2024 Hot Wheels Halloween Cars Are More Trick Than Treat

It feels like it was only yesterday that we were all complaining about the heatwave, and now it's getting quite chilly outside. Just blink, and Christmas will be here. That's always one of my favorite moments of the year. But we still have a few more events to go through until then: Halloween is up next, and then there's Thanksgiving.

There are many ways to celebrate, but being close to your loved ones is the best way to do it. That doesn't mean there's no space for other side adventures, and Mattel knows that very well. If you've been to toy stores recently, you may have noticed the special Halloween set on the pegs. This tradition has been going on for many years, and you could start an entire Halloween collection if you wanted to.

Looking back at previous releases, I found a few interesting models, such as the 2012 Hyper Mite, the 2015 Screamliner, and the 2016 Dieselboy. Some sets have more licensed castings than fantasy ones, which is great. I've never been genuinely interested in this collection, but I appreciate the card art. It's different yearly, and the 2023 Dias de los Muertos was particularly exciting. I might do a deep dive into the series later, but let's focus on the 2024 models for now.

Madfast

Madfast is a strange concept that Bryan Benedict designed over a decade ago. It kind of reminds me of a Top Fuel Dragster, and it's pretty interesting for a fantasy casting. When debuted in the 2008 New Models series, it featured a dark blue finish and mismatched front and back wheels. The SK5 (Skinny Wheel) design made it more interesting, and Mattel used them for most of the iterations.

The big V8 engine in the middle is still the main attraction. Several years after its debut, it entered the big leagues as Mattel used it as a Dinner Car for the 2016 16th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals in Indianapolis. It was much better with the Spectrafrost Orange finish and the 5-Spoke Mag-Style Real Riders.

Even though there are only 1,500 units of this variation, you can still buy one for about $60 on eBay. Some of you may remember that it appeared in the Treasure Hunt series in 2023. But let's look at the Halloween model for a second. I enjoy the color combo designers have cooked up: the Matte Black finish, orange-tinted windows, and the white rim/tires. There's a spooky vibe going on, and the more I think about it, the more I realize I want it on display.

Barbaric

Barbaric is slightly newer than Madfast, first appearing in the 2009 New Models series. Jun Imai designed this demolition derby muscle car, and it's not the kind of work I'm used to seeing from him. It sort of reminds me of Carmageddon, even though I haven't played that game in at least 20 years.

The First Edition had an unexpected Metalflake Pink finish and rolled on Open Hole 5-spoke wheels. Mattel experimented with the PR5 and MC5 rim designs later on, which were a lot better. The only remotely memorable information I have on this casting is that it was once part of a Star Wars: Classic set featuring Yoda on the doors.

You're now looking at the ninth iteration in over a decade, with a Metalflake Gray finish and wolf graphics. I have mixed feelings about the Chrome Red Skull wheels, as they're much better in the white and black finish we saw with the first car of the set.

'64 Chevy Impala

The '64 Chevy Impala is the oldest casting here, having been around since 2004. But that doesn't mean it has been particularly popular. After that First Edition, it vanished for over a decade and a half. You might have noticed that it's quite a bit shorter than a regular Impala, and that's because it's a 'Tooned version of the iconic American car.

It was still fairly interesting with that big engine up front and the exhaust pipes sticking out through the trunk. Mattel made some changes for the re-release in 2020, and it improved the design. The PR5 wheels are also a better match for this car, and it's no wonder we saw them for three iterations in a row.

At first, I'd probably go right for the ZAMAC variation, but the Halloween model isn't half bad, either. The Violet Metalflake paint job is just what you'd expect from the Impala, and the Gold Chrome Skull wheels complete the look. I think this holiday-special set isn't as tedious as I initially felt.

Muscle Bound

Tyler Charest designed the Muscle Bound casting, the newest one in the set. It's supposed to be a somewhat futuristic muscle car, and it reminds me of another Hot Wheels casting I can't put my finger on right now.

Its 2019 Speed Blur debut featured a Dark Green finish with a livery that reminded me of the Curtis P-40 Allied fighter. We also saw the Deep Dish 8-Spoke wheels return for the next three iterations, but the last one was slightly more special. It was part of the International Gold Editions line.

I might have had one on my hands for a few days many years ago, but I will have to double-check that. By now, you must have figured out that all the cars in the Halloween set use Skull wheels. One more look at the Muscle Bound will reveal it's also one of the cars on the card art.

Street Shaker

The Street Shaker is the last item on this list and seems to be a mix between a Chevrolet Bel Air and a Chevrolet Camaro. Jun Imai worked with Dale Earnhardt Jr. on designing this model, and the 2011 First Edition was pretty fire (read flaming livery) in black and orange.

In 2012, it switched from MC5 to TRAP5 wheels, which made it annoying in my books. Things went back on track in 2016 with the Track Builder 5-Pack release, as the PR5 rims improved the situation quite a bit. There's even a Justice League variation if you want to add another Batman-themed car to your collection.

The Street Shaker adds to the Halloween set's spooky vibe with an eerie Metalflake Green finish and Green Chrome wheels. The windows are in tone with the rest of the car, and I'm at the point where I might just walk into the nearest store and pick up this setup. As far as I can recall, it's on retail for less than $10, so avoid spending more than that on eBay if you want to save some money.