Best On The Block: January 2022

It's the last day of January, so it's time to show six of the best releases that were featured in various post during the month.

#1: Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno - 2022 Hot Wheels Mainline

Why I Picked It: This release had to take the number one spot, and no, it's just because it's an AE86. For the longest time, I've wanted a plain or non drift themed release of this car. And like many of you, I wasn't able to get my hands on the Boulevard release. So despite not being entirely plain, this release is has completely satisfied my need for a non drift themed release.

#2: Minecart- 2022 Hot Wheels Mainline

Why I Picked It: In my opinion, this release definitely deserved to be featured in this post. Why is that? Well, from what I can gather, the in-game cart only has one texture, and there's no way to get one that looks like this. So I feel that make this release unique, and you know how I love unique releases. That's why I honestly had no issue making this the second best release on the block for the month of January. 

#3: '20 Toyota GR Supra - 2021 Hot Wheels Mainline

Why I Picked It: I think you already know the reason why I picked this release. If not, then it has to do with its color scheme. Thanks to the design choices made for it, RPM STARZ can now participate in the various drift competitions held by the 1:64 Scale GT. Now, besides being the team's latest race car, I do think it's nice to see another Greddy themed vehicle that's not white. Of course, there's nothing wrong with white colored Greddy vehicles. I just think releases like this are nice because it gives us the chance to see how a theme will look over a different color. And this release has made me realize that yellow is an okay color for a Greddy themed vehicle.

#4: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI - 2021 Hot Wheels Premium

Why I Picked It: I love seeing new castings, and it's even better when it's a manufacturer that's not seen as often as the other ones. So that's why the two new Mitsubishi castings were my favorites from the Latest Modern Classics Car Culture assortment. And that's why I had to pick them for this month's edition of Best On The Block. I should also mention that these new castings are what made me add this manufacturer to the boulevard's JDM Auto Museum. 

#5: Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 - 2021 Hot Wheels Premium

Why I Picked It: You already know why I picked this release, so you can go ahead and move on to the last one.

#6: '76 Greenwood Corvette - 2022 Hot Wheels Mainline

Why I Picked It: This is such an awesome casting, and I always look forward to its releases due to the fact that the designers create nice designs for it. Now, this release's livery might not be as colorful as the ones created for previous releases, but it's still a nice design nonetheless. Furthermore, this release has more real-life sponsor decals than the other mainline releases. So I think that's enough of a reason to make it one of this month's best releases on the block.

Okay, those are the six releases I picked for this month's edition of Best On The Block. Now that you know my favorites, go ahead and let me know down in the comments what your favorite releases were from this month.

White Booth Wednesday #120

It's once again time for another Wednesday showcase here on the boulevard. Here's this week's featured vehicle.

Vehicle: Toyota Off-Road Truck

Series: 2010 Race World - Desert

Boulevard Rating: 9

How I Feel About This Release: The second picture shows the main thing I like about this release. As you can see, chrome was added to this release's spare wheel, and to be honest, this detail alone was enough to make me give it a nine out of ten. After all, you don't typically see today's off-road releases with an additional detail added to the spare wheel. And you have to admit that it gives this release the look of actually having a spare. Okay, now I'm going to point out the next thing I like, which is none other than its livery. Now, I'll admit that I don't always like everything about the designs they create, but that's definitely not the case with this particular design. At first glance, you'd think it was a replica of a livery from an actual off-road race truck. Obviously it isn't, but that's how nice I feel it is. 

So how do you feel about this week's featured vehicle? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments. Till next time, happy collecting.

Additional 2022 Hot Wheels Case A Releases

Hello, and welcome to another edition of Today On the Boulevard. As you know, I have a list of releases I really want to have. Those are usually the one's you see in the various post here on the boulevard. However, there are times where I'll end up getting additional releases from a case. And that's when you'll see an additional feature. Now, like many of you out there, I'll usually stick to getting the licensed vehicles, or the fantasy ones that look like they could be real cars. But I also like to get the releases that are based on ones from various franchises. 

