10 Hot Wheels Collectibles We'd Like to See More Of

I found another Super Treasure Hunt item: the '96 Nissan 180SX Type X from Case M. As I've seen many other collectors coming across the Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo from Mix P these past few weeks, it can only mean that my "lucky charm" was hiding in storage for all this time. It's one of the coolest STH items this year, and it's the first time I've ever had two such collectibles under the same roof.

I haven't sold the Audi 90 Quattro, and I'm starting to think it won't happen. Meanwhile, Case A for 2025 has begun arriving in other stores, and the "gold rush" is more intense than ever. People are buying hundreds of Hot Wheels cars, thinking they'll become rich overnight. But that's not what I plan on talking about today. Instead, I'd like to take you down memory lane. Mattel has been producing Hot Wheels cars since the late '60s.

Many castings have come and gone since, and today's line-up is quite different than what you could buy in the '70s. I've looked at other "ancient" models before. Some are downright boring, and others look incredibly exciting. Today, I'll be discussing 10 collectibles that are long gone, but I feel I deserve a second chance.

Firebird Funny Car

Larry Wood designed six of the castings on this list, which is no surprise. He is one of Mattel's most prolific and talented designers—he has been part of the company for half a century! The Firebird Funny Car debuted in the 1982 Mainline series, and besides the Black Wall wheels, I think people would still buy one today.

It took the diecast manufacturer over a decade to experiment with other rim designs. The 1995 Race Team Series release used five-spoke wheels, which you rarely see on this collectible. Enthusiasts needed to wait almost 20 years for a special (and final) iteration with Real Riders rims on.

The 2002 Final Run Series Firebird Funny Car was amazing, with an orange/white/blue livery and premium wheels, outclassing the Porsche 928 and the Spin Out castings that were part of the same collection. Interestingly, this cool Firebird often costs less than $20 on eBay. Some of its older "siblings" can go up to $200.

Range Rover

I will say this: the Firebird Funny Car is the longest-lasting casting on today's list. As a result, it also has more variations than any other vehicle here, so it might be the trickiest one to collect from a logistics perspective. But they all share one thing: Mattel used the Final Run series to retire them.

There aren't many Range Rover cars in the Hot Wheels portfolio (you'll find quite a few Land Rover models, though). In recent years, Dmitriy Shakhmatov designed the Range Rover Velar and the Range Rover Classic, with just over a dozen variations. The old Range Rover casting debuted in the 1990 Mainline series, and it's a bit rough around the edges. But that only increases its appeal.

Eight variations featured Construction Tires, while the remaining five switched between two designs. Reportedly, you'll only find 500 units of the 1998 12th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention release. But I'd be happier with the 1999 Final Run edition with the Metallic Green finish and Off-Road Real Riders wheels. Prices on eBay vary between $18 to $60.

Mercedes-Benz Unimog

How popular is the Mercedes-Benz Unimog to you? The answer might vary depending on where you live, but I can tell you one thing. It's quite popular for Mattel and a lot of collectors. So much so that I can think of at least five Unimog castings in the Hot Wheels line-up; only four of them are still "active" today, and I'd say the Unimog U 1300 L is the coolest as it's a Premium-exclusive model.

But go back to the '90s, and you'll discover another piece of diecast history signed by Larry Wood. Notice the removable top: a neat feature for a Mainline series collectible. By 1995, the Unimog joined the Real Riders series, making it all the more desirable despite the orange/gray color combo.

Strangely, the designers didn't go with the same solution for the Final Run model, but this has also happened with other castings. Despite the obvious drawback, someone still listed this collectible for over $200.

BMW 850i

I can think of about 26 different Hot Wheels BMW Castings. The most recent one that comes to mind is the 1991 BMW M5, a Premium-exclusive collectible that looks stunning. However, BMWs have been part of Mattel's portfolio for 40 years.

The BMW M1 lasted between 1983 and 2016, but for this list, I chose a model that had been off the market for many more years. The 850i arrived just one year after the 323 convertible. It's one of only two 8-series castings, as Mattel also acquired the rights to the Corgi model that same year.

