Hot Wheels Collecting Guide

2010 First Editions #12 0f 52 - Lamborghini Gallardo

2009-12-13T23:31:00.000-08:00

After a few slow weeks I was pleased to find this beauty on a local peg. I am a Lamborghini fan and this one is a fantastic looking car. The Gallardo model has been available for a number of years and so it is a bit unusual that it has taken so long for a Hot Wheels car to be made of it. The paint is a matte black which is an interesting choice for this toy or the real thing. The details of the casting are very well done including what can be seen of the black interior. The tampos are excellent as well, with the front hood emblem being so small you might need a microscope to appreciate the detail.

2010 First Editions #21 0f 52 - '09 Corvette Stingray Concept

2009-10-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

If you've seen Transformers 2 you would already be aware of this car. This is a GM prototype with some great lines from throughout the history of the Corvette. What you can barely see from this photo is the split rear window design as a tip to the 1963 corvette. The metal-flake gray is nice and the use of tampos for front and side badges is well done. This is an all around sleek looking car with "faster than ever" wheels and a plastic "chromed" base.

Blue Corvettes

2009-10-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

Some fun with photography. From top to bottom: C6 Corvette, ZR1 and C6R.

2010 First Editions #3 0f 52 - '67 Pontiac Firebird 400

2009-10-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

The Hot Wheels brand was born at the height of the muscle-car era (1968) and so it seems fitting that new designs are still cast of cars from that time. This 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 is a prime example of the muscle-car breed. Tampo's on the ram air scoops show the "400" designation and the side stripes are finely detailed actually being made of 3 stripes (a large sandwiched by two pin stripes). The middle stripe breaks to form the hot wheels logo. A sharp eye can detect the firebird logo forward of the front wheels and a black Pontiac symbol centered on the grill. chrome front trim and side ground effect panels are also given the painted metallic treatment which might seem like a small thing but you can see that the result is very effective. Considering the recent death of the Pontiac brand, it is a good thing to remember what turned out to be the best of times for the company. Goodbye Pontiac.

2010 First Editions #2 0f 52 - Tooligan

2009-10-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

I just found this one and I thought I would write about it. I think this one is neat. Its a car AND it can be used as a wrench in a pinch (or a ruler, or allen wrench I suppose). Its called Tooligan and it reminds me of a model from 2008 called Carbonator. That one also serves a dual purpose as a car AND a great bottle cap opener. I had to get a second Carbonator to keep on the fridge to mainly serve its secondary function. I think I will have to keep a Tooligan in my tool box. The die-cast metal may not be the strongest when compared to actual tools, but I'm sure it will go down the track a lot faster.

The First 2010 First Editions

2009-10-04T21:38:00.000-07:00

I don't have a complete list of what to expect for 2010, but I am sure it will be another awesome year based on what i have seen so far. I have managed to snag 3 First Editions so far, and a few other mainlines. The three here are the '67 Shelby GT 500, Tooned VW Bug and '08 Viper ACR. I have noticed some changes and additions. One notable fact is that the packaging remains the same as the previous year. The year will see 214 different models, and if you receive international packages, 52 of those will be first editions. If you are getting the boxes in the local USA market, 8 of those will be included in other series. This should generate some interest in 'who gets what'. I will follow up with more information in future posts. So the following are the first 3 of my 2010's. Happy Hunting!

Ferrari Variations - 2009 Dream Garage F430

2009-09-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

While I am still sorting out the last of the 2009 model year and already seeing some 2010 cars, I have decided to change the format of my other website a bit. Instead of keeping cars in their packages and only breaking a few out for fun - I will now try to keep one in package and get a second one to keep loose and take the photos.

What this mean is I will have more loose cars and so I will be taking more fun shots like this:

2010 Hot Wheels

2009-09-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

They are starting to trickle into stores around here, and I have been a bit out of the loop so every car I see on the pegs is going to be a surprise. I must admit I kinda like it that way. I will have a rundown of 2009 soon, and a 2010 preview too, but for now, I will post a few pics of the latest greatest as a taste of what is to come. # 1 of 44: '67 Shelby GT500 and # 24 of 44: '08 Viper SRT10 ACR. Happy Hunting!

