Best On The Block: July 2022

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

#1: 1936 Ford Coupe - 2022 Matchbox Mainline

Why I Picked It: The Matchbox design team has once again created a stunning diecast model of a beautiful American classic, and I'm very pleased with its overall length, width, and height. I also love all of the design choices that were made for this first release of it. So I feel this is one of the best looking releases on the block right now at the Star Boulevard of Speed. And it absolutely deserved to be in the number one spot.

#2: Porsche 935 - 2022 Hot Wheels Mainline

Why I Picked It: This is honestly the release I've been waiting for, and I'm not just saying that because it's blue. Although, I do like the blue that was picked. Anyway, this time I'm talking about the design that was created. The debut release looked okay, and I'm sure many of you loved the Urban Outlaw theme. But I was really hoping to see something new, and this release's livery is exactly what I was hoping to see.

#3: Nissan Silvia (S15) - 2022 Hot Wheels Team Transport

Why I Picked It: I never found the Formula Drift Boulevard release, and I was very disappointed because I wanted to have at least one drift themed release of this casting in my collection. Now, I do have the Forza release as well as the "Mona Lisa" from Tokyo Drift, but I don't really consider those to be drift themed releases. I mean... I guess the Tokyo Drift one technically is. But you have to admit that it doesn't have the appearance of being a car that competes in a televised competition. So I feel this HKS Silvia is the first drift themed release in my collection, and that's why I had to pick it for this post. 

#4: Nissan R390 GT1 - 2022 Hot Wheels Zamac

Why I Picked It: The '69 Copo Corvette is the one case "F" Zamac I really wanted have to have due to the color scheme of its livery. But I picked this R390 GT1 instead because I feel it truly looks phenomenal. And as you can see, I got an extra one to have on display. The other releases of it are still cool, and I do really like the blue one, but this one is definitely something else!

#5: '76 Greenwood Corvette - 2022 Hot Wheels Mainline

Why I Picked It: Normally, I wouldn't even consider picking a release with a tampo error. After all, these post are solely about the best looking releases that are featured on the boulevard. But I had to make an exception for this one because there are no tampos on either side of this particular Greenwood Corvette. So even though it still has a stripe and a racing number, this is basically the plain release that I've always wanted.

#6: '67 Oldsmobile 442 - 2022 Hot Wheels Ultra Hots Series

Why I Picked It: All eight of the recent Ultra Hots releases are nice enough to be featured in this post, but I decided to pick this one because it's the one that I'd want the most. A few years ago, this was a casting I didn't have. At the time, I thought there weren't going to be anymore releases of it. Eventually, the Hot Wheels team chose to use it again, and they gave it the Gulf livery. Now, even though I got it, I was never completely satisfied because I wanted to have one with a stripe design and nothing else. In other words, I wanted one that looked exactly like this.

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

White Booth Wednesday #146

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

Vehicle: '57 Chevy

Brand Or Series: 2022 Chevy Bel Air

Boulevard Rating: 10

How I Feel About This Release: My gosh, this is one beautiful release of this casting! I knew there'd most likely be recolors of the "Chevy Bel Air" releases, but I didn't think the '57 Chevy was going to be one of them. And I definitely didn't think they were going to make its recolor look this good. I mean, you could never go wrong with a matte red Tri-Five, but this gold one is absolutely something else! If this release wasn't featured in a White Booth Wednesday post, then it'd definitely be one of this month's best releases on the block.

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.

Today On The Boulevard: 2022 Hot Wheels - Three Awesome Additions To The Collection

Hello, and welcome to a new edition of Today On The Boulevard. A few days ago, I decided to check two of the Targets in my area, and as I expected, there was absolutely nothing to buy at either store. So I came to the conclusion that it wasn't going to be a day where I found anything at Target. I then decided to check one Walmart before I called it a day. Now, I really wasn't expecting to find anything there either, but I figured why not check anyway. Well, that one decision led to me being able to find three awesome releases.