If you read the second part of my case A want list, then you might remember how I said there were a few other releases I liked. I also made mention of how you might see them in an additional feature. Well, here's that post. So with that being said, today I'm going to share my thoughts on the other two I got from case A.

I'm not someone who's played Minecraft, and I have no intention of ever playing it. But like the rest of the world, I'm fully aware of the franchise, and I do have family members that play it. So I've seen some gameplay. In the game, players are able to ride in a minecart, and I think it makes for an interesting Hot Wheels model. That's why I end up getting its releases. 

Despite being aware of the franchise, and seeing gameplay, I still don't know all there is to know about the game. I mean... I know a little, but I don't know enough to go into a long conversation with anyone about the game. But from what I can gather, there's no way to get a cart like this in-game. So thanks to Hot Wheels, collectors and fans of the game alike are able to see this cart with a different texture. 

Ultimately, I'm just happy they aren't doing what they did with the snoopy car. As you know, all of its releases were basically just wheel swaps. I know they'd probably need the legal okay to do so, but I feel they should have made his dog house a different color. Anyway, I'm truly pleased with how they're able to give us different textured Minecarts. It's definitely better than getting the same release year after year.

The second one I got is The Nash. At this time, the debut release is still my favorite since it's a replica of the winner's car. However, this one is still nice, and I did want one of these without the rust details. Besides not having the aforementioned details, I also like their choice to give this release a purple and white color scheme. It all comes down to personal preference, but I think this is a great combination of colors for this car.

It's no lie that vehicle customization is an art, and since everyone has different taste, we end up seeing many unique builds, as well as designs. With that being said, I'd love to see what type of designs they'd create for a car like this. Personally, I'd love to see a matte black one with flames. Of course, it doesn't have to be matte black, I just think this is the type of custom car that'd look awesome with a flame design.

So as you can see, collecting Hot Wheels for me isn't just about the licensed cars. Fantasy cars and wild customs like The Nash, are ones I'll get as long as I like what was done to them. And I especially like what was done to the Minecart. 

Okay, how do you feel about these two? Did they make it to your want list? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments section. Alright, that's all for this additional feature. Until next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. And remember, these are just toys.

A Matchbox Moving Parts Release From Last Year

Hi everyone! Welcome to another additional feature here on the boulevard. I really didn't have that much luck with last year's Matchbox Moving Parts releases. For the most part, the pegs for these stayed empty. However, there were a few times where I was able to come across some remnants, and that's exactly what happened on a recent diecast hunt. So with that said, let's go over the release I found.

There were actually two other Moving Parts releases there, but they were 1982 Datsun 280ZX and 2019 Ford Ranger, and as you might already know, both of them are releases I talked about last month. So be sure to check out that post if you're interested in what I have to say about those. Anyway, the only new one there was the 2020 BMW M4 Cabriolet. I might not have found much, but I was glad to see one of these left on the pegs. It has been some time since we last got a new BMW casting, and this is a new one with opening doors. So that's even better!

Now, I'm sure you haven't been living under a rock, so I'm going to assume that you've seen BMW's latest grill design. Yeah... I'm still not in love with the look of it. You might like their design choice, and maybe I will at some point in the future. But right now I don't, and that's why I'm happy with Matchbox's decision to give us this model year. I know we'll most likely see a Hot Wheels or Matchbox release of a current BMW, so I'm going to have to force myself to accept BMW's latest vehicle design styles.

Personally, this first release isn't too bad, but there is one thing I don't like about it though. But I'll get to that in a minute because I want to point out what I like about it first.  

Did you assume that the exterior color is the main thing I like? Well, if you did, then you're correct! But I also really like how they gave it a white interior. It's worth mentioning that I found a picture of a real 2020 M4 that is also dark blue with a white interior. And I have to say, I truly like how it looks. So I'm glad to have a 1:64 scale replica of it. 

