Inside the 2025 Hot Wheels Case C: Super Treasure Hunt Isn't the Highlight

Almost a month ago, we saw the contents of Mattel's Mainline Case B for next year. I'm not sure if anyone was genuinely happy to see that the people in El Segundo selected the Hirohata Merc to become 2025's second Super Treasure Hunt.

However, there were a few interesting cars in that case, including the Ford Mustang GTD, the Legends Tour winner Mazda MX-5, and the Subaru BRZ.

Every new case contains 72 items, most of which are repeat-collectible or fantasy castings only kids probably care about. But I'll give you the rundown on the cool vehicles inside, starting with the Regular Treasure Hunt.

Regular Treasure Hunt

I can totally get behind the "Mailed It!" concept. We have Tyler Charest to thank for designing the casting, which has only had two variations so far.

It was a lot nicer in Metalflake Dark Blue than in white, and judging by Mattel's move, we can expect a whole bunch of iterations over the next few years. Who doesn't want to have a tiny replica of a drag-racing-ready mail van? Those overnight parts from Japan would certainly arrive at your place in style.

It's the second Treasure Hunt van of the year, seeing we had the Ford Performance Supervan 4 in Case A. My only hope is that we'll see more licensed vehicles in the series, even though the odds of them also having adequate rims or paint jobs aren't too good.

Super Treasure Hunt

Whereas the Treasure Hunt is interesting, I think I speak for most collectors when I say, "What happened here?" I am aware that promoting a casting to Super Treasure Hunt status could increase its appeal to the general public.

But most adult collectors don't care about unlicensed models (as far as I know), and the Hi Roller II isn't nearly as cool as the original Hi Roller. The Fraser Campbell-designed casting looks like a Rolls Royce with an identity crisis, and I'm unsure what type of collector would enjoy having one on display.

As it debuted in 2024, we'll have at least two iterations in 2025. I already spotted a carded STH on eBay with an asking price of $55, and I'm almost certain it will be the least memorable collectible in the 2025 line-up. To me, it's a big fail, and it even makes this year's Celero GT look enticing by comparison. But let me know if you want to find one in the wild.

Case C Highlights

I'm telling you, at least one highlight in Case C will make you forget about the Hi Roller II Super Treasure Hunt. But I'll take things one at a time. The Cupra E-Racer is the first new casting inside, and I think it's off to a poor start due to using TRAP5 wheels. Shawn Moghadam designed this replica of the all-electric race car, and I would have preferred seeing the 1P or the 1M models instead.

Starting with the third generation of this car, the Seat looked like an overgrown Ibiza, losing much of the appeal it had at the start of the 21st century. But perhaps I'm biased, considering my family owns a 1P, and I grew up drooling over the 1M Cupras. The Mercedes-Benz 500 E is the next Toyota Supra, as I'm sure hoards of collectors will be hunting every unit of it in all the stores they can reach.

There's something about this Lindsey Lee/Ryu Asada-designed casting that made people lose their minds, starting with its 2021 debut variation in black. It looks fantastic in Metalflake Dark Green, although not as spectacular as the Evergreen Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 in the Hot Wheels Boulevard premium series.

There's a new Mazda REPU in town, and it will be the 14th release of Jun Imai's casting. The most recent one showed up in Ultra Hot with a Spectraflame Aqua finish, but the last version I bought was the 2022 HW Hot Trucks release in green. I'm unsure what's up with the wave-inspired livery on the newest REPU, but I'll find out as soon as I can look at it up close.

Given that it was already part of Case B, there's a chance we might see it in stores within the next two months. It's almost miraculous to see Larry Wood's '55 Chevy again, as it has been MIA since 2022! It was part of the Super Treasure Hunt line that same year, but there are plenty of other cool variations to consider if you're into it.

The black-and-gold livery suits it perfectly, and I'm putting it on my "must-have" list. The Porsche 911 GT3 has a spot on there, even though I would much rather see some new variations of the older 911s. It's almost funny that Mattel inserted an iteration of the Hi Roller in Case C, but let's focus on the main event.

In October, the diecast manufacturer revealed some huge news: a partnership with Formula One. I didn't order the RLC F1 car then, but I realized it was just an appetizer for what was coming next. Here is a tiny replica of the Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 car. The Fraser Campbell-designed casting uses AeroDisc wheels, and it's likely one of many F1-derived designs that will become part of the Hot Wheels line-up.

It makes sense the company started with this one; as we all know, Max Verstappen and his team have dominated the sport in recent years. But I think the question on everyone's mind is: Will we have a Hot Wheels Scuderia Ferrari collectible, too? It's highly unlikely that Mattel couldn't secure the license from Ferrari, but who knows what intricate contracts may bind the Italian manufacturer to the World Championship organizer and how that may influence further connections to the El Segundo-based corporation.

The Mustang 60th Mini Collection will contain five cars in 2025; we already know the first two. While the Mustang GTD is a brand-new casting, we've seen the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 before. It's pretty good with the Code Orange finish, but it's not nearly as exciting as the 2021 Super Treasure Hunt. If you'd like another shocker, consider the Maserati Shamal.

I have seen plenty of sneak peeks for the 2025 Hot Wheels Mainline series, but I can't remember ever seeing this Italian car replica. Of course, it's not on par with the Red Bull Racing car, but I think Maserati fans will be all over it. It could signal a new agreement between the two companies, as a Maserati MC12 Corsa will be new to Matchbox in 2025.

There's one more collectible I'd like to discuss before I start working on another Hot Wheels-related story: it's the '69 Chevrolet Corvette Racer. If you have been collecting these cars for less than five years, you might not even know it existed as it last appeared in the 2019 iD series. It was also a Super Treasure Hunt that same year, and there are only four other variations for the complete collection.

Seeing the Valentine's Day livery should indicate when it will arrive in stores: late January if we're lucky! I'm buying the white and '70 Dodge Power Wagon in white and green as it's the closest thing to a Monster Truck in the Mainline series.