2009 Special Features - Ferrari 512

2009-08-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

Opening engine covers, lift off bodies, fold out wings, extending wheels, opening doors and even a whistle. These are all considered "special features" that can be found in some Hot wheels cars. For 2009, some great examples of special featured cars make up a great collector team named "Special features", of course. One of my favorite "hood openers" (or bonnet for some overseas readers) is the Ferrari 512. In true endurance racing style the whole rear end lifts up to reveal the engine and all rear end mechanical bits. The detail is about what you might expect at 1/64 scale - that is not too detailed, but it is always a great enhancement to be able to lift it open and check it out. Also, as a fan of Ferrari cars, I am satisfied with the color of this one - red, with a great Ferrari tampo on the tail.

2009 Hot Wheels Main Line Packaging

2009-07-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

Anyone collecting would have already noticed the new packaging. It is a variation of the 2007-2008 packaging with the colored bar on a slight angle and a major addition of a rendering of the car found in the package. I do like the artistic style of the renderings and they have done a great job in making the look consistent throughout the lineup. It is also worth noting that the coloring and rim styles is an accurate representation of the variations too. It seems like a lot of extra work to get every car rendered that way, and I'm curious as to how they do it, what programs they use, etc.

I do like the new style of packaging and very much appreciate the effort put into the rendered depictions of the cars. Great job!

2010 Lotus Evora Matchbox

2009-07-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know its not a Hot Wheels car, but Matchbox is a Mattel company so they are like close cousins. Anyways, I saw this one and had to pick it up. One of my favorite new cars. I am a fan of Lotus and this new Evora captures my attention. Matchbox did a fine job of recreating the car, and the blue metallic paint looks great. A darker interior would help it, and those rims give it the unique Matchbox feel, which sometimes does some harm to the look of the model, though in this case I can't complain.

2009 First Editions - Nissan GT-R

2009-07-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

Another awesome year for new castings. I have a bit of time now so i will try to capture my thoughts on the year so far. Some of my favorite cars old and new have been or will be released in 2009 as First Editions.

The Nissan GT-R is a car that defies classification - It has a shape that does not accurately come across in photos or even in the spotlights and pedestals of a car show. To truly appreciate its design is to see one in its element - on the road. It has a certain presence. As good as the Hot wheels version is, I'm afraid that "road presence" was not captured in the mould. Before I pass judgement I would like to see it in a darker colour - maybe blue, with a heavier tint to the glass. With the amout of variations and repaints I'm sure they'll capture the magic a bit more.

2009 Hot Wheels Mystery Cars

2009-07-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

This year the mystery continues with the release of the 2009 Mystery car series. I have mentioned my feelings about this series in previous posts, but in typical Mattel style they managed to come up with another gimmick to keep my interest. This years Mystery car lineup contains the regular assortment of repaints with one interesting twist. The #2 of 24 is the Ferrari 430 Challenge. It is a magnificent casting with awesome tampos - and in beautiful red no less. You can't search the pegs for this car as a First edition. You can only find it behind the black bubble. I was very pleased when a family member brought a few back and the Ferrari was among them. I have the pics from those at my new hot wheels collecting web site. As in the past, I don't think I will be collecting too many of these as I am not keen on getting too many doubles, but the prospect of having another Ferrari is still tempting...

Make All Your Mustang Dreams Come True at AmericanMuscle

2009-04-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

The biggest dream of any Mustang owner is to be able to customize their car exactly how they want to. With the exact parts they want, in the exact order they want, and in the exact style they want. When these Mustang owners only have a small selection of parts to choose from, however, they really can't achieve this dream. But when they finally head over to AmericanMuscle, they'll find that our ever-growing collection of all the highest-quality Mustang parts will allow them to make their dreams come true.

One of the easiest and most noticeable modifications you can make to your Mustang is to change the headlights. And if you want to enhance the stealthy look of your Pony, a pair of Mustang Smoked Headlights is the way you want to go. These headlights look great on any dark or light colored "New Edge" style Mustang. Plus, they will actually improve you night time visibility despite the smoked exterior, because of the powerful Luminics or Sylvania bulbs you can get with them!