Okay, now it's time to point out the design choice I don't like. Whether it's a specific tampo detail, or the color of the wheels, I can usually overlook a certain design choice I don't like. However, this release features a tampo detail I just can't ignore. For some reason, the designers chose to put "Matchbox" across the rear bumper, and it's not small lettering either. I really don't see the reasoning behind this design choice. I'm probably the only collector that can't ignore this detail, but I feel it kind of ruins the appearance of release. I probably could have ignored it if the letters were a little smaller. Now, if it was up to me, I would have made this detail look like an emblem on the trunk next to the license plate. 

Although I have an issue with a specific tampo detail, I can honestly say that this was a release I just had to have. Although... I don't like it enough to want to pay secondary prices for it. So I would have had to accept not having it if I wasn't able to find it. I know there's going to be more releases of it, but there's nothing like having a cool casting finished in your favorite color.

So how do you feel about this release? And do you also dislike "Matchbox being applied to the rear bumper? Go ahead and let me know your thoughts down in the comments section. Alright, that's all for this additional feature. Till next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. And remember, these are just toys.

White Booth Wednesday #119

It's once again time for another Wednesday showcase here on the boulevard. Here's this week's featured vehicle.

Vehicle: '32 Ford

Series: 2010 Hot Wheels Hot Rods

Boulevard Rating: 7

How I Feel About This Release: Hot rods will look outstanding finished in just about any color, and I have to say, the metallic turquoise used for this release is definitely one of them! I love how this casting looks finished in the color, and it is actually the only thing I like about this release. As for the design, I'll admit that I don't completely care for it, and that's why I didn't score this release higher. The biggest issue I have with the design is the "HWCC Rod & Custom" decal. Personally, the stripe design would have been good enough. But that's just me, and I'm sure many of you will feel differently. At the end of the day, this is still an okay release thanks to its exterior color, and that's why I made it this week's featured vehicle.

So how do you feel about this week's featured vehicle? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments. Till next time, happy collecting.

Looking At: 2021 Hot Wheels Car Culture - Modern Classics

Hello, and welcome to another edition of Looking At. After many failed diecast hunts, I was finally able to come across some new premiums on the pegs. And as you saw from my Tweet or Pin, Hot Wheels has decided to add five more releases to the Modern Classics set. Now, to be truthfully honest, today's post could have been titled differently due to the fact that I almost didn't buy all five of the releases. I was actually a little hesitant on getting one of them, but I made the decision to just get it anyway. So with that being said, let's get this post started.

Alright, before I go over the first car, I though I'd quickly point out one of the things I like about all five of the releases from this assortment. What I like is how each of them features a license plate. Yes, it's a small detail, but it's a detail I love seeing. So I'm glad they created one for each of the cars. Okay, now that I got that out of the way, let's go over the five cars. And I'm going to start things off by talking about the '98 Honda Prelude first, since it's the one I wasn't going to get. 

In a couple of older Looking At post, I made mention of how I was starting to reconsider buying slightly better versions of what I already had. Well, that is the reason why I was hesitant on getting this release. You remember the debut release of this casting, right? Of course you do. I mean... how could you not when the casting isn't that old. Anyway, the designers chose to once again use silver.

To be fair, silver isn't a bad color for this car, and it does have a different interior color as well as an American license plate. But I would have chose to give collectors one that was finished in a different color. And if it was up to me, I would have made this release pearl white. Of course, that's just one of the many colors they could have chose for this first premium release. At the end of the day, anything would have been better than using silver again so soon.

This assortment had three releases I had to have, and one of them is the '92 BMW M3. I bet you're wondering why I was excited for this release of it. Well, if you're like me, then you're also going to be jumping for joy over this release due to the fact that it's plain.

After all this time, Hot Wheels has finally given collectors like me a plain release of this casting. That's right, all of its previous releases have had a design. And while there's nothing wrong with that, it is nice to finally have a release without one. Furthermore, I feel they picked a great color for it. Similar to vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, black helps to give BMW's vehicles more of a classy appearance. 