The first thing I saw was a bin that was full of this year's case "F." Now, since I already have everything I want from that case, I decided to look through it after I saw what was down the row first. Of course, there was no reason for me to go back to the bin, but you never know what you'll find underneath a stack of releases you already have. That's why I'll usually take a moment to look anyway. Sometimes, it pays to look, and this was one of those times where looking payed off. But I'll get to that release later because I want to talk about what I found down the row first. 

Overall, the row was a little messy, but that didn't stop me from looking anyway. As I got closer to the mainline pegs, I immediately spotted two new Team Transport releases hanging on the premium pegs. I then got super excited because one of them was the HKS themed S15 Silvia. 

It goes without saying that this is the release we've all been waiting for. In my opinion, this livery is as iconic as the Falken Tire livery. Of course, it isn't the only noteworthy S15 Silvia, but it is one of the first ones that comes to mind when I think of a S15 drift car. Anyway, you never know what they will or won't be able to make due to the licensing agreements. So like you, I'm also overjoyed with how Hot Wheels was able to use this HKS livery for this casting. 

Now, it's too bad Hot Wheels doesn't have a premium wheel that resembles the Super Advan wheels. Having a 3-spoke wheel would have helped to make this replica look even more accurate. To be fair though, this release does technically still have Advan wheels. And all you have to do is look up "Advan GT" on the internet to see what I mean.

I'd also like to mention that I appreciate their decision to pair this Silvia with the Aero Lift. Sure, the other haulers with a box section are cool, but this one makes it so we can see more of the car. 

The Ford Galaxie was the other Team Transport release that was there, and I decided to leave it behind. Now, I do like the various "Ford Race Team" releases we've gotten, so I probably should have added this latest one to my collection. But I just didn't like how there's no racing number on it. I feel they should have placed a number where they placed the race team decal. As for the placement of the decal, I feel they could have placed it on the quarter panel instead. If this release was supposed to be a drag car, then I'd have no issue with the decal being on the door, but it's supposed to be a stock car. So the overall livery just doesn't look complete to me. Alright, let's move on to the next release I found down the row.

After grabbing the Team Transport, I decided to look at the other Hot Wheels pegs, and that's when I noticed a pack that was a little different from the rest of the mainline releases.

I believe the set this release is from is called "Luxury Sedans," and this was the only one that was left. Although I didn't find the whole set, I can honestly say that this is the main release that I would have wanted.

I never got around to getting any of the other releases of this casting after its debut release. Back then, I wasn't quite into diecast like I am now. As such, I missed some very nice releases of it. In 2018, I came to the conclusion that there'd never be any more releases, since 2013 was the last time it was used. Then, after eight years, Hot Wheels decided to use the casting again for the Factory 500 H.P. set. And since I found the whole set, I decided to buy it. But I wasn't really happy with it because it was finished in the same color as the one I already had. They even used the same paint for it too. So I was starting to think I'd never have a CTS-V that's finished in another color. That's why I got super excited when I saw this release.

It wasn't finished in a flashy color, but I don't mind because I'm just ecstatically happy to finally have a release of this casting that's finished in a different color. Despite being common, I think white is a great exterior color for any one of Cadillac's vehicles. And I definitely think it's a great color for this model.

Okay, at the start of this post, I said that it sometimes pays to look. Well, it's now time for me share what I found. So after I left the row, I decided to take a moment to look through the bin. For the most part, all of the case "F" releases were there. I even found a few Civics too. But I didn't want any more of those, so I continued to look to see what else was in the bin. After moving the Civics aside, I noticed a '76 Greenwood Corvette that was not like any of the other ones.

I got very excited when I first saw this release, and that's because I've wondered how this casting would look without a livery. Now, I had to stop myself from instantly going to pay for it because I wanted to inspect it further. 

Due to the amount of space there is inside of its bubble, this release can be flipped up, and that made it so I could see the other side. To my surprise, the other side was also plain. The top of this release is the only section that's decorated. So its not entirely plain, but it's close enough. Ultimately, I can ignore the racing number, and I don't mind the stripe.

