Volvo 850 Estate

As if jumping back to the future in an instant, another, more modern Volvo hits the Fast Wagons. This time, it is the Volvo 850 Estate. This casting didn’t start its life in the Premium Line, but rather from the more modest mainline. However, it did so in the best fashion, under Race Day. The first casting of this model came in the guise of the 850 Estate Touring Car. Yes, it emulated the BTCC contender the first time it hit the shelves. Kudos to the late Ryu Asada for that.

Volvo 850 Estate

The one we get in the Fast Wagons is a bit more pedestrian. It doesn’t come with the familiar racing livery and instead looks a bit more plain. Mind you, it still looks good. It comes dressed up in a cream yellow paint job. Plain, yes, but remember that the special edition 850 T5R came in this colorway. It does make the smaller details stand out even more. Printed on headlights and taillights are clearly seen, and how about we add a pair of indicators on the sides as well. Door handles are painted but nothing to write home about, to be honest. The blackened side moldings that continue to wrap around the bumpers need a nod though, as this was one of the identifying visual cues of the T5, at least it was for me. The wheels are RR5SPMs, which aren’t bad. But I honestly think they could have done better. Dish or multi-spoke are my bets for this car. Another notable detail is the number plate, for which they put the rear latch to good use. And did I mention already that this casting has wing mirrors? Well, it does. Not very big, but details like these are rare on this scale (especially on a Hot Wheels car).

Volvo 850 Estate

Some real-world information: the Volvo 850 came about in 1991, originally in sedan guise and marketed as a compact luxury car pitted against the likes of the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C-class. The estate version was introduced in 1993, and a Turbo model was introduced the year after that. A special performance version was built in 1995 and was a success in terms of its run as a performance car. This was the 850 T5-R. However, it was back in 1994 that Volvo entered the British Touring Car Championship with the 850 Estate. Back then, an unorthodox car for racing. It did well enough and was eventually recognized as a capable racer in the BTCC. However, changes in the BTCC regulations forced the estate version to retire and replaced with a saloon version for 1995.

Cargo Carriers: Volkswagen Sunagon

The Volkswagen Sunagon, or rather, the Vanagon, is actually the Volkswagen Transporter. Specifically, the third generation Volkswagen Type 2. The complete name then is the Volkswagen Type 2 (T3). It was still called the various names from before such as the Transporter, Caravelle, Microbus and Vanagon.

Yep, it is confusing when you just call it by name. For the sake of this post, let’s call it what it is in Hot Wheels’ version, the Sunagon. The name which is actually a pun taken from the high-raising roof, a.k.a. “to the sun”.

As with the previous Transporters before it, the Type 2 (T3) initially featured a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine. Later versions did have water-cooled engines as well. However, the Sunagon was loosely based on the Westfalia Camper version which is the one that came with a raised roof, a refrigerator, a stove and a sink. Exactly what you would expect when you hear the word “Camper”. From there, the car evolved and gave birth to the Club Joker in 1981. In the United States, however, the Type 2 (T3) was better known by the Vanagon name. A term coined by VW when marketing executives decided to mash together the words van and station wagon. The reason for this is probably because of the popularity of station wagons as opposed to vans in the U.S.

The Sunagon that I have is a retooled casting for the Car Culture Cargo Carriers. The original casting was from 1982 and was designed by the legendary Larry Wood. In 2011, it was given an update where it debuted in the Hot Wheels Hot Ones. I like this one that I have. As expected from a Car Culture vehicle, it has details aplenty. Detailed headlights and taillights, nicely painted woody panels and marked door handles. The faded yellow color screams 1970s and it fits the car perfectly. Let’s not foget the red colored roof that lifts up to highlight the Transporter’s camper roots. Metal base adds the needed heft for this van. The Real Rider wheels complete the package and if you close your eyes, you can imagine yourself going on a road trip with this retro sweetness of a ride. It is an excellent addition to my collection which are mostly JDMs and Euro sports cars.

Pandem Subaru BRZ

The last of the Street Tuners is the Subaru BRZ. But this is not just a BRZ, it is the Pandem Subaru BRZ. Pandem makes crazy body kits for cars and Hot Wheels actually did a good job with this one.

Subaru Pandem BRZ front quarter profile

The car is based on the Scion FR-S, the car better known as the Toyota GT 86. Mechanical siblings, the Toyota GT-86, Subaru BRZ, and Scion FR-S, they all share the Boxer engine from Subaru as a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota. The result is a back-to-basics sports car that is low-cost, easy to maintain, and most importantly, fun and sporty to drive.