I do have a few other releases of this casting, and I still very much like all of them. But this one is definitely now my favorite. If this release was featured in a White Booth Wednesday, I would have given it a ten out of ten. In other words, I have nothing bad to say about this release.

So what were the other two releases I was excited for? Well, they are the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 and the Lancer Evolution VI, both of which are new castings. Everyone is going to have a different opinion on what this case's highlights are, but for me, it's these two. 

In my opinion, Mitsubishi has made some awesome cars, and I feel they're sometimes overshadowed by some of the other older JDMs. I mean, when it comes to older Japanese cars, I'm sure the first thing that comes to most peoples minds are the various vehicles from Nissan or Toyota. Now, I'm not saying there isn't a huge Mitsubishi fan base, but folks seem to always drool over the thought of vehicles from those two manufacturers. Anyway, I'm extremely delighted to see more of Mitsubishi's cars being turned into Hot Wheels castings.

Among the five license plates created, this release's one is my favorite. Its plate says "SPICY GT," and I think it's a very fitting plate for this spicy release. I mean... this car will look great finished in just about any color, but I do think it looks fantastic finished in red. And I guess my fondness of a red 3000 GT comes from when I played a game called Midnight Club Los Angeles. In that game, players are able to own the 1999 3000 GT. When I finally got one, I made the decision to paint it red, and it became my preferred color for this car not too long after that.

Although I consider both of these new castings to be the highlights from this case, I can honestly say that I was more excited for the Lancer. I know this isn't the first Lancer Evolution from Hot Wheels, but it's most definitely the one I've been waiting for. It's similar to how I spent many year's wanting a Hot Wheels version of the R33. The newer versions of these cars are great, but there's just something special about these older ones.

Both of these releases have me excited at the possibility of getting even more diecast versions of Mitsubishi's other cars. And I'm also hoping to see a non Fast and Furious release of the eclipse. I know that kind of car is no longer a thing, but I'd love to see another release of it with a different design on it. And I'm sure the designers could create an awesome early 2000s styled design for it. If not, then I'd love to get a plain release. Alright, let's move on to the last car.

This assortment had another first time premium release besides the prelude, and it's the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo. I wasn't expecting to see a premium release of this casting, but I can honestly say that it's a welcomed sight. And I think you'll all agree, since it means we'll now see releases of it with more detail.

Since this is the first premium release, I glad they decided to not do what they did with the Prelude. In other words, I'm glad they picked a different color for it. Similar to the Prelude, this too is a casting that's not that old, and I feel there's no real reason to reuse colors so soon. Now, as for how I feel about the color they picked, I think it's an okay choice for this car. Of course, if I was going to buy a real one of these, then I'd look for one that's finished in a blue that's similar to the one used for the previous release.

Okay, those are the five new "Modern Classics." Overall, this was another stellar Car Culture assortment. And even though I have an issue with the Prelude's exterior color, I can honestly say that I'm glad I decided to get it. At the end of the day, I probably would have regretted the decision to not get it. After all, there are some key differences between it and the silver mainline release.

So how do you feel about these releases and the design choices made for them? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments section. Alright, that's all for this edition of Looking At. Until next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. And remember, these are just toys.

White Booth Wednesday #118

It's once again time for another Wednesday showcase here on the boulevard. Here's this week's featured vehicle.

Vehicle: Fangula

Series: 2010 Hot Wheels New Models

Boulevard Rating: 8

How I Feel About This Release: The Fagula is such a fun little casting, and there's many different things to like about its design. But the design of it is not the only reason why I decided to make it this week's featured vehicle. So let me point out what I like about this particular release. Usually, I would have said that I liked how this release is plain. And while that is one of the things I like about it, it's not the main thing. It might be surprising, but the main thing I like about this release are its painted valve covers. Having an exposed engine with details is a huge plus for me, and it's not everyday we get a mainline release with engine details.

So how do you feel about this week's featured vehicle? Go ahead and let me know down in the comments. Till next time, happy collecting.