'89 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG Is the New Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt for 2024

I have not found any fascinating Hot Wheels models lately, but I know plenty of them are coming soon. With every new Mainline case preview, at least two or three items are worth adding to your collection. And we finally know what's coming up in Case D for 2024, as someone in Malaysia has just unboxed the new set of 72 cars.

As always, plenty of these are fantasy items. Kids might still enjoy playing with these, but adult collectors tend to stay away from them most of the time. So, let's focus on the highlights of the new mix instead.

Super Treasure Hunt

Only a small percentage of collectors ever get to find a Super Treasure Hunt collectible in the wild. More often than not, you'll have to turn to an online market to get it. And then, you'll have to pay a lot more to buy it. Looking at the first STH item for 2024, prices range between $70 to $130 if you insist on having the carded version. You might find it more challenging to come across the '18 Camaro SS STH, as this is part of Case B, and only a few people have seen one. The BMW 507 Super seems more affordable, with the most expensive items listed at less than $100.

But the secret car from Case D might become the most popular Super Treasure Hunt of 2024. I remember when Mattel first released the '89 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG: people were almost fighting over it in stores! It was a miracle I found one, and scalpers quickly acted, buying everything in their path. Sure, the First Edition 560 SEC AMG looked fantastic in black on black Retro Slot Wheels, but it was a simple, basic release. Reaching Super Treasure Hunt status in Case D means this bad boy now features a Spectraflame Red paint job that makes it stand out.

It also features matching Real Riders Exotic wheels, now in a new shade of red. It's good to see that the people at Mattel have paid attention to the fans by not adding any unnecessary graphics or decals to this collectible. Right now, there are only a few loose options on the market, and the most expensive one costs $45. But I'm sure a mint, carded version will quickly sell for over $150 within the next 12 months.

Regular Treasure Hunt

The regular Treasure Hunt for Case D is the Custom '53 Chevy. This is the second Chevrolet TH and the second non-fantasy Treasure model for 2024. If you remember seeing this casting before, it's because it has an extensive history behind it. Larry Wood designed it for its 2007 release, with 22 variations. It first reached Treasure Hunt and Super Treasure Hunt status in 2009, featuring a purple finish and white flames running down the sides.

You rarely see two TH variations for a single casting, but it might look into this topic in a future story. The new Custom '53 Chevy is part of the Rod Squad Mini Collection, and it's bound to be immensely popular with collectors, too. But let's move on with the story and see what else is coming up in Case D.

Case D Highlights

Some people might take an interest in the '67 Camaro despite the white tires and intricate livery. It's the kind of design we're used to seeing on trucks as part of a thematic series, but it's better than a fantasy design. The third iteration of the '73 Honda Civic Custom is also coming up in Case D, and it features a color scheme similar to the 2018 edition of the 1990 Honda Civic EF. It seems like an eternity has gone by since we last saw the '78 Dodge Li'l Red Express Pickup, when, in fact, the latest iteration appeared in 2022.

The new design seems similar to the 2018 Premium variation, except for the lack of the Real Riders wheels. The Pagani Zonda R is also back with a new color combo, and it's slightly better than the previous two Mainline releases. The '23 Ram 1500 is a brand new casting for Mattel, and it's fantastic to finally see a replica of the all-mighty TRX at this scale. Unsurprisingly, the designers in El Segundo opted for Beadlock Off-Road Wheels for this vehicle. Will we ever see this casting as a Premium model? I'm not nearly as excited about the '07 Chevy Tahoe, but other collectors might feel differently.

There are only a few variations of Phil Riehlman's casting I would ever purchase, and the new First Response series model is not one of them. The same goes for the Land Rover Series II, although this one might have a cult following among older collectors. Alongside the third iteration of the Alfa Romeo GTV6, Case D also contains the brand new '87 Audi Quattro casting. As with its race-ready siblings, this is bound to become one of the most sought-after models here. It features detailed headlights, Audi decals on the side, and 10-spoke wheels for a semi-premium look.

It will become an instant classic once Mattel decides to move this casting up to Car Culture or Boulevard. Manson Cheung designed the tiny version of the DeLorean Alpha5, and you might remember it from a collector set that came out not long ago. Most hardcore fans of the brand will still prefer the classic DMC12, but the new generation might buy into the modern design of the new car. As it enters the Mainline series, it's evident that Hot Wheels will bring out more variations of this casting, which isn't quite as good as the Premium version without the Real Riders wheels on.

I've seen people getting into a brawl over the Godzilla-themed R32 GT-R when it first appeared in stores about a year ago. I barely found one with scalpers fighting over it at every step, and things will likely take the same turn with the new R33 iteration. And that's especially valid because we last saw a mainline variation of Ryu Asada's skyline in 2019! The '92 Honda Civic EG always brings back many memories, and I know I'll have to buy one in the future. Given its size, you may look down on the B16A2 engine, but it packs a serious punch.

Ryu Asada designed this casting for its 2020 Fast & Furious debut, and most of the six variations so far were Premium models. The red iteration from Case D is only the second basic appearance for the casting, but it's not nearly as exciting as the Spoon Sports EG6 we saw a while ago. Fans of the HW First Response series will undoubtedly enjoy the new design of the '10 Camaro SS, but I wonder if people not into Emergency Vehicles will pick this one up. I haven't decided how I feel about the Mad Mike Drift Attack casting yet.

Ultimately, this is still a fantasy vehicle unless Mike Whiddett builds one soon. The new color variation is dull, the complete opposite of what you would expect from a drift machine. The '73 Jeep J10 has only been around briefly, so it's good to see the second variation coming up finally. The First Edition model looked spectacular in Metalflake Orange but may have lost a few points due to the Hot Wheels decals on the side. Mattel has opted for a famous K&N livery for the second iteration, but the color combo feels less attractive this time.

One of the last exciting items in Case D is the '67 Chevy C10 that Ryu Asada designed a decade ago. It was part of the Super Treasure Hunt series in 2017 and is now part of the Art Cars series with a rather complex livery. I'm more interested in the latest release of the Mazda RX-7, given my affiliation with rotary cars. It features a simple, white finish with Police decals on the side. It's not Mattel's most extraordinary take on this casting, but we rotorheads will take anything the diecast manufacturer throws at us, that's for sure.