White booth Wednesday #164

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

Vehicle: '15 Dodge Challenger SRT

Brand Or Series: 2022 Hot Wheels Muscle Mania

Boulevard Rating: 6

How I Feel About This Release: This is the one Muscle Mania release I don't like. So why did I get it, then? Well, I got super excited when I found all of the case "N" releases that I actually wanted, so I ended up grabbing this one in the heat of the moment. Now, to be fair, it is finished in a nice version of my favorite color. But that's not enough to make me ignore the design, which makes it look like a Speed Graphics release instead of a 2022 Muscle Mania release. I mean, just look at the other releases. Each one features a design that you would expect to see on it. So I don't know what they were thinking with this one. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think this is the kind of deign you would expect to see on this car. Although... if this casting was a drag car, then I would have no issue with the huge SRT decal, but it's not. And that's why it was never added to my want list.

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.

Best On The Block: November 2022

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

#1: Pagani Zonda R - 2022 Hot Wheels Mainline

Why I Picked It: Now, this might not be the regular version that I fell in love with many years ago, but a Zonda is still a Zonda, and I've always wanted to see one from Hot Wheels. So words can't describe how happy I am to see this casting, and I love how it has the same proportions as the Huayra.

#2: Koenigsegg Agera R - 2022 Hot Wheels Car Culture

Why I Picked It: The Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 might have been the highlight from the latest Exotic Envy Car Culture assortment, but I still had to pick the Agera R. As most of you already know, this casting was made because Hot Wheels wanted to give collectors a replica of the one that was seen in the Need for Speed movie. Sadly, I missed that release, and I thought they were never going to use the casting again. But they eventually did, and that ultimately led to me being able to finally have something I thought I would never have, which is a red Agera R.

#3: 1975 Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste - 2022 Matchbox Moving Parts

Why I Picked It: In recent times, both of Mattel's deicast brands have given us more replicas of Mitsubishi's vehicles, and I'm sure that has put a huge smile on everyone's faces. But most of the cars we've gotten are from the '90s, so I was beginning to wonder if we were ever going to see some of the ones that are much older. That's why I got super excited when I found out we were going to get a very old Mitsubishi from Matchbox. And I have to say, they have once again proved why they are the go-to brand for unmodified classic cars. This casting is truly perfect, and it definitely deserved to be featured in this post.

#4: Nissan Maxima Drift Car & Super Advans (FC3 wheels) - 2022 Hot Wheels Mainline

Why I Picked It: I don't always consider picking station wagons for a Best On The Block post, but there's no denying the fact that this is one of the best looking releases on the block right now. Hot Wheels' design team has definitely turned a bland and boring car into something special. And I especially like how they gave it a see-through hood. But the casting itself is not the only reason why I picked this release, though. For the first time, a release's wheels are one of the reasons why it was picked. After all these years, Hot Wheels finally has a basic wheel that looks the Super Advans.

#5: Porsche 962 - 2022 Hot Wheels Team Transport

Why I Picked It: I'm so glad there were a plethora of these sitting at every store in my area. Sure, the Skyline has the most hype, but this Porsche is truly a sight to behold! And I feel it's currently the best looking release of the casting. So it had to be one of the releases that I picked for this post.

#6: 1971 Chevelle SS Convertible - 2022 Matchbox Local Cruisers

Why I Picked It: There were a few other releases that I thought about picking for the number six spot, but I just had to pick this release. I mean, just look at that marvelous paint! I love the way it looks when a light is shined on it.

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

My Want List: Two 2022 Hot Wheel Premium Releases

Hello, and welcome to an unusual edition of My Want List here on the Star Boulevard of Speed. For the most part, My Want List Post will feature the various basic releases that I want from Hot Wheels and Matchbox. But those releases aren't the only ones I'll add to my want list. Despite being hard to find, I'll sometimes add premium releases to my want list as well. And there just so happened to be three premium releases that piqued my interest. However, only two of them made it to my want list because the one is not something that will ever make it to the pegs. Anyway, people will eventually stop hoarding certain releases. And once that happens, I'm usually able to find specific ones like the first one I'm going to be talking about in this post. So with that being said, let's get this post started!

