Manly Men Will Crave Mattel's New Hot Wheels Truck Set

I've already narrowed the list down to a few options. However, I must raise the money first, as I firmly believe in avoiding bank loans. If I suddenly find myself with a wad of cash in my pockets, there's one other tough question I must answer first: should I get a third car before I buy a second bike?

I know what my wife's answer will sound like. But I digress. The new Hot Wheels Themed-Assortment is what started the discussion. We have seen a few of these this year, and I've already bought an item from the Porsche set. But this newest mix is bound to grow some hair on your chest. Sure, you don't have to be a manly man to get into it, as I'm certain some girls like these collectibles just as much. Let's dive into it!

1980 Dodge Macho Power Wagon

Brendon Vetuskey designed the 1980 Dodge Macho Power Wagon about a decade ago. It debuted in the 2014 Hot Wheels Entertainment: Simon & Simon collection. And it has been a Premium-exclusive casting up until this moment.

The Silver Label items are slightly better than Mainlines but are not on par with Premium collectibles. The new Tubular Trucks iteration reminds me of the First Edition of this casting.

And it took me a few seconds to realize that it's sporting a new wheel design: Off-Road Steelies. It's the standard design for all the trucks in this set, although Mattel brought some color variation into play for extra added effect.

Chevy Blazer 4×4

The Chevy Blazer 4x4 is by far the oldest casting in this set. Larry Wood designed it, and it debuted back in 1984! The original tooling featured opening doors, but Mattel changed that later on.

Twelve of the past 13 iterations, starting in 2016, have used Beadlock Off-Road Wheels. The Stars & Stripes variation was the only one that didn't follow that rule.

So, I'm happy to see a new rim design for this truck. It's my favorite item in the Tubular Trucks set, although I would try to fit it with some Real Riders wheels for a more realistic look.

1985 Ford Bronco

Jun Imai's 1985 Ford Bronco first appeared in the 2013 Hot Wheels Boulevard collection. A Looney Tunes variation was up next, with a picture of Elmer Fudd on the sides.

Mattel temporarily downgraded the casting for the 2018 Ford Trucks set but quickly made amends with a Car Culture release in the works. The Collector Edition variation wasn't half bad in Spectraflame Blue. Bronco fans now have another reason to drive to the nearest toy store.

The tan and black color combo looks great with the matching wheels, and I can imagine listening to Kenny Rogers while driving down the road in this thing. But overall, it ranks lower in my book than the following two vehicles.

1987 Toyota Pickup Truck

If you grew up in the '90s, you will remember this one. The 1987 Toyota Pickup Truck debuted in 2012 as part of The Hot Ones collection, featuring a simple red finish and CT (Construction Tires) wheels. I'm a fan of the 2014 Cool Classics release in Spectrafrost Orange, but I'm not sure I can convince myself to pay upwards of $50 for one.

You know what variation Back to the Future fans will be most interested in, and there are two of them to consider. The latest design is pretty neat, too, and I've found an unspun model for sale on eBay, but you won't like the asking price: $136. That's slightly expensive, given the whole set will cost less than $10.

I'm sure some collectors will disagree with me on that, though. The best part about this casting is that getting the entire collection will only require you to buy 12 items. You may have a tougher time doing the same with the Chevy Blazer, seeing that it's a much older casting.

1988 Jeep Wagoneer

Lastly, buying the complete Tubular Trucks set will bring you the 1988 Jeep Wagoneer. It's the second casting here that Brendon Vetuskey designed, and it used to be a Premium exclusive.

It debuted in Boulevard, moved to Pop Culture, became a Collector Edition model, and advanced to Car Culture in 2019. It lost its appeal after Mattel updated the tooling for the Mainline series, but at least we have the NFT Garage version around these days.

With a different color combo, the 1988 Jeep Wagoneer could have been the most exciting collectible in the new set. I realize this is a classic look, but I wish the designers would've come up with something more modern.