Where there are modded headlights, modded tail lights should follow! And what better way to give your car that old-school, retro-Pony feel than with a pair of Mustang Sequential Taillights! Most famously used in some of the legendary Mustangs built by Carroll Shelby in the 1960s and 70s, we proudly offer both plug-in and splice-in versions of these tail lights, and provide you with simple instructions for installing either type.

But the lights don't stop there - you should also consider picking up a Mustang Roll Bar. These roll bars are designed to provide safety because they have an extra brake light in them, and style, as they are an absolute must-have in any convertible Mustang. Designed to fit the curves and natural lines of whatever Mustang they're made for, you'll find that even though the blend in well, they still give your Pony a unique appearance whenever you've got the top down.

The trunk of your Mustang is probably one of the last places you think about when it comes to modifications, but AmericanMuscle did. Our selection of Mustang Trunk Liners will not only protect your trunk floor, but they're also designed to prevent items such as toolboxes, first aid kits and groceries from sliding around while you're out enjoying your Pony. These trunk liners are available with the Cobra, GT, or classic "Running Pony" logo. Best of all, we stock versions suitable for both convertibles and coupes, so you'll be able to enjoy them no matter what 'stang your cruising around in.

2009 Hot Wheels

2008-10-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

Here in Canada we collectors can usually count on new boxes of our favorite toys arriving weeks or months later than in the U.S. With that being said, it is mid October 2008 and I have just found a slew of cars in 2009 packaging. It was an unexpected and pleasant surprise to be able to start thinking ahead to what 2009 has to offer us in Hot Wheels. What is left of the 2008 First Editions will still be fun to find. The only one '08 first edition I haven't seen yet is #39 of 40 - the '65 Volkswagon Fastback. I hope its not a matter of it never making it here.

Wal-Mart sale on Hot Wheels

2008-09-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

This week Wal-Mart is having their anniversary sale. Hot Wheels are $0.68 and so its that time when I take inventory and decide to get some doubles of cars I picked up previously and maybe get a few I would otherwise leave behind. As a collector who likes to mostly keep them in their packages, I'm not a big fan of the "sale bin" and how they get dumped in 2 feet deep. Its hard enough going through them with people on either side throwing packages around but spotting one you like just to find it has a bent card is not ideal. And as usual, the stories are told of the guys who show up just as the doors open and fill shopping carts with all the prime picks - oh well, thats the price I pay for a day job.

Another recent article

2008-09-10T01:22:00.001-07:00

I was featured in another newspaper article recently. Like a few weeks ago, this one is from a local paper based on an interview done at my home. They ran a fairly big picture of me too - here is the article:

Hot for Hot Wheels
A Ferrari five-pack ignited a life-long collecting passion
Shane Buckingham
Published on Aug 22, 2008

After a long day at work, Jason Norton sometimes finds himself uncontrollably drawn to a department store he hasn't visited in a while.

He'll pull over to a Wal-Mart, Zellers, Toys R Us or whatever store he's spotted that day, with one thing in mind - finding Hot Wheels to add to his collection.

Now, Norton is the first to admit he's not the biggest collector out there, and he hosts only a modest collection of about 6,000 cars in boxes stacked to the ceiling.

"I'm just your average collector. I couldn't afford to collect them all," the Smithville resident says.

While some people collect as an investment, he says he simply does it for fun. His collection is continually evolving, he says, because he tries to add each year's first addition cars to it, not to mention their variations, which are released by Mattel shortly after.

"They've got you. Mattel knows they have diehard fans out there that have to get every variation. That becomes an expensive prospect," he says, adding he doesn't take it to that level.

"There are people out there and give them credit they go that extra mile, but I've got a day job. To be honest, I don't know how they do it," the 32-year-old design draftsman says.

He admits his hobby quickly turned into a habit, but why not when a Hot Wheels car costs only about $1.

"Always in my mind they've seemed more valuable than that," he says. "So some people might get a daily coffee; I'll go grab a car."

Describing one of his many stops to a department store, he began to expand on what goes through the mind of a collector as he or she starts the "hunt."