Subaru Pandem BRZ side profile

The difference of course is the Pandem body kit on this latest iteration by Mark Jones for Hot Wheels. They nailed the body kit on this casting. Front and rear bumpers, side skirts, canards, front lip, diffusers, wide-body, and the humongous rear wing. This is highlighted in the simple but effective blue paint job on the car. Other highlights include detailed headlights and taillights and a distinct Greddy logo on the rear number plate. No Car Culture casting would be complete without Real Rider wheels, and the Pandem BRZ will not disappoint with those black RR6SPM wheels.

Subaru Pandem BRZ rear quarter profile

The whole Street Tuners series was spectacular. The 180SX could have done better, to be honest, but it was a great addition to the series and really completes that JDM vibe. As with the rest of the cars in the series, the BRZ is a keeper.

TLVN Mazda 787B

The Mazda 787B has gone down in racing history as a legend. It is the only Japanese car that has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And it is the only Rotary-powered car to do so at that. And all that is still true as of current writing.

The model that I have with me is the Le Mans-winning number 55 car. This is a Tomica Limited Vintage Neo model, and that means you can expect nothing less than the very best of what Tomica/Tomytec has to offer. And indeed, it does not disappoint.

It comes in a bigger box than your normal TLVNs and the top flap is adorned by hand-drawn art of the car. It appears to be on Mazda’s Laguna Seca raceway, but I can’t be 100 percent sure so don’t quote me on that. Kudos to Nakajima-san whose signature appears together with the art. Unfortunately, I can’t read Japanese text so I can only assume that the cover introduces the car as the Mazda 787B 1991 winner of the 24 Hour of Le Mans.

Open the flap and a display window only teases with the three parts that the model comes in. The main body and chassis come with the engine, suspension, cooling system, and enormous wing. Beside it are two race car panels to cover the front and back of the half-naked race car. And since this is number 55, you can already see the orange and green RENOWN livery screaming at you even at this bullish 1:64 scale.

Taking it out of the box gives you a substantial feeling die-cast model. The metal on this thing feels very much premium. The level of detail on the plastic mould is what you would expect of a TLVN model. There are supposed to be 2 aerials that need to be attached to complete the car, but I didn’t put those in for fear of eventually losing them. The two panels attach perfectly on the car and you are rewarded with a fully built race car. The wheels are also what you would expect from a TLVN model, which are a pretty darn accurate representation of the wheels on the actual car. Again, the level of detail on this small scale is amazing. The livery, sponsor decals, internal parts, even the headlights all come at you with great presence.

Then again, you do pay a premium for this car. But as a collector and a Mazda nut, it has been worth every penny.

BMW 3.0 CSL Race Car

The BMW 3.0 CSL was built as a homologation machine in order for BMW to compete with the car in the European Touring Car Championship back in 1972. The CSL was based on the CS and used the same engine, albeit with an increase in displacement to just over 3 litres. This was done in order for them to race in the “over three-litre” racing category. The “L” in CSL had stood for “light”, as in lightweight.

A final version of the CSL was homologated in 1973 which sports an aerodynamic package inclusive of larger front air dams, short fins running across the front fenders, a spoiler on the trailing edge of the roof, and a rear wing. Apparently, with the full aero package installed, the CSL has earned the nickname “the Batmobile”.

The Hot Wheels version is a very nice casting that is close enough to the original as far as model cars go. The aero kit is complete on this car including the small fins on the front fender, vents on the front fender, a centre-mounted wiper on the windshield, and the side-exit exhaust pipes. The paint is your typical Hot Wheels quality which is not too shabby, really. However, it is the Castrol Racing livery that elevates this to the next level of cool. The white base is loyal to the BMW racing colors and the car really feels like it’s a proper race car. The black base is not too bad with the same livery, but it isn’t as striking as the white base car.

Overall, I really like this car. I don’t mind seeing this every day in my small display cabinet.

The Fast and Furious Premium Fast Imports Set is Rubbish

So, Mattel seems to have found another way to milk money — err — provide collectors with another series to complete. Granted, prices of Hot Wheels cars, even in this Premium series are still modest and reasonable when compared to, say, Ignition Model cars of the same scale. And yes, I know that they are not of the same caliber, but collectors collect and there’s really no point arguing what one prefers to collect.

So now we have the Fast and Furious Premium Series. And it’s rubbish. Or maybe it’s just rubbish to me. Let me explain.

The cars themselves are superb.

I mean, you have Brian’s R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R from 2 Fast 2 Furious in all it’s glory with that instantly recognizable blue striping, that GT wing and the silver paint job. It even has a 2F2F number plate and detailed head and tail lamps. And then you have the Real Rider wheels in chrome. It’s not close to the car’s original wheels, but a Real Rider is a premium upgrade however you look at it. However, Hot Wheels did not use a new casting for the R34, so you get the vented hood and the standard V-spec body kit. It’s not bad by any means, it’s just not an actual representation of Brian’s GT-R.

