Last Hot Wheels Boulevard Mix for 2023 Is Full of Surprises

Skipping the newest Hot Wheels releases on the market does have its benefits. You can save some money for later use, whether for a Premium set or car parts. Once you've decided on pursuing specific castings or collections, it will be easier to hold back. I'm excited about the new Boulevard set, but I don't plan on buying any of the collectibles inside, at least not for now.

'67 Ford Anglia Racer

Mix 5 is the last one for this Premium Hot Wheels series for 2023. In 2020 and 2021, Boulevard has only had four different sets of cars, but Mattel upped the ante starting in 2022. The previous set of five cars was phenomenal by all standards, especially considering the Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan inside. But the new release is decent, too. The '67 Ford Anglia Racer is a brand new casting for Mattel and a rather unexpected one.

Mark Jones is responsible for the design, as with two other cars in this set. If this vehicle doesn't ring a bell, it might help to know that it's the predecessor of the Escort nameplate. Matchbox collectors will likely already have a replica of the classic Anglia, but nothing as remarkable as this Hot Wheels one.

It features a Pearl Blue finish with white stripes and white Classic 4-Spoke Real Riders wheels, and it's bound to send ripples through the collector community once it arrives in stores. Some more digging will reveal that Mattel has had an Anglia casting before, which only existed between 2003 and 2011. But with only four variations coming out in all those years, there may be more hope for the Anglia Racer to attract more buyers.

Porsche 935

The diecast manufacturer has revealed seven variations of the Porsche 935 in just a few years, and you're now looking at the eighth one. If that's not enough, you must wait for the ninth variation, which is coming up as part of a Porsche-exclusive set quite soon. It's now the fourth time we see the 935 rolling on Real Riders Aero wheels, and it's already time for a change.

The red paint job might remind you of the First Edition model, but the livery is slightly different, and the quality of the finish is also much better. I don't think any Hot Wheels Porsche enthusiasts would even consider skipping this new iteration, but I'm sure everyone wants to see a Jagermeister design ASAP.

'96 Honda Accord

The second brand-new casting for Mix 5 is the '96 Honda Accord. I have been planning a deep dive into Hot Wheels Hondas for some time now, and I'm happy to see Mattel has developed a new model. I'm not fond of the livery; it pales compared to the Spoon Civic EG from Modern Classics. Perhaps the upcoming Team Transport iteration will be better.

Until then, we can at least be happy with the Real Riders 5-Spoke Modern wheels. Again, it's a terrible choice of colors, but diehard Honda fans might think otherwise. At this point, I'm still waiting for a replica of the Del Sol or the HRV, as I suggested in a recent story.

'95 Toyota Celica GT-Four

The '95 Toyota Celica GT-Four is the second of three Japanese vehicles in the latest Boulevard mix. And many will agree that it's also the best-looking one. The white-on-white look suits the car nicely, and the colored stripes give it some extra oomph, at least from a visual standpoint. This is the third iteration of the casting but the first one in the Boulevard series.

You have to appreciate that Mattel changed the wheel design using a six-spoke model instead of the previous 5-spoke and 10-spoke ones. You'll see the same livery on other Toyota castings, such as the defunct MR2 and the AE86 Sprinter Trueno. You can start a tiny TRD display corner home with enough cars. I hope a replica of the GR Yaris or even the GR Corolla is coming soon; that would bring the family together.

'23 Nissan Z

How do you feel about the new Nissan Z? Is anyone enthusiastic about it? I have yet to drive one, but from a visual point of view, it's less exciting than the GR Supra. That won't stop Mattel from coming out with more variations of the casting, though. Lindsey Lee designed this one for its 2022 debut, and there has only been one Premium iteration before. The latest version is reminiscent of the 2023 J-Imports Mainline model but certainly better in all aspects.

The Real Riders 10-Spoke Modern wheels highlight this collectible, further emphasizing the black and blue color scheme. If the Honda Accord wasn't a new casting, it would have ranked lower than the '23 Nissan Z. But now it's all going to boil down to brand commitment on behalf of potential customers.