will halt. There are several reasons for that: outdated casting, licensing issues, poor sales, or the appearance of a more exciting successor. Today, I will look at five long-gone cars that deserve to return with new variations.

1970 Plymouth Superbird

This nostalgic list of castings was almost an all-American affair. The 1970 Plymouth Superbird is one of the two oldest models in today's story, debuting in 1998. Larry Wood designed it, and the First Edition was part of the Petty Racing Family 3-Car Set. It was phenomenal in light blue, with an uncomplicated livery, an opening hood, and Goodyear Real Riders wheels.

I'm shocked you can buy the 3-Car set for anywhere between $24 and $45, given that you also have the 1957 Oldsmobile Stock Car and the Pontiac Grand Prix Stocker inside. The 1970 Plymouth Superbird was a Premium-exclusive design, with eight variations from El Segundo between 1998 and 2008. I am perfectly aware of Phil Riehlman's Plymouth Superbird, which is still around today but doesn't have an opening hood.

As for the Premium model, it's one of the few castings I've ever seen that feels perfect with every new iteration. I'd love a green or a yellow one, but it feels tempting to go after the entire collection. Some will cost $60 apiece, but that's not as daunting as something like the Super Treasure Hunt line-up.

Dodge Viper GTS

Although the Dodge Viper GTS debuted around the same time as the Plymouth Superbird, it was only available briefly. Still, Mattel developed 12 variations before the casting's demise in 2004—seven of those used Pro Circuit 6-Spoke wheels with plastic tires.

The company would drop that design by 2002. Just like with the Superbird, the Viper GTS featured an opening hood, which provided a glimpse of the V10 engine underneath. If you're keen to have a rare iteration, look for the 1998 Viper Club of America release: there are only 10,000 units worldwide.

Somehow, prices range between $30 to $70, which sounds like a bargain. There are at least eight other Viper castings to consider if you're a hardcore enthusiast, and I might just dive deeper into the topic with a future story.

'50s Chevy Truck

The '50s Chevy Truck has been off the shelves for over a decade. The Crewcab COE model had 18 variations between 2006 and 2012, some particularly special. Ultra Hots saw five iterations in 2006 alone, but the two yellow ones were nearly identical. It's also worth pointing out that one of the latter releases was a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive, with just 3,000 units coming out of the factory in Malaysia.

I spotted two listings on eBay for this collectible, each with an asking price of over $100. The 21st Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention edition in white and gray was just as rare, but it's slightly more affordable. Collectors fought over 11,000 HWC.com Series 6 '50s Chevy Truck units, which was pretty impressive in Spectraflame Brown.

Still, I've seen this going for as cheap as $47, a fraction of what you'll have to pay for the 2012 Final Edition Fruit Brute design. With only 1,800 units, it's no wonder some people ask as much as $350. I've never met anyone with this casting in his collection.

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

I've encountered the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia before but haven't found the time to dive deeper into the topic. It's the only casting on the list that doesn't have Larry Wood's name on it, as Phil Riehlman was in charge of its design. Running between 2006 and 2016 was enough for Mattel to develop 16 variations, only some of which featured Real Riders wheels.

There are 10,000 units of the 2007 RLC sELECTIONs model in Spectraflame Orange, but prices are not as prohibitive as you may think. You can buy one for $35 if you don't mind purchasing loose Hot Wheels. The 8th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals Karmann Ghia finds itself in the same price range despite being much rarer at 3,000 units.

But I'd much rather purchase these two than the 2013 HWC Special Edition iteration in Spectraflame Green. New Redline wheels may be all the hype for some collectors, but they will never look as good as the Real Riders collection. It's a real shame Mattel never came up with a new design after the 2016 Car Culture release, but who knows what surprises are in store for the 2024 collection.

'57 Buick

The final item on today's list is the '57 Buick. As we've seen with many other older Hot Wheels casting, it featured an opening hood. We only had seven iterations between 2007 and 2015. The 2010 RLC sELECTIONs Buick in Spectraflame Ice Blue is the rarest one you can buy, with a limited run of 3,455 units.

It's no wonder prices can go up to $280. Frankly, I'd be just as happy with the 2007 First Edition Ultra Hots release in Orange, and you can add that to your collection for less than $15. If you have ever enjoyed eating Cocoa Puffs, let me tell you something. The 2010 Nostalgia: General Mills set featured a '57 Buick with that branding, and I'm certain this would make a fine treat for any adult collector today.

I'll dig up more castings that deserve to make a comeback, as there are plenty of them out there. And I promise I won't start crying about the Vector W8 Twinturbo again, as I've heard some interesting rumors about it.