When the Car Culture 2-packs first came out, I made a post where I shared how I felt about them. Yeah... many of you would not have agreed with anything I said in that post. Basically, I wasn't too happy with how they made it so there was only one new car. For how much they cost, I feel both cars should be new. I mean, who wants to pay a pretty penny for a release that you already have? I know I don't! But I broke down and got the Skyline one because it had another second plain release of the R32, and I wasn't sure if there were going to be any more than that. So I took the opportunity to get it. But I still wasn't happy about having to get another HKS Skyline just to get another plain release of the casting. Anyway, now it seems like they're starting to do what I feel they should have done from the very beginning, which will now somewhat justify how much they cost.

Now, I might have been disappointed with the choices they made for these 2-packs, but that didn't stop me from paying attention to what was in the various assortments. After all, there was always a chance they could put together another one that I would want. So that decision is what led to me fining out about the Lamborghini 2-pack. And no, my reason for wanting it has nothing to do with how popular Lamborghinis are becoming. So why did I want it, then? Well, let's start with the Lamborghini Aventador, which is actually the main one I wanted.

Two years ago, Hot Wheels released a premium replica of the Aventador that was seen in The Dark Knight Raises. Sadly, it was one of the releases that I just couldn't find. In fact, none of the releases from that assortment made it to the pegs in my area. Anyway, I was very disappointed because I really wanted to have a silver Aventador, and I missed out on getting the one from 2012. So I thought there was never going to be a third silver release. I know there has been instances where they have reused a color a bunch of times, but you just don't know if they are going to do that for a certain casting. So I am truly happy with their decision to release a third silver Aventador. And thanks to this release, I no longer have to think about spending a pretty penny on one of the older silver releases. Alright, let's move on to the Lamboghini Huracan.

I think you already know the main reason why I wanted this release. After all, I will frequently make mention of how blue is my all-time favorite color. Now, this isn't the first blue release of this casting. The first one was only available in the multi-packs, and I was fortunate enough to find one in a 3-pack. Yeah... I like blue cars, but I was not going to buy the bigger multi-packs just to get it. Anyway, that release was finished in a bright version of blue, and it had black stripes. It also had black wheels too. So it was basically a perfect release. However, I still wanted to eventually see a blue one that was plain, and this right here is exactly what I was hoping to see! I especially like how they went with a metallic paint.

So as you can see, the Lamborghini 2-pack was absolutely something I had to have. And you know what? If they continue to put together 2-packs like this, then you might just see more of them talked about in my various posts. Okay, let's move on to the second premium release I got.

Many weeks ago, Hot Wheels released a new Team Transport assortment that left everyone speechless because it had another release of the Liberty Walk ER34. And that release is the second one that piqued my interest, but there's no way I'm going to add a Skyline to my want list. I mean, I would like to get it, but there is just way too much hype when it comes to that legendary JDM. Anyway, there were two other nice releases in the assortment, but the Porsche 962 was the one that piqued my interest the most.

When Matchbox gave us a Shell themed 1965 Ford C900, I never thought I'd see a response like this from Hot Wheels. Not only did they just give us a Shell themed truck, they also gave us a very beautiful replica of an actual Shell sponsored Porsche 962. And to be honest, I feel this is now the best release of this Porsche. I mean, there's been a lot of nice releases, but this Shell livery is truly something else!

Now, this might be surprising, but I feel this release kind of looks better than the actual car that it's based on. And there's a reason why I'm saying. As most of you already know, the real car was also sponsored by Dunlop, and on the other side of it, their decal is what's next to the racing number. But Hot Wheels doesn't have the license to use them, so they decided to put the Shell decal there instead. And that is why I feel this model looks better. In my opinion, the overall livery looks much neater with "Shell" on both sides.

The Sakura Sprinter might not be as flashy as the Porsche, but I think it's still an okay looking release of the casting. And I love how it matches the Shell themed Ford C900 from Matchbox. I know this release's stripe is a little different than one that is on the C900, but they are still similar.

Well, those are the two Hot Wheels premium products I got. At the end of the day, I am very pleased with all of the design choices that were made for these vehicles. And if you asked me to score them, I would definitely give them all a ten out of ten.

So how exactly do you feel about the products featured in this post? Go ahead and let me know your thoughts down in the comments section. Alright, that's all for this edition of My Want List. Until next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting. 

