Starting part one off, is the '70 Dodge Power Wagon. Before this release, this pickup casting was only used for the various Hot Wheels premium assortments. This in turn made it a little difficult to find. So I'm vary happy to see that it was added to the mainline. I really like how simple this first mainline release is. My favorite aspect of it, is the shade of blue that was used, but I also like the simple design. Personally, all this first release needed was a stripe design like this. The beadlock wheels being grey, also help to keep things simple with this release. Now that we got a relatively plain mainline release of this, I hope to see a future one with flames or some kind of off-road racing theme that uses real sponsor decals.
The next car that I was able to find, was the second release of the '84 Audi Sport Quattro. I can't express how happy I am to have this one in my collection. This is due to it being plain, and as you might know, I like to have at least one release of a car that's plain. Don't get me wrong, the Audi themed initial release is still just as great, but it's nice to see this car without a design. I also feel that this shade of red was one of the best colors to showoff this cars body. I also like the way it looks with the white PR5s that were used. Like the first release of this casting, this too has front/rear tampo details. Which I feel is always a nice, since details like these add a touch of realism to the model.
The '69 Camaro is the next car for this post. This release is relatively simple and has a stripe design that you'd expect on a car like this from Hot Wheels. But in no way does that mean it's not cool. In fact, I feel this Camaro could be a what-if show car build sponsored by Goodyear Tires. Helping to give this model a finished custom look, are the stripes that were added to the top. Unlike a lot of mainline releases with black wheels and a lip the same color as the design, this one has wheels that I feel are very appropriate for this car. For me, all chrome MC5s, give muscle cars like this a completed look. Overall, my favorite aspect with this Camaro, is how great the black and yellow stripes look over this dark blue.
The HW450F is one rad dirt bike from Hot Wheels, and it's the next one being featured. I'll get straight to the point, it's the color scheme that made me want this particular release. In my opinion, red, orange, white, and yellow when used over black, make for a great design color scheme. Despite this, I still can't decide which of the two 2020 releases I like the most. This is due to the colors on the first one being great as well. The only plus for this one over the first one, are the red wheels. Which despite how I feel about car wheels, I actually like when different colors are used for this bikes wheels.
Now this next one, is definitely one that I'm happy to have been able to find. New for this year is the mighty Hot Wheels Big-Air BelAir. Looking at the would-be chrome side details, this car appears to be constructed out of a '56 Bel-Air. One of the things that I like about this first release, is how they went all out with the sponsor decals. These decals include K&N, Lucas Oil, Goodyear, Holley, Bell, Borla, B&M, and MSD. All of these are real world after market manufactures, and having these decals completes the look of this awesome Chevy. Another great design decision, was the use of flat paint. This for me helps to complete that rugged off-road look. Decals and paint aside, I really dig the design of this casting. And what I truly like are all the features that stick out of the top of this model. Take the spot lights for example.
The '69 Dodge Charger 500 is up next, and it's another great flame release from Hot Wheels. Despite being on the wilder side of things, I do really like the way these colors combine. One of the design aspects that I like, is how the back half of the design continues along the quarter panel and then turns into a stripe. Now there are two aspect that I don't completely like. They are the wheels and the wind shield plastic. Wheels aside, I do think this release would have been better if clear plastic was used. But I can overlook these issues, since these are $1 models that are designed with kids in mind.
Flying over the boulevard, is Batman in the Batcopter. Before this release, I only had the one that was released in the 2012 Batman Then and Now Walmart series. Black and yellow were the colors used for that one. With that being said, there was no way that I wasn't going to pick up one that utilizes my favorite colors. And personally, I actually like this blue and black color scheme a little better than my initial one. Since I have a small collection of extra Bat vehicles that are open and on display, I decided to take the liberty to pickup an extra one to add to this collection. In my opinion, if you like the various vehicles from Batman, then this is definitely a release that should be in your collection.
I really like this next one! Featured next, is the '52 Chevy with it's glorious shop truck theme. I really like how weathered they made this truck look. In my opinion, the theme was executed flawlessly. Especially when it comes to the rust tampo details they gave it. Complementing these details, was the use of flat paint. And it's a really nice shade of blue too, when you look past all the rust. Further completing the old weathered shop truck look, are the DD8 wheels, which I feel always look great on these old trucks. Shown in the second picture, is how the top of this model was given rust details.
