New Hot Wheels Collector Set Has a Special Hauler Inside

And the people at Mattel are well aware that they can sell multiple iterations of the same casting if they change a few details. Sometimes, you'll only notice minor changes, while on other occasions, you'll see a different set of wheels and maybe even a retooling. Either way, there's no bigger excitement than seeing a brand-new casting!

Especially if it's a replica of an iconic vehicle, like we saw with the last Hot Wheels Premium Collector Set. While Mix 3 brought three amazing cars and a decent hauler, the final Mix for 2023 is the complete opposite. Jay Leno's Garage is the theme here, and this is certainly not the first time the American star gets his share of 1/64th-scale fame. Without further ado, let's dive in and see what the new diorama-style package offers.

Jay Leno Tank Car

For its Car Culture debut, Bryan Benedict designed the Jay Leno Tank Car casting in 2022. As the name suggests, this abomination is powered by a military tank engine. This might remind you of the Meteor Interceptor, another unique project highlighted in several previous stories. Jay Leno has owned the "Blastolene Special" for many years now, and one can only imagine what it must be like to drive it.

After all, how often do you get to experience a 1,600-hp vehicle on public roads? This is not a lightweight car by any standards, but it won't attempt to set any Nordschleife records soon. The new Collector Set variation of the Tank Car doesn't have any changes to it. But that's normal, given its unique factor. The chances that Mattel will use a different livery or paint job for it in the future are slim. At best, we might see a new set of wheels on it, but that's about it.

2017 Ford GT

Mark Jones designed the 2017 Ford GT casting, and you might remember that Vaughn Gittin JR. also owned one of these cars. The tiny Ford GT first came out in 2016 as part of the HW Exotics series. It featured a Metalflake Blue finish and PR5 wheels. It enjoyed quite the release, as a Super Treasure Hunt version immediately became available. You can pick one up for anywhere between $35 to $100 today.

The casting joined the Premium Club that year with the Forza Motorsport release. Mattel produced 16 variations of it until 2022; the new variation is the first one for 2023. It is its second time appearing in black and its third rolling on Real Riders 10-spoke wheels. The murdered-out look is interrupted by the red stripes going down the middle of the car, a faithful recreation of the original. This is perhaps the best-looking car out of the three, and some might venture as far as saying that it's the best iteration of the casting since its debut.

Ford Shelby GT350R 

The third vehicle of the new Hot Wheels Jay Leno's Garage Collector Set is another Ford. The Shelby GT350R might not be as fast as the modern Ford GT, but it's also a lot more accessible financially. And yes, I'm perfectly aware that it wasn't long since we last saw this Dave Root-designed casting. Its Fast & Furious appearance is one of many, and the new variation is the 11th in the series.

We've seen the Oxford White finish twice before, but both were basic Mainline items.
Meanwhile, the people at Mattel seem to be stuck at the Real Riders 10-spoke wheels, and I wonder if the following variation will use another design. I can agree with the black finish on these, as they contrast with the paint job. But there's a real risk that the Shelby GT350R will become a peg-warmer in certain areas, albeit not as bad as the Tank car.

1955 Mercedes-Benz "Blaues Wunder"

The real highlight of the new Collector Set is the 1955 Mercedes-Benz "Blaues Wunder." You don't even have to be a Mercedes fan to appreciate this vehicle. It might be one of the coolest haulers in automotive history, and its nickname should tell you everything you need to know about it. The race car transporter had the same heart as the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing" and could theoretically hit speeds of over 100 mph (160 kph).

That might not sound impressive today, but we are discussing 1955 here. Although a Mercedes-Benz executive decided to scrap the Blue Wonder in the '60, the company recreated the unique transporter almost 40 years later. And yes, Jay Leno owns one of these two. You didn't need to know this to realize the man has excellent taste in cars; we've all seen his collection. Many other diecast manufacturers have created replicas of this legendary hauler. But this is the first time you can pick up a Hot Wheels version of it. Mark Jones designed the casting, which seems to be a faithful reproduction of the original model.

Strangely, Mattel has yet to use it in Team Transport, but a new world of opportunities is now open for the company to use across its portfolio. A Mainline version might be less memorable, but we still want one! Until then, you can call your collector buddies and debate the best car to use with the MB Transporter. Most people will tell you you must go with the 300 SL "Gullwing."

Others will even choose a modern Mercedes-Benz racecar. At the same time, I'd want to see the 300 SLR in the back, but that might not happen soon. That's because there is no Hot Wheels replica of this car, at least not yet. But given its newfound interest in Mercedes-Benz vehicles, anything can and will probably happen. I'm rooting for a replica of Bernd Schneider's 2002 CLK DTM race car!