Final Hot Wheels Team Transport Mix for 2023 Is Legendary

I missed the latest Hot Wheels Team Transport Mix that arrived in stores. Even though it had a new version of the Mazda RX-3 inside, I was mainly aiming for the Liberty-Walk GT-R, as it had an exciting hauler. If you're bent on purchasing certain Hot Wheels items you know will be in high demand, here's my advice. Please don't wait to find it in your local store.

Chances are that scalpers will buy the entire stock before it even hits the shelves. Find a trusty online store and order it from there, but don't pay more than its retail price. If you get from eBay or Amazon for more than it's worth, you'll spend a lot of money in the long run, and most of the time, it's simply not worth it.

Today, I'll discuss the latest Team Transport release, the last one for the 2023 series. By the end of the year, we should already see glimpses of Mix 1 for 2024, although I can already tell you that a few exciting models are coming our way.

Fleet Street

Let me start by saying that there are no new castings in Mix 4. But that's only sometimes a prerequisite for an exciting set. Most collectors will agree that the first combo of the day is also the best. Mark Jones designed the Fleet Street hauler for its 2022 Motul/Liberty Walk debut. Back then, it accompanied the ultra-wide LB-ER34 Super Silhouette Nissan Skyline.

Two more iterations appeared that year: the silver one carried the '16 Mercedes-AMG GT3, while the white one was part of the Japanese Tuners Premium Collector Set. 2023 brought along two more variations, the most special of which was inside the same packaging as the Porsche 934.5. The newest version of the Fleet Street features a simple, black finish with contrasting grey Turbine Real Riders wheels.

It has the same rim design as the truck that previously carried the GT3. The fact that it has an extra set of five tires on a unique rack further adds to the realism, but it would have been even better if that was a different set of wheels you could swap on demand.

1997 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR

Undoubtedly, the 1997 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR is the highlight of Mix 4. I'm still chasing the First Edition model from 2021, which can cost as much as $45 these days. That Boulevard release featured a D2 Privat race-inspired livery, but I'm sure many Hot Wheels MB enthusiasts have wished for a clean version of this casting. And we finally have it now.

Mattel's process of creating this variation was straightforward, but the impact will be more significant. Although the casting is still a replica of the famous race car, it now looks like the street-going version without the decals. The German manufacturer only built 20 coupes and six roadsters, so it's an automotive unicorn.

Imagine if the street-going version of the 911 GT1 would also come true; how good of a combo these two vehicles would make. I might be biased, given my fascination with '80 and '90s race cars, but the 1997 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR might be the best Hot Wheels casting of 2023!

Speed Waze

Ranking the three cars in Mix 4 is simple, but I can't say the same about the haulers. Each model in the new set is pretty good, even though we've seen them several times. Although the Speed Waze has been around longer than the Fleet Street, you'll find fewer iterations on the market. It made its Team Transport debut in 2021, featuring a Sky Blue finish with El Segundo Special decals on the side.

It didn't match the Matte Orange '32 Ford, so people overlooked it at the time. Mattel brought it back in 2022 for Team Transport #49. The new Navy Blue/White combo was considerably better, especially given the new Real Riders Steelies wheels. But collectors weren't as interested in the HW Classic Hydroplane, which impacted the Speed Waze too.

Plenty of stores offered significant discounts for this set, as people didn't care much about it. This hauler's latest all-black iteration is the best yet, and it could work together with any piece of American Muscle in your collection. And in a strange twist of events, it once again outshines its precious cargo.

'33 Willys

I'm likely too young to appreciate a classic Hot Rod/Dragster like the '33 Willys. I'm too deeply involved with Japanese sports cars and late-20th-century race cars, but I'm confident this casting already has a worldwide fanbase. Phil Riehlman designed this one, and you might remember seeing it in the 2022 Car Culture: Dragstrip Demons collection.

Mattel built a "Rust Bucket" with mismatched size wheels and a Chase version from the get-go. Collectors have expressed mixed feelings about these two variations. And I have yet to see them with my own eyes, making me think they aren't as popular as Mattel had hoped. The latest Team Transport variation is much better in black, with flames running down the sides.

Even the choice of Real Riders wheels is good this time, as Hot Wheels opted for the 5-Spoke Mag-Style ones up front and Preferred Series rims on the rear axle. The '33 Willys works nicely with the Speed Waze but could become a peg-warmer in most stores. Even though these castings could become less and less popular, I'm sure Mattel will keep them alive for at least ten to 15 years for older collectors to enjoy.

Euro Hauler

The Euro Hauler is the oldest in Mix 4, having been around since 2020. Given it draws inspiration from a Mercedes-Benz Race transporter from the '60s, its debut version carried the IWC Racing 300 SL. The diecast manufacturer released a more colorful version in 2021, with the same Gulf livery as the Lancia 037 it was hauling.

The third iteration was not part of the Team Transport series. Instead, it was the designated hauler for the 2023 Track Day Collector set, sharing the same box as the '84 Audi Sport quattro, the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, and the Sauber-Mercedes C9. For Team Transport Mix 4, Mattel completely transformed the Euro Hauler with a white, red, and blue Porsche livery.

No more 5-spoke or 10-spoke wheels either, as this vehicle is now rolling on white Real Riders 8-Dot rims. It's an unconventional appearance for the Team Transport series, and that's precisely why it will be successful.

Porsche 959 (1986)

Once you look inside the Euro Hauler, you'll discover a new variation of the Porsche 959 (1986). It is one of Mattel's three different 959 castings. Larry Wood designed the first one, but it was only available between 1988 and 2015. You might remember Brendon Vetuskey's 959, as that is part of the Red Line Club exclusive series: the most recent one came out earlier this month.

As for the version included in the Team Transport series, this is a depiction of a race-ready machine paying tribute to a squad based in Jacksonville, Florida. The First Edition of this casting debuted in 2020, featuring a Rothmans-inspired livery that reminded everyone of Porsche's Dakar adventure. In 2021, we saw a Car Culture: Deutschland Design iteration with a simple white paint job, no decals included.

The black 6-Spoke wheels provided some contrast, but the whole thing almost didn't feel like a Premium model. Unexpectedly, the new white-on-white color scheme is impressive but might not have been as good without the Brumos livery. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll pre-order the CLK-GTR set to ensure I get my hands on one.