New Hot Wheels Team Transport Set Looks Like a Great Mix of Six Special Vehicles

I can hardly believe three months have passed since the last Hot Wheels Team Transport set. But it makes perfect sense if you think about it. Mattel produces four mixes yearly, meaning we get one every three months. The one in July was Mix 2, and apart from the '72 Chevy Ramp Truck hauler, it wasn't all that exciting.

The Walmart Legends Tour Exclusive Porsche 934.5 certainly raised the stakes, and its market value is already increasing. But after a quick preview, I believe that Team Transport Mix 3 for 2023 is the best yet. And I can't even imagine how Mattel plans to do better than this with Mix 4.

Mad Mike Mazda RX3 GT

Mark Jones designed the Mazda RX-3 casting for its 2016 Car Culture: Japan Historics release. That First Edition model featured a Metalflake Purple finish and Classic 4-spoke Real Riders wheels. A yellow iteration of this casting showed up in Car Culture: Race Day the following year, and it was one of the first Hot Wheels Premium items I had ever bought. After holding on to it for a few years, I gifted it to my friend Mike, who is just as big of a rotorhead as I am.

After two more variations, thanks to Japan Historics 2 and Fast Rewind, the Mazda RX-3 made its Mainline debut in 2020. The first Mad Mike-themed model came in 2021 and was also part of the Super Treasure Hunt series that year. That means this new Mad Mike Mazda RX3 GT is the first premium variation of the casting in five years! The orange paint job looks great in contrast with the black fender flares and Real Riders rims. I'm tempted to say that this new look is the best yet, but it still falls short of the First Edition model. Adding one of those to your collection could cost as much as $100.

Sakura Sprinter

The Sakura Sprinter is one of the true OGs of the Team Transport series. It debuted in the first mix of TT back in 2018, paired with the Nissan Laurel 2000 SGX. We have seen eight variations so far, which means at least one new color combo comes out yearly. Mattel used this casting almost exclusively with Japanese models, with two exceptions: the Shell Porsche 962 and the Lancia Stratos Group 5. Its first Mazda pairing arrived in 2020, alongside the legendary 787B, the first Team Transport item I have ever bought. The color combo matches the car inside and makes for one of the best releases of this casting so far. Still, the best part of Mix 3 is coming up next.

De Tomaso Pantera Gruppo 4

Mattel has created more replicas of iconic European vehicles in the past few years. And the De Tomaso Pantera Gruppo 4 is just one of many. If you're a fan of the Italian brand, this is one of just two Hot Wheels castings wearing the T-badge. The other is the Red Line Club exclusive Mangusta; two variations exist. But the Pantera was the manufacturer's most successful vehicle, having sold over 7,000 units between 1971 and 1992. The 1/64th-scale machine is no ordinary Pantera, though. It's a replica of a race-ready Pantera that De Tomaso built to Group 4 standards.

Reportedly, the company only made around 14 units, so this is a rare vehicle indeed. If you're curious to see how it feels to drive one without paying for it, you can always get a mod for Assetto Corsa. But let's focus on the tiny version of this car for a moment. It first appeared in Hot Wheels: Boulevard in 2022, using a livery that was inspired by the actual race cars. For the Team Transport release, Mattel opted for a Gulf design but went for the same wheels as the ones seen on the First Edition Pantera. It's all pretty cool, but most collectors will be more excited about its designated hauler instead.

Second Story Lorry

Here it is in all its glory: the Second Story Lorry. See what I did there? I added one more step to Mattel's naming idea, which works perfectly for the new hauler casting. It draws inspiration from a vintage race car carrier and shows that the diecast manufacturer is striving to improve the Team Transport series with each new release. The best part about the Second Story Lorry is that it can accommodate three vehicles instead of just one, which is a big bonus.

Even better, you can still see all of them instead of having them tucked away behind closed doors, as with other haulers. This leads to a whole new world of display possibilities, and having three Gulf cars on a Gulf Hauler is undoubtedly worth photographing. More variations will follow in upcoming years, and it can get to a point where premium haulers might even have their dedicated series.

LB-Silhouette WORKS GT Nissan 35GT-RR VER.2 

The LB-Silhouette Works GT Nissan 35GT-RR Ver. 2 is the only casting in Team Transport Mix 3 that Mark Jones did not design. The late Ryu Asada created this beauty a few years ago, before its 2021 HW J-Imports Mainline debut. Until this point, you could have purchased four variations, all with a plastic base and entry-level wheels. This means the new Team Transport variation is the first Premium one on the list.

And the people working in the design department couldn't have opted for a better livery to mark this occasion. I wrote about the world's first 4-rotor GT-R last year, and you have to see it drifting with Tetsuya "Bad Boy" Hibino behind the wheel. Like the actual car, the Hot Wheels version uses black 6-spoke rims, but don't expect to see yellow brake calipers. Strangely enough, this is one of just a few Premium HW GT-Rs and undoubtedly one of the most exciting collectibles to show up in 2023.

Flipsider Hauler

As if the Liberty Walk GT-R wasn't cool enough to make you want one, it comes in the same package with yet another brand-new casting: the Flipsider Hauler. This is arguably the best vehicle carrier in the history of Team Transport, although you might only be able to tell by opening it up. Kato-san's vision of how a race team should look has indeed left a lasting impression in the world of automotive enthusiasts, and it's only fair that Mattel opted to recreate that dream at a 1/64th scale.

If you thought the Rally Hauler and Trailer combination was great, you would also be stunned to see a similar approach here. It features a detachable cab, a first for Team Transport. And I can only hope that Mattel will continue to walk down this path with future castings. I've never driven a truck nor have a license, but you can't deny that there's something cool about the whole thing. But there's more to it than meets the eye.

You'll notice some minor details on the trailer when looking past the Real Riders Aero wheels and matching Lightning livery. We've seen an opening door on the rear side before. But being able to open both sides is beyond fantastic. Someone must have been paying attention to what customers asked for. And that's the possibility of seeing the car even if it's inside the truck. Seeing this new GT-R and Hauler combo makes me think of another thing. Mattel must also develop a premium version of the LB Super Silhouette Nissan Silvia (S15)! Wouldn't you agree?