New Hot Wheels Mix of Six Cars Looks Like a Tiny Pot of Gold

Fifty-five years have passed since the first Hot Wheels casting arrived in stores. Naturally, the company planned on celebrating the occasion with a few notable releases. This Anniversary series has been around since 2018 when it included seven different cars. The trend continued, and for the next two years, collectors were looking for 14 more items.

Starting in 2021, Mattel upped the ante to 10 cars and one Chase model each year. With two mixes coming out every 12 months, that meant one of them didn't have a special item inside, but all that was about to change for 2023. The Volkswagen T1-GTR in Mix 1 was the Chase car, and it was its first basic-version appearance, with two prior iD series variations. But let's cut straight to the chase and see what Mix 2 of the 2023 Anniversary series is all about.

'67 Chevy C10

The '67 Chevy C10 is the first car in this set, and you'll already notice the common Black/Gold theme here. Most of you may know Ryu Asada by his Japanese castings, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have other cars in the Hot Wheels portfolio. This classic pickup truck is one of them, and it has been around since 2013. Mattel has released 17 variations until 2022, and the 2017 Super Treasure Hunt model was the highlight of its career.

It was also part of the 2018 50th Anniversary series featuring the Stars & Stripes theme. The latest variation has a Matte Black paint job with red and yellow stripes running down the sides and, of course, the Hot Wheels logo. The diecast manufacturer used the same old 5-Spoke design we've seen on the C10 several times before. If you're a fan of this casting, you might be happy to hear that two more variations are coming out in 2024, but I'll talk about those in due time.

Twin Mill

I have to say that I'm not a big fan of the Twin Mill, although I am aware that hardcore collectors might say that's "sacrilegious." This is the oldest casting in the new Anniversary set and one of Mattel's first ones, dating back to 1969. Yes, it wasn't part of the original Sweet 16, but it still has a big following, and Mattel even built a real Twin Mill with the help of Chip Foose.

The diecast manufacturer came up with a retooled version in 1993 to celebrate its 25th anniversary, and we've seen many variations of it since. In a few years tops, we'll see the 100th variation of this new retool, which should give you a hint about how big of an effort you'll need for a complete collection. You'll see several of them selling for over $100, so it won't be cheap either. The Twin Mill is the least exciting item in Mix 2, as the best is yet to come.

Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 1300 L

Mattel has chosen the Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 1300 L to be the Chase model for Mix 2, and you can easily acknowledge once you see all the items in one place. The Chrome Gold finish almost makes it look like a Super Treasure Hunt collectible without any Real Riders wheels. Dmitriy Shakhmatov designed this casting for its 2019 HW Hot Trucks release, and the Beadlock Off-Road wheel design has been the manufacturer's primary choice on eight out of ten occasions. The best one so far has to be the 2020 Treasure Hunt release, which featured a SWAT theme.

But the latest iteration is pretty good, too, although I have one remark here. It's a shame Mattel used red spare wheels in the back instead of the same BLOR design, but then again, we have to think of the affordability of this series, too. I've already seen some ridiculous listings for the Unimog, with people asking $60 for two of them. Don't fall into that trap, as you can surely buy one for $10 or less. It's not a Premium Chase model to justify those prices!

Porsche 993 GT2

If I had to choose just one item from this set, that would be the Porsche 993 GT2. This casting has been around since 2013, and Jun Imai did a fantastic job at it. Once you have one variation in your collection, you might find the need to buy them all, but we've already established that can be very difficult in a previous Hot Wheels Porsche-focused story. The previous iterations are so good that the new model can likely get the title "Worst" one yet, but it's all a matter of perspective.

It's the fourth time Mattel uses the 5-spoke Japanese wheels on the 992 GT2, but I think more collectors will be more worried about the Hot Wheels logos on the side. We all love the brand, but seeing its decals on the side of these tiny cars can ruin the experience, most of the time. But there are solutions to problems like these if you look at custom diecast artists online.

Custom '01 Acura Integra GSR

The Custom '01 Acura Integra GSR is the second Ryu Asada-designed casting in Mix 2, and I'm pretty fond of this vehicle. I still have one or two variations on display, but a complete collection will require 13 items, with one more coming up in 2024. It has yet to graduate to Premium, which is a shame, but things might change soon.

The only thing that allows the Integra GSR to stand out from Mix 2 is the use of PR5 wheels, which have been around for more than 20 years now. Like Mix 1 for 2023, this is the only Japanese collectible here, but collectors are bound to choose the '96 Nissan 180SX Type X instead.

'67 Camaro

Seeing multiple Chevrolet cars in a Hot Wheels series is never a shocking thing. After all, I just showed you that this manufacturer is the King of the Super Treasure Hunt line-up, with the most appearances, even compared to Ford and Nissan, among other brands. The '67 Camaro is the second Chevy in Mix 2, whereas Mix 1 only featured the '66 Chevy Nova. Larry Wood designed this casting, and it has been around since 1983: you'll find both TH and STH variations if that's your primary focus.

Even if you stop buying other Hot Wheels cars, getting the '67 Camaro collection will require patience and a decent budget. With four iterations coming out in 2022 alone, it's strange that Mattel has slowed down the pace to just one release for 2023, which might signal the end of an era. Watch out for the 2024 Vintage Racing Club variant coming up soon.