Alright, those are all three of the awesome new additions to my collection. It might not have been a huge haul, but I'd say this was a very successful diecast hunt. Now, I don't know if I'll ever find the other release from the latest Team Transport assortment. But if I do, then I'll think about getting it. As for the other sedans... well, they're a part of a set that's only being sold at Walmart. And you know how hard it is trying to find Walmart exclusive releases. That's why I'm not going to go out of my way to look for them.

So have you found anything good recently? If so, then go ahead and let me know down in the comments section. Alright, that's all for this edition of Today On The Boulevard. Until next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. And remember, these are just toys.

2022 Hot Wheels Store Exclusive Colors: Target Case "G" Red Editions & Walmart Case "F" Zamacs

Hi everyone, welcome to a new additional feature here on the boulevard. Time and time again, I've made mention of how I don't care for store exclusive releases. Back when I was younger, I sought them out because I thought they'd be some of the best releases to have. But things changed as I got older. Basically, I stopped caring about them due to how stressful it became to look for them, and this hobby is something I do for fun. That's why I always say that these are just toys at the end of my post. Now, not going after them doesn't mean I won't get them when I happen to find them. Sometimes, I'm able to come across them, and as you can see from the title, I had some luck with two different sets of store exclusives. So I decided that it was time for me to share my thoughts on them. With that being said, let's begin.

This year's case "G" had a plethora of great releases, and I bet most collectors were even happier with the Red Editions from it. Now, I was able to find the Civic and the F-100, but I was not able to find the Silverado. And to be honest, I really don't care because I'm completely satisfied with the green one that was release earlier this year. 

Most collectors would probably be jumping for joy if they found an exclusive color of the EK9 hanging on the pegs, but I wasn't. Sure, I got it, but I just don't see what all the hype is about. I also don't see why people think they should charge $20 for it. Now, I'm not just saying that because I want to play devil's advocate. There are actually two reasons why I feel that way, and the first one has to do with its exterior and wheel color scheme. In my opinion, there's nothing special about it, and you might just agree with me when you see the extra picture I took for this post.

So... do you see what I'm saying? People want to charge a lot of money for a release that looks no different than a regular mainline release. I, for one, think the Red Edition should have just been a regular recolor. 

I was actually able to acquire more than one of these, and no, I'm not bragging. The reason why I'm mentioning that is because having more than one has allowed me to spot an issue with the paint. And it is the second reason why I don't think this release is worth the hype.

I don't know about the ones that were sent to your area, but all of the ones I found have paint chips, and the spots are noticeable. I, for one, don't really mind, but you might. So if you couldn't find this release, then you might want to wait to see if the secondary prices drop, or you could wait for a possible future release that's also red. Of course, this could be the only red one, but I highly doubt it. I mean, just look at this year's release of the Kafer Racer. In case you didn't know, it's the third red one.  

The F-100 was the main one that was left in my area, and I feel the same way about it. Like the Civic, this release's exterior color is nothing special. There was a matte black release back in 2002, and there was another one with flames back in 2008. Oh, and the one from 2002 also had a red base. So I just can't understand why these are resold for outrageous prices. 

I guess I've had a very negative opinion of the Red Editions for some time now. So, to be fair, the Red Editions aren't bad looking releases, which is why I'll get them when I'm able to find them. And I do have to admit that I'm happy to finally have a matte black release of the F-100. I also have to admit that it's nice to have an older Type R that matches the newer one. 

At the end of the day, I just don't like the atmosphere of Target whenever these are released. I know diecast hunting isn't supposed to be easy, but you shouldn't have to look over your shoulder while trying to find the releases you have on your want list. That was usually how I felt whenever I went to Walmart, and I never expected Target to end up having the same atmosphere too. But I guess things change. Alright, that's enough about Target, let's move on to the exclusive releases from Walmart. 