For example, driving his Mazda Miata with Hot Wheels printed on the license plate, Norton spots a department store and pulls over.

Sometimes he's just stopping to browse around, but other times he's looking for what brought him to become an avid collector in the first place - red Ferraris.

Norton says he started out as a collector at a young age, but as time wore on he began to lose interest until one day when he was 17 he spotted a five-pack of red Ferraris.

"I picked up that five pack, and that's what reignited the passion," he says. "It got me back into it, and I haven't looked back since."

Returning to his stop, he walks down the aisle of the department store, and sees children run around the corner of a display. He looks directly above it, noticing he is now in the toy department.

As he proceeds toward the Hot Wheels rack, he sees another person rummaging through the toy cars. He soon realizes it's another collector. Norton feels there's no need to be pushy or horde, for he's only in this for the love of the hobby.

Still, he thinks there might be a Treasure Hunt addition car somewhere in the mix.

He knows Treasure Hunts are released sporadically by Mattel, and to find one is rarity occurring once or twice a year, but still he waits.

"Because of the rarity and the value, a lot of collectors will have somebody on the inside and basically (Treasure Hunts) don't even make it to the pegs," he says.

Once the other collector has finished looking, Norton moves forward scoping out what the store has to offer, and soon discovers what appears to be a Ferrari, not to mention it's red.

"That's the best, red Ferraris. They don't have to be red but that's the identity of the Ferrari."

He snatches it up as he carefully scans for other gems. Looking through the rows of first editions and special series cars he notices something special - a Treasure Hunt.

"There's a certain euphoria to it. Once you finally find that car, I can tell you any collector's heart will be going quickly because of that thrill of the hunt."

Getting over the surprise, he then proceeds to the checkout after a job well-done.

Once at home, he adds the one or two cars he's found to his collection with certain sense of pride and satisfaction.

On average he purchases one or two a week, he says.

Norton says his three-year-old son Bladen also loves Hot Wheels, almost as much as he does.

"You try not to steer your kid, and have them develop their own personality but it turns out he is naturally a car guy. Without the hot wheels influence he's a car guy regardless," Norton said with a smile.

So whether it's watching the Pixar movie Cars, playing with hot wheels or scouting out different vehicles that drive by on the road, the two have a lot of fun with their cars.

"It actually surprises me (Bladen) can spot cars, and he'll know what they are. He'll see a car and tell us there's a Corvette or a Mustang."

Just because Norton takes pride in his collection doesn't mean he doesn't like to share it with others.

Norton sometimes gives his cars away to inspire others to become collectors or simply to oblige a request to have a really cool car.

"Every once in a while somebody will remind me of something or somebody will say hey I really like that car so I'll slip them a Hot Wheels."

To see Norton's Hot Wheels, or to get tips on collecting, log on to www.morehotwheels.googlepages.com or www.hotwheelsferraris.googlepages.com.

The Ferrari 288 GTO is finally here!

2008-09-03T15:00:00.001-07:00

I have been waiting for this one for months and I have to say I am not dissapointed! The detail is very nice and the colour/smoked glass and tampos are well done. Classic 5 spoke rims are a natural choice but I would like to see this model with a few of the other 5 spoke variants such as the PR5's. Of course red is the way to go with all Ferrari's, all other colours are tied for second place.

2008 First Editions

2008-09-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share some of the First Editions from this year. It has been a great year for new castings, Mattel seems to have outdone itself regarding quality and detail. The variety of new cars for 2008 is quite good too. Exotics, muscle cars, tuners, fantasy cars, trucks and classics are well represented. And its always a great year when not one, but two new Ferrari's come around.

