Six Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt Cars of 2003

I've had a similar situation happen in the real world, and I asked the clerk to be gentle with the card. She looked at me like I was some freak and was even annoyed about the whole thing. For most people, Hot Wheels cars are just kids' toys. Maybe that's the sanest way to think about them. The funny fact about my dream is that the item I had found was an older model.

My trip down memory lane has taken a toll, as I've recently explored Treasure Hunt collections from the first part of the 21st century. Today, we're continuing that journey as we reflect on what happened in 2003. Can you grasp that 20 years have passed since the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King? Other memorable movies from that year were Finding Nemo, School of Rock, and Kill Bill: Volume 1. That same year, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning founded Tesla Inc. in San Carlos, California.

Some of you might remember signing up on a new social media platform called Myspace, which would quickly reshape our perception of the Internet. 2003 marked the end of the Concorde era, and it's wild to think we haven't found a replacement for the supersonic passenger jet yet. Now that we're all settled in and reminiscing, let's dive into part one of this 2003 Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt review. The series featured several fantasy castings and almost exclusively comprised American models. But there were also a few exciting surprises inside, and I'll get to one of those shortly.

Hooligan

Hooligan was the first collectible in the 2003 Treasure Hunt Series. While the name might not ring a bell, the casting does resemble a 1932 Ford. Gary Saffer designed it for its 2001 First Editions debut, which looked pretty neat in Satin Black with a red interior. The Hooligan has only been around for a little over a decade, with 25 variations coming out of the factory before its demise in 2013.

They all had a metal base, but only two iterations featured Real Riders wheels. The first one appeared in 2002 as part of the Pop's Garage 4-Car Set with White Wall tires and Lucky Rat decals on the doors. 2003 marked its first and only Treasure Hunt appearance, and Mattel again used flames to showcase this achievement. That's not necessarily a bad thing per se, but I think the TH would have been more successful with the Lucky Rat livery instead.

The white and blue mix makes it look more like a toy than a real car. The best part is that it uses Goodyear Deep Dish Real Riders wheels. And I'm equally excited that you can buy this collectible for anywhere between $5 and $10. Just don't expect the same prices for the 2002 Lucky Rat.

'56 Ford

Phil Riehlman designed this '56 Ford casting, which debuted in the 1999 First Editions series featuring a superb light blue-gray finish and 5-spoke wheels. As was sometimes the case with Hot Wheels cars back in the day, this vehicle had an opening hood.

There are almost 70 variations of the '56 Ford truck to look for, but only some have that feature, so pay attention to what you're buying. The 1999 Full Grid Exclusive Trailer Edition iteration was the first to sit on Real Riders wheels, and 11 more followed suit before the 2003 Treasure Hunt release.

The designers in El Segundo opted for a Metalflake Gold finish on this one, with matching Gold Deep Dish Real Riders wheels. The casting had Hot Wheels TH decals on the sides and the roof, and it was decent overall. You can expect to pay between $10 to $40 for the second Treasure Hunt model of 2003.

Shoe Box

The Shoe Box casting draws inspiration from a late '40s Ford Custom Club Coupe model, popularly called the Shoebox Ford. It was an exciting appearance from the get-go, as the 2000 First Edition model featured a yellow finish and Wire Spoke wheels.

Shortly after, the JC Whitney iteration rolled on Goodyear Deep Dish Real Riders wheels, and Mattel promoted two different color versions in 2001. The 2003 Treasure Hunt Shoe Box arrived after the 2002 Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention release.

Metalflake Purple is always an excellent choice, and the flames-adorned livery isn't too overcrowded. $10 to $40 will buy you the Shoe Box TH, but you'll need 41 more variations for the complete collection. Several will cost you at least $30 each, but that's still much better than we've seen with other castings.

'68 Cougar

Phil Riehlman designed the '68 Cougar for its 2002 First Editions debut. To avoid confusion, you should know that Mattel made two similar castings. The one featured here takes after the original 1968 Custom Cougar, one of the first Hot Wheels collectibles ever.

There is also a racing version of the Cougar, which appeared in 2014. The 2002 casting was on the market until 2018, adding up to over 50 variations. The 2003 Treasure Hunt Cougar featured a black finish, with yellow-tinted windows and Deep Dish Real Riders wheels. Reportedly, some people found one with White Line tires, but it's still uncertain whether it was an error or a rare variation.

A lot of four collectibles can set you back $75, but there are still options that cost less than $10. If you're in the market for rare models, look for the 2010 HWC iteration; Mattel only made 5,000 units and is affordable at around $50.

'68 El Camino

The first and only Chevrolet of the 2003 Treasure Hunt collection is a rather odd one, or at least it used to be. When collectors first saw this item in 2000, it had a blown engine behind the driver and a big wing. It was all a bit silly, but aren't most Hot Wheels castings?

In its infancy, the '68 El Camino was probably a love-it-or-hate-it kind of vehicle, and using Real Riders wheels only slightly improved things. The 2003 Treasure Hunt iteration was the third to use Mattel's special rim design, and the pink/black livery wasn't all that bad.

I'd almost say it's the best first-gen variation, but it faces some solid competition from the 2002 Motor City Classics El Camino in yellow. There are 24 variations of the original design, and you can see the TH listed for as much as $65. But you'll find one even if you're only willing to spend less than $15.

Porsche 959

The last Treasure Hunt collectible we'll discuss in part one of this story is one of my favorite models for 2003. It's the oldest casting on the list, debuting in 1988. Larry Wood designed this version of the Porsche 959, which is no longer around as Mattel has shelved the project in 2015.

Between the First Edition 959 and the 2003 TH, you'll find over 40 variations for your collection, providing some insight into how popular this item was back in the day. The Metallic Silver body would have been better off without the gold flames running down the sides, but perhaps people felt differently at the time.

The Deep Dish RR wheels were slightly undersized, which takes away from the realism of the casting. The final three iterations looked better despite using regular 5-spoke wheels. As for the 959 Treasure Hunt, it falls in the same price range as the previous five collectibles. But there's hardly any chance of buying one for less than $10.