Unlike the Red Editions, Walmart's exclusive releases feature unpainted exteriors. So I always find myself being more excited about them whenever I'm able to find them, which is not very often. Now, I might think they're better, but like the exclusives from Target, I don't think they are worth the prices you see them listed for. But I'm done talking about that subject, so let me move on.  

Fortunately, I was able to find all three of the case "F" Zamac releases, and I'm glad because I really wanted to have the '69 Copo Corvette. Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this year's first release, however, there is a reason why I like the Zamac one more.

Do you remember White Booth Wednesday #126? Well, if you don't, then the release I picked for that post was the debut release of this casting. So what does that release have to do with this year's release? Well, like the one I had, this year's release is also blue with a white and red livery. Of course, the blue they used for it is darker than the blue that was used for the one I had, but it's still blue with a white and red livery nonetheless. So thanks to the design choices that were made for this Zamac release, I can finally say that I have a new release of this casting. I mean, I still like this year's first release, but this one is definitely the better of the two, since it doesn't have any red designs on it. 

The second one is the Nissan R390 GT1, and I'm glad there were more than enough of them there for me to get an extra one to have on display. I was actually going to eventually open one of the extra blue ones I got, but I have to say, this one looks a little better than it. 

Sure, the blue one might still be the best one, since the real car is currently blue, but you have to admit that this unpainted one looks phenomenal. I should also mention that I'm very happy with their decision to use the lace wheels again for this Zamac release. They could have changed them, since the regular mainline release had them, but I'm glad they didn't because they are one of the things that I liked about this year's release. 

The third case "F" Zamac is the Big-Air Bel-Air. Okay, it's official, the Hot Wheels designers are really proud of this casting. Why am I saying that? Well, it's because this casting has had back-to-back store exclusive releases. Now, it might seem like I have an issue with that, but I don't. This is a very cool version of the Bel-Air, and I'm glad I've been able to add the exclusive releases of it to my collection. I'm especially happy to have the Zamac one. In my opinion, the design they created for this year's release looks awesome over the unpainted exterior. 

Alright, those are the five releases I have for today's post. You might just see one of them featured again in this month's Best On The Block post. But don't think it's going to be one of the ones from Target. They're okay releases, but I'm not going to even give them the chance to be featured in the aforementioned post. 

Okay, now that you know my opinion, I want to know yours. So feel free to let me know your thoughts on these release down in the comments section. Well, that's all for this additional feature. Until next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. And remember, these are just toys.

White Booth Wednesday #145

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

Vehicle: Custom '70 Honda N600

Brand Or Series: 2022 Compact Kings

Boulevard Rating: 7

How I Feel About This Release: Like a few other releases from this year's mainline, this too was a release that I didn't initially care about. But there ended up being a reason why I decided to add it to my want list. So why didn't I care about it? Basically, I didn't feel the need to have one of these finished in white. Sure, I'll admit that it looks okay finished in the color, but I honestly like last year's releases more. The first release was finished in a cream yellow, and the second release was finished in a color that I'd best describe as being a teal green. Now, I don't know about you, but I think those two colors are better than white. So why did I add it to my want list? Well, after I had some time to think about it, I decided to not miss out on a third plain release of this casting. For all we know, this could be the last time we see this casting without a design on it. So if that ends up being the case, then I definitely would have regretted leaving this release behind.

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.

White Booth Wednesday #144

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

Vehicle: Volkswagen Kafer Racer

Brand Or Series: 2022 Hot Wheels Contoured

Boulevard Rating: 8

How I Feel About This Release: This release wasn't featured in the multi-part case "G" post, but it was definitely one of the releases I had on my want list. I feel it's very nice release due its exterior color and the design they created for it. Now, I do think the checkered pattern on its sides is a little random, but it doesn't ruin the overall look of this release. So it's a design choice I can live with. I also really like how they chose to give this release the Retro Slot wheels. Most of this casting's basic releases were given the 5SPs, so it's really nice to see a third basic one with a different wheel.

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.