2022 Hot Wheels Max Steel: An Unlicensed Hot Rod That We All Needed

Hello, and welcome to a new additional feature here on the Star Boulevard of Speed. To this day, the Hot Wheels design team continues to give collectors great looking licensed castings. And I'm sure everyone has a huge smile on their face when their favorite car is made. I know I did when they released the McLaren F1 and the Pagani Zonda R. Now, I don't know about you, but the licensed castings are not the only ones I get excited for. Every now and then, they create an unlicensed casting that I instantly fall in love with. And within the last couple of years, there's been a few. In fact, two of them made their debut earlier this year, and both of them were castings I had to have on display. Yeah, that's how much I liked them. Anyway, Hot Wheels had one more unlicensed surprise for collectors like me, and like the other ones, it too was a casting I had to have on display. So with that being said, let's get this post started.

When the Erikenstein Rod made its debut, I truly thought it was just something they created for that year's mainline. Well, as it turns out, it wasn't just a one-and-done thing. There ended up being a few more custom vehicles that were given the same color scheme. So I now truly regret my decision to ignore the aforementioned casting's debut release, and that's why I've made sure to get all of the new releases that are a part of the group. And that's one of the reasons why I made sure to get the Max Steel, which is the latest addition to the group. But being a part of a group is not the main reason why I got it. To be honest, this new casting would have instantly been added to my want list no matter what. That's how awesome I feel it is.

As you already know, the Mod Rod was the first hot rod they created for this group of custom cars. And while it's a cool casting, there's no denying the fact that it doesn't necessarily look like a car from a bygone era. On the other hand, this new casting's body has that unmistakable 1930s look that I like so much. I mean, when I think of a hot rod, this casting's shape is the first thing that comes to mind. 

Now, it does feature a headrest fairing, and I know it's something you would typically see on classic sports cars and not a hot rod. But you know what? It really doesn't ruin the overall look of it, and I think it was a nice touch.

The overall shape of its body isn't the only thing I like about it, though. I also like how they decided to give it an engine I don't typically see used for diecast hot rods. For the most part, we see hot rods with V8s or a "powerful v6" like what the Mod Rod has. But the decision was made to do something a little different for this casting. Instead of having one of those, the Max Steel has an air-cooled flat-six engine. And I have to say, they did a pretty good with its design. When you look at it, you can definitely tell they took the time to make it look as detailed as possible.

Over the years, there's been a few times where I was left scratching my head at a casting's proportions. However, that wasn't something I did when I took this one out of its pack. In fact, I was even happier about this casting once I was able to compare it to some of the other hot rods I have on display. 

A casting can sometimes look a little too small when compared to some of the other castings they've made, and that can make it so they don't exactly look great sitting next to each other. But as you can see, this casting's designer took the time to make sure it had the same proportions as the '32 Ford and the Bone Shaker. So it's definitely a great addition to any hot rod display. 

I really hope they treat this casting right going forward. I mean, I know this is an unlicensed casting, but I feel they've created a masterpiece. And I think it deserves to be treated like it's based on a real car. In other words, if they're going to create a design for it, I feel it needs to be something that you would expect to see on a hot rod at a car show.

Now, in my latest travels, I've seen many of these sitting around. So it doesn't seem to be too popular, which is a little surprising because I think it is right up there with castings like the Bone Shaker. But I guess that's a good thing for me, right? After all, not being popular will make it much easier to find.

Ultimately, I hope this particular group of custom cars continues to grow. In my opinion, they should do another car, and this time it should look more like a muscle car from the '70s. I also think it would be cool to see a motorcycle as well.

So how do you feel about this casting? Do you also think it's as good as some of the other iconic Hot Wheels castings? Go ahead and let me know your thoughts down in the comments section. Alright, that's all for this additional feature. Until next time, thanks for reading, and happy collecting.

White Booth Wednesday #163

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

 

Vehicle: '65 Ford Ranchero

Brand Or Series: 2015 HW Workshop Heat Fleet

Boulevard Rating: 10 

How I Feel About This Release: When there is no plain release to be had, the next best thing is one with a simple stripe design. But sometimes you just want to have an example of a casting with a wild design on it, and stripes aren't always the answer. So that's when it's time for another type of design, and flames are definitely a great choice. And as you can see, this release features a very beautiful flame design that was also applied to the top of it. Now, a nice flame design could possibly be ruined with a not so great looking color scheme, but that's not the case with this release. Sure, blue doesn't necessarily go with red, but in my opinion, the version of it they went with does. And beige was definitely a great choice for the main part of the flames. So I don't know about you, but I think this is one of the coolest looking releases of this Ranchero, and that's why I had no choice but to give it a ten out of ten.

 

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.