New Hot Wheels Team Transport Mix Looks Like Racing Bonanza

With these two mods and my new set of Michelin tires, I hope I'll be at least two seconds faster the next time I'm at the racetrack. They're only tiny upgrades in the grand scheme of things, but many small steps make for a big one. On the downside, I realize that kind of budget could have been enough for at least 50 cool Hot Wheels cars.

At the end of the day, though, I would rather experience the real deal. Step-by-step adjustments can also work for your diecast collection. I don't buy them as often as I did. However, each new addition is something I've carefully selected, like the Team Transport 1997 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR. This series has proven extremely popular among collectors worldwide, and I currently have four at home.

That's only a tiny fraction of the entire line-up, but it's enough to make me happy. I've already seen some sneak peeks for the 2024 series, and some new models are must-haves. Behold the new Legends Tour Exclusive pairing and Mix B for the ongoing year.

Aero Lift

The Hot Wheels Legends Tour is entering its seventh season this year. Mattel just announced the US locations, and it seems it will kick off in Miami on May 11. You should expect 11 events nationwide until the El Segundo finale on October 5. This version of the Aero Lift is now part of the fourth Legends Tours Exclusive set.

It's a casting we are familiar with, as it has been part of the Team Transport series since 2019. It's now the third time that Mattel opted for the Turbine Real Riders wheels, and it all clicks together nicely with the black-on-black livery and the yellow accents.

Nissan Laurel 2000 SGX

The first Legends Tour Exclusive Team Transport models were about American Muscle. Last year, Mattel brought diversity to the line-up with a Porsche collectible. We are finally headed to Japan thanks to the Nissan Laurel 2000 SGX.

It made a strong impression on collectors when it debuted in Japan Historics 2 in 2018. We saw five more iterations from El Segundo until 2022 and the complete silence for 2023.

Black and yellow is a great choice for this vehicle, and the Real Riders 5-Spoke Modern wheels spice things up a bit. As much as I love JDM cars, I'd still opt for last year's Porsche. Luckily, you can still find a few for less than $30.

Fleet Street 

Fleet Street is a much more recent hauler than Aero Lift. But it also features a sliding bed, which is awesome! Even though it debuted in 2022, we have already had eight iterations. The most recent one appeared in the Greddy Collector Set I discussed a little while ago.

Previously, it has only featured simple liveries. People are ecstatic about the latest release, which features the iconic '90s Castrol design. It's a brilliant way to design the haulers, and I hope we'll see more of this soon.

'96 Honda Accord

Naoki Hattori won the 1996 Japanese Touring Car Championship driving the Mooncraft Honda Accord. His main rival for that year, Osamu Nakako, would go on to win the title in 1997. He drove the No. 16 Mugen Honda Accord, which featured the famous Castrol livery.

Mattel's latest project is the second iteration of the '96 Honda Accord casting. I didn't think much about the first one, but I think we've got a winner on our hands this time.

The green Real Riders 10 Spoke Modern wheels fit like a glove. Most collector friends are so enthusiastic about this release that they've already pre-ordered it. Here's to hoping that Hattori's No. 14 Accord design is up next!

Carry On

Carry On is one of the Team Transport OG models, having existed since the series' inception. That provided enough time for nine variations, which is less than you'd expect. The 2020 Iconic Racers Collector Set is still the best by my standards.

I'm sure many collectors will appreciate the latest design's simplicity, especially the Porsche decals on the rear section. The most interesting fact is that it features the same wheels as the vehicle it's carrying, while the livery isn't quite the same.

'66 Porsche 906 Carrera 6

The big news about Mix B for 2024 is that it brings the '66 Porsche 906 Carrera 6. Mark Jones designed this one, and it's considerably more exciting than the Mainline Porsche 904 Carrera GTS (Fraser Campbell's work). As mentioned above, this classic Porsche race car features the same Steelies wheels as its hauler.

It's insane to think that it weighed less than 1,300 lbs (590 kg), and I was saddened to see that it was not on Gran Turismo 7's Porsche list. The only question that comes to mind is: will non-Porsche enthusiasts be as ecstatic about this model as the Stuttgart crowd?

Fleet Flyer

Fleet Flyer is the only enclosed hauler in the latest Team Transport mix. Sure, it's cool that it has an opening rear door. And that's highly effective if you need to move your collection from one residence to the next. But it's not as nice to use for display purposes.

The iconic '80s livery makes the Fleet Flyer look slightly menacing, even before you glimpse what it's transporting. And it makes more sense as a race hauler than Fleet Street, as the latter would work better for drifting or more affordable motorsports.

Sauber-Mercedes C9

My fascination with Group C racing demands that I add the latest iteration of the Sauber-Mercedes C9 to my collection. I've failed to purchase any of the previous two iterations, but I must attend to that with the utmost diligence. One day, I'll surely focus on having a massive display of 1:18 race cars at home, but for now, I'll have to settle for the tinier 1/64th-scale models.

While this black, blue, and white livery isn't the first design that comes to mind when considering the C9, it's pretty spectacular. The removable rear section is a bonus here, and it's not something you'll get with Mattel's Porsche 962. Seeing the Real RiderS 6-Spoke Mag wheels for the third time isn't annoying.

But it may be time for the designers in El Segundo to make a change for the next iteration. An even better idea would be to recreate an RLC-exclusive casting of the vehicle with more moving parts. Either way, more exciting things are coming with the 2024 Team Transport series, so stick around and find out about it.