Photo: Mattel
I went through seven different toy stores yesterday without buying any Hot Wheels. I couldn't find anything I liked. And I'm not hoarding any more Mainline castings. I'm past that part of my collecting life. But I'm always keen to see the new premium models.
It took me a while to decide on making the switch. Buying more expensive collectibles means I will get fewer, as I have a set monthly budget. I last purchased an RLC item over a year ago, which is even more costly. An impressive model would convince me to pay that much for a single vehicle. So Mattel's most recent announcement has left me with mixed emotions. I am always excited to buy a new Hot Wheels Porsche.
But if it costs as much as a part for my RX-7, guess which one I'll go for? Some of you may have seen Mattel's previous collaborations with Daniel Arsham. The 43-year-old American artist seems to like "eroded" vehicles. I've recently spotted the Eroded Porsche 930/ Rodger Dodger/ Rally Case Combo going for almost $500 on eBay. The ZAMAC Arsham Porsche 356 Bonsai can quickly sell for over $100, but some people have asked for as much as $300. And then there's the Eroded Deora II.
You'll need an extra $100 for this one if you can find the right seller. And Mattel is willing to keep this collaboration going in 2024 as well. On February 23, 2024, you'll witness a double product release on the company's website. The one that caught my attention is the Porsche 930A. It is a replica of Arsham's 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo, which he revealed several years ago. The artist had previously designed a 992 model with the German manufacturer. For the 930A car, he drew inspiration from a 24H of Le Mans racer. It is not the diecast manufacturer's first 930 casting: think of Larry Wood's 1999 design and Dmitriy Shakhmatov's 2022 release.
The latter has probably served as the starting point for the 930A, which uses classic five-spoke Real Riders wheels with Arsham Studio on the sidewalls. Mattel even strived to generate an accurate replica of the car's interior, but it would have all been better if it featured opening doors. Given the nature of this collaboration, the asking price is higher than for a regular RLC item. If you want one from the source, it will cost $70. But that kind of success is never guaranteed.
Some collectors were lucky enough to buy one in advance at a promo event a few days ago. (Many complained about waiting in line for hours with no such luck). You can already see they've listed the 930A for sale on eBay, with prices as high as $520. There's also the "classic" pre-order option, but I advise against supporting scalpers like that. If you're not a fan of the Porsche, you can always opt for the Eroded Twin Mill, which costs just as much. I don't get the hype around it, but maybe I'm too old (or is too young?) and grumpy to understand.
But if it costs as much as a part for my RX-7, guess which one I'll go for? Some of you may have seen Mattel's previous collaborations with Daniel Arsham. The 43-year-old American artist seems to like "eroded" vehicles. I've recently spotted the Eroded Porsche 930/ Rodger Dodger/ Rally Case Combo going for almost $500 on eBay. The ZAMAC Arsham Porsche 356 Bonsai can quickly sell for over $100, but some people have asked for as much as $300. And then there's the Eroded Deora II.
You'll need an extra $100 for this one if you can find the right seller. And Mattel is willing to keep this collaboration going in 2024 as well. On February 23, 2024, you'll witness a double product release on the company's website. The one that caught my attention is the Porsche 930A. It is a replica of Arsham's 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo, which he revealed several years ago. The artist had previously designed a 992 model with the German manufacturer. For the 930A car, he drew inspiration from a 24H of Le Mans racer. It is not the diecast manufacturer's first 930 casting: think of Larry Wood's 1999 design and Dmitriy Shakhmatov's 2022 release.
The latter has probably served as the starting point for the 930A, which uses classic five-spoke Real Riders wheels with Arsham Studio on the sidewalls. Mattel even strived to generate an accurate replica of the car's interior, but it would have all been better if it featured opening doors. Given the nature of this collaboration, the asking price is higher than for a regular RLC item. If you want one from the source, it will cost $70. But that kind of success is never guaranteed.
Some collectors were lucky enough to buy one in advance at a promo event a few days ago. (Many complained about waiting in line for hours with no such luck). You can already see they've listed the 930A for sale on eBay, with prices as high as $520. There's also the "classic" pre-order option, but I advise against supporting scalpers like that. If you're not a fan of the Porsche, you can always opt for the Eroded Twin Mill, which costs just as much. I don't get the hype around it, but maybe I'm too old (or is too young?) and grumpy to understand.
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