Added to the boulevard next, is the '69 Chevy Pickup. I really like the shade of green that was used on this on this release. But it's the simple stripe design, that I like the most. What's cool about it for me, is how the two thin stripes meet up in the form of two slanted stripes. The thin orange stripe was a nice addition as well. It's also the color combination of these two stripes over this green, that made me decide to buy this truck. I do however feel, that this release would've look even better with a stripe pattern on it's hood. At the end of the day though, this is still a solid release of this casting.
Earlier this year, I showcased some cars that I got off of Ebay. One of those cars was the '80s Firebird that was released in the 1997 mainline. The reason I got that one, is due to the next car being showcased. The '84 Pontiac Firebird is the car that I got next. Sometime ago over on Instagram, Hot Wheels showed off a new tooling for the '80s Firebird. This casting has some aspects that are different from the original. Those include a closed t-top, turbo hood, and rear spoiler. Minus the Trans Am decals, I really like how plain this release is. Personally, red was one of the better colors to get this model started. Fingers crossed that we collectors eventually see a black and gold release.
The next car, is a model that I have been impatiently waiting for. And that model is the brand spanking new Hot Wheels 2019 Audi R8 Spyder. I Already like this model more than the first R8 from Hot Wheels. For starters, I feel this model has better proportions than the '08 R8 casting. Another reason that I like it a little more, is due to it being the Spyder version. I used to solely like coupes, but in recent times however, I have come to like roofless and convertible exotic cars more. In my personal opinion, I feel that Hot Wheels did this initial release right by making it white. It's also great that grey PR5s were used. Though not entirely like the PR5s, the wheels on the real car have an overall similar shape. Hot Wheels also did right by this model in the tampo department. As you'll see from the second and third picture, this release received some great tampo details. All of which add huge amounts of realism to this little 1:64 scale model.
It's finally back! The mighty Shelby Cobra 427 S/C has once again been released. The 2015 color shifter release, was last time this casting was used. Honestly, black and red makes this car have a menacing look. After being absent for a few years, it's nice to see it used with a simple, but very appropriate set of stripes. The only downside to this release, is it no longer features an opening hood. Despite being a downside, it's not a total issue for me, since I have two previous releases with an opening hood. In recent times, it seems like Hot Wheels has stated to make their 5SPs black with a chrome lip. I absolutely love the way these look on this car. The last aspect that I like, is how this release features a red interior to go along with the stripes.
Rolling onto the boulevard next, is the '19 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss LT. One of the cool aspects with this release, is how it features the Belltech Sports Truck decal. This is one of those decals that I feel are appropriate due to the company making shocks for trucks and muscle cars. I also like how this release has a simple stripe, that's similar to the one on the Ford F150 that's currently seen on their website. Like the Power Wagon, the grey beadlock wheels look great on this release. Lastly, I like how they chose to make this release white. In my opinion, a simple color like this helps to put the main focus onto the sponsor decal.
Racing onto the boulevard next, is the Hot Wheels 2010 Chevy Impala. For the most part, HW Race Team cars lack in the decals department. I also don't always like the designs featured on them. Thankfully though, that isn't the case with this release, as it does have some decals. It's also nice to see that at least one real life sponsor decal was used. When it comes to the design, I like what they did with the red and yellow stripes. To be more specific, what I like is how they were designed to start out on the hood, and then basically continue onto the side. I love stripe patterns that flow from the top of the car down to the sides. Due to this being a Nascar casting, I do feel that yellow wheels are realistic. Even if they weren't, I'd still like how they look with the HW Race Team theme on this release.
The last car for this part 1, is the the Custom '18 Ford Mustang GT. It wasn't until I got back home that I noticed this release has a Joey Logano theme. The funny this is, I should have known that based on the card. But to be honest, even if I did initially spot this, it ultimately wouldn't be the main reason that I get it. The main reason is simple, I just really like this casting. The 2018 Mustang for me, already had a great looking body. So of course I would like the looks of a race car version. The only gripe I have with this release, is the fact that it doesn't have any decals. I do feel like Hot Wheels could've put some of their fantasy decals along the side under the design. But like I mentioned, I would still get this release due to me liking the car.
I know this was a long post, so if you made it this far, thanks for reading! Now there's now way I can pick a specific favorite among thesegreat Hot Wheels releases. However, if you like a specific one, feel free to let me know down in the comments section. Okay that's a wrap for Target Finds Part 1, be on the lookout for Target Finds Part 2 to see the rest of my finds.
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