When the 850i debuted in Mainline, it used Ultrahot wheels and a blue/white livery. The casting underwent 15 more variations before joining the Final Run series in 2001. That collectible featured a ZAMAC/chrome finish and 5-Spoke Pro Circuit wheels, making it the most exciting version money can buy. Paying less than $30 for it sounds like a fair deal, wouldn't you agree?

Buick Wildcat

I was only four years old when "Demolition Man" debuted in theaters worldwide. I only saw glimpses of it a few years later. And I don't necessarily need to rewatch it today, as I'm not that big of a Sylvester Stallone fan.

But I can appreciate the connection Hot Wheels made with the Buick Wildcat. It's how people in the '80s thought cars would look like in the future. The iterations that used three-spoke wheels are my favorite, and it just so happens that the 1997 Treasure Hunt release went down the same path.

Colorwise, I'd go for the Metallic Green paint job Mattel used that same year. With 15 variations to look for, it's great to know that even the most expensive one won't cost more than $25.

Pontiac Salsa

The Hot Wheels Demolition Man collection included nine vehicles, and it's hard to say which one is the most exciting. The GM Ultralite is a strong contender: who else is curious to see what police cars will look like in 2032?

Anyway, I went with the Pontiac Salsa for this list, but I might have to have an extended look at the whole series soon. Michael Kollins designed six of the nine vehicles inside, and the Salsa is one of them.

It's a quirky little car with seven iterations before Mattel used it for the 1999 Final Run series. I've never seen one up close, but I wouldn't reject buying the yellow-on-yellow iteration (especially with those PC6 wheels on). Did I mention these are all pretty cheap?

Hot Wheels 500 

The entire community is buzzing with the release of the new F1 cars. Everyone hopes we'll get the full line-up, but it's not likely to happen. I've heard rumors of only three or four teams joining the "program," but that's a good start anyway.

If open-wheel racing is what you enjoy most, you'll love the Hot Wheels 500 that Mark Jones designed. It ran between 1994 and 2001 with three notable appearances. The 12th Annual Collectors Convention iteration had a limited run of 500 units, and then we got the 1999 Treasure Hunt model, and the Final Run version came two years later.

Sadly, the latter is the only one to feature Real Riders wheels. And it's almost insane to think you can buy one for less than $10. You don't need the hype to enjoy the hobby!

Hydroplane

We're down to the final three castings on this "gone but not forgotten" list. Some of you may remember the Classic Hydroplane that debuted in the Car Culture: Team Transport series a few years ago.

It wasn't particularly successful, and it might explain why Mattel has only released one more iteration since. But there's an older Hydroplane you can look for if that's what you need. It's another Larry Wood creation with just under 20 variations between 1995 and 2005.

It was a much nicer casting than the Classic Hydroplane, and it's great that you can't see the wheels underneath the hull. If only these things would float on water!

Semi-Fast

I bet the people in charge of naming new products at Mattel always have a lot of fun. Just consider the Semi-Fast! It's a tiny replica of a race truck, and it debuted in the 1999 First Editions.

It relied solely on 5-spoke wheels throughout its entire shelf life, and it's a shame that it never used any sort of Real Riders design. Looking at it, I think I want to have the whole collection at home.

The purple, green, and yellow livery designers used on the Final Run model are damn near perfect; it just needs a set of Steelies to go up a notch.

Thomassima

Here's a strange one for you: the Thomassima! You might be too young to remember this coach-built Ferrari, which is almost as old as Mattel. I don't remember seeing it at any events I've attended, but I assume it makes an impressive appearance.

The diecast manufacturer used it for a few years, developing seven iterations. I'm unsure if the proportions are accurate, as it almost feels like a 'Tooned model.

You won't find any special wheels here, but you can at least appreciate how affordable it is to get into this casting. Now I'm all nostalgic about the past, thinking I should quit buying modern Hot Wheels castings and focus on older ones. It might be more fun that way!