I've been featured in a newspaper article

2008-08-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

I was contacted by a reporter from The Waterloo Region Record earlier this month. She did a short phone interview and wrote this nice article I thought I would share:

Hot Wheels fan can't wait for museum visit

Jason Norton is always on the lookout for another exotic car for his collection.
The 32-year-old design draftsman has been playing with Ferraris, Porsches and Camaros since the mid-'90s.
He tries to keep most of them in their packaging.
"But I don't mind a few to zip around on my desk," he said.
It's become a bit of an obsession, he admitted.
Norton's not sure how many tiny Hot Wheels cars he has, but there are "many thousands," he said. He scopes out department stores and will buy up to 200 of the $1 or $2 toys every year.
"I don't consider it an investment," he said by phone from his home in Smithville in the Niagara region. "I think of it as more of a special treat."
It might be the lifelike mini car models or it could be the way they fly across toy race tracks with ease. But there's something about Hot Wheels that's attracted generations of boys for 40 years.
"It's so iconic at this point," said Nancy Modrcin, a marketing manager for Mattel Canada. "It's a toy that's been around because kids play with it, and they keep playing with it."
Kids -- and their parents -- will have the chance to play with the toys when a life-size Hot Wheels car rolls into town for two weekends in August. It will make a pit stop at the Waterloo Region Children's Museum in Kitchener on Aug. 7 to 9 and at the KidSpark festival in Victoria Park in Kitchener on Aug. 17.
Modrcin said she's not surprised many adults still adore the toys. With more than 200,000 registered users of Hotwheelscollectors.com, the cars are a vehicle for nostalgia. "It's like a generational toy -- it gets passed down."
She said although the core target market is three- to six-year-old boys, there are lots of young girls and adults who like the cars, too.
"It becomes quite the family experience," she said.
The Hot Wheels car and interactive trailer will have "really awesome tracks and challenges," she said. They'll also give away free toy cars.
The Hot Wheels brand has been around since 1968, when Mattel recruited designers from real car companies to develop miniature California hot rods. Now, more than 800 models and 11,000 variations have been released.
Norton, who hosts two websites and a blog about his passion, said his wife and three-year-old son are "very supportive" of his hobby.
"I've always been a car guy," he said.
He drives a Mazda Miata with HOTWLZ on the licence plate.
"It's my own little Hot Wheels car for real life."

Looking forward to more Ferraris

2008-08-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting around to blogging again. Recently I have been directing most of my on line activity to my other Hot Wheels websites. I have revamped the Hot Wheels Ferrari collection site and I hope to have a new addition to it soon. The Ferrari FXX has been seen in a few different colours for 2008 and it is pretty cool. What I am most looking forward to though is the near future release of the 288 GTO. That one happens to be one of my favorite car designs of all time. I will make a point to get some pics posted as soon as I find one.

2008's So Far

2008-03-31T12:24:00.000-07:00

March is almost over and the 2008 models are well represented on store shelves. I have personally seen about half of the entire mainline at stores over the past few months. Some 2008 First Edition models worth noting are the Corvette Grand Sport, the Ferrari FXX, the Audi R8 and the 69' Dodge Coronet Superbee. Mattel are continuing the trend of releasing multiple colour variants for most First Editions models and keeping collectors on their toes. I look forward to seeing the rest of them as they come along. I am trying to keep up with the latest local releases on my website, check it out for a more thorough run down of what I find.

Hot Wheels Invader Invades 2007

2007-08-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

I love this tank-like vehicle design. It looks mean and dangerous. Pictured here is the sand camouflage paint scheme released as a blueline last year and the sinister dark grey blueline for the 2007 model year.

2007 Mustang 5 Pack

2007-08-28T19:18:00.000-07:00

This 5 pack made a great gift for a young Hot Wheels fan. The yellow '65 has an opening hood and the tooned '68 is a bit more geared towards his tastes than mine. The red Mach 1 is probably the best looking of the bunch and the gold GT is a great casting with a classy paint colour. I suppose the blue cobra is ok too :)

2007 First Editions '69 Ford Mustang Variations

2007-08-27T22:02:00.001-07:00

Some of you may be new to the hobby or just have a passing interest in collecting Hot Wheels and might wonder what to consider. This model is a typical example where there are 3 completely different variations in colour. Other variations would include the tampos (paint decals applied over the main paint), rims (dozens to pick from) and other materials (glass colour, base colour, etc.) The variations here are pretty obvious, but some variations might take a keen eye to spot.

Also, you can imagine that one of these three might have been produced in a smaller quantity and so it would be more rare and therefore more valuable to collectors. Keep them in good shape, sometimes you don't know which one turns out to be the rarity until they are no longer available.