You also have Han’s Nissan Sylvia S15 from Tokyo Drift. The Mona Lisa of the drift world according to Twinkie. Again, you have detailed head and tail lamps, a fantastic replica paint job of the Mona Lisa car and even Sylvia badges, and it has wing mirrors! It has the same RR6SPM Real Rider wheels as the R34 and a ground-hugging body kit with a rear spoiler. Yes, they don’t represent the real car’s wheels and wing as well but if you squint your eyes, it will probably do.

Brian’s ’70 Ford Escort RS1600 from Fast & Furious 6 also makes an appearance on this set. The Escort was the most accurate representation of the franchise movie car on this lot. It may have only had the simple blue and white paint job but the premium quality really came in the details. Rally lights, head and tail lamp details, and those gold RR8SP wheels. It’s the wheels that did it, really. Hot Wheels nailed this one with this awesome wheelset.

And then there are the two oddball cars from the set. A yellow Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera with RR10SP wheels and a black Nissan Skyline GT-R (BNR32) with RR6SPM. The Lamborghini Gallardo is seen on the ending of Fast & Furious 6 parked outside of Dom’s house with the Bensopra GT-R. The Nissan R32 Nissan GT-R, on the other hand, is seen in Han’s funeral scene from Furious 7. Both cars have neither been confirmed nor denied to belong to any member of the “family” and are assumed that the cars were only there as part of the scene and nothing more. Even though they may not have been used as “hero” cars in the movie, they are still cool cars to have.

So why are they rubbish?

It is exactly because of what I wrote earlier. You have two cars that are not necessarily Fast and Furious movie cars. There were several Fast and Furious sets that came out and they could easily have plucked a few cars from there to add to the Fast Imports set (DK’s 350Z from Tokyo Drift and Suki’s S2000 from 2Fast 2Furious come to mind). The selection could have been better, but I’m not really complaining about the black R32.

’02 Radical GMC Truck (Muscle Machines)

In the early 2000s, there was another brand of toys called Muscle Machines. They became known for their cartoonish muscle cars and hot rods with super wide wheels, bulging chromed engines and an overall funny-looking take on cars that were meant to go fast and look mean. It was awesome! They soon worked on making normal looking cars after the hype in order to keep up with the competition (I’m looking at you Jada Toys). It wasn’t enough until they were bought over by die-cast giant Maisto in 2012.

Slammed in front and Normal at the back

I wasn’t really a big fan of slammed pick-up trucks. If I ever got a truck, I wanted it to be functional as a truck. That didn’t stop people from expressing themselves and dropping their pick-up trucks like cars though, especially not since wheel manufacturers started making big 20-and-over inches big-ass rollers. And while I personally would not have done it to my own truck, the appeal was there for me when these have been tastefully done.

The ’02 Radical GMC Truck is from the Muscle Machines Truckin’ series. A collaboration effort between Muscle Machines and Truckin’ magazine. I couldn’t get much information about the truck, but it seems that it is simply a GMC Sierra that is slammed to the ground with big chrome wheels and low profile series tires. I got this pair just recently (late 2017) because it has been a while since I’ve seen a decent looking die-cast truck for a good price. Sure, the packaging was nowhere near mint, but I had always planned on opening them anyway. And speaking of packaging, I liked how they still came in the old-school blister packs that are sealed all around. Of course, this did bring costs way higher than your normal Hot Wheels blister, but it did give you that extra feeling of security.

Back to the truck. This pair came in slick (for the era) flame jobs. The yellow truck with pink flames is not ashamed of being loud while the dark blue truck with black flames is the quiet type. The paint seems to have suffered a bit due to the age of these toys and probably from being in storage for a long time. They are still shiny, but some paint blemishes on the roofs of both trucks can be seen. The flame job is superb. As mentioned earlier, these are fine for the era, but they would probably be scoffed at by today’s more subdued generation. There is also a good splattering of chrome on the truck. Aside from the wheels, the front grill and headlights are treated in the shiny stuff. If you turn the truck upside down, you even get chrome on some of the undercarriage and the muffler. The interior is finely detailed with a good separation of colors. I’m talking about colors on the steering wheel, dashboard, center console, seats, and even aircon vents. You won’t get that amount of detail on normal die-cast cars (of this scale). The removable bed cover is a nice touch too (although you can’t really put anything on the shallow bed).

The truck also features a nice gimmick they called “SLAM!” (yes, with an exclamation point). These trucks are slammed to the ground with their wheels tucked inside the fenders by design. But press on the wheels (front and back for better balance), and the spring-loaded mechanism lifts the truck by half a millimeter (or thereabouts in this scale) and untucks the wheels. The lift is not by much, but it is a cool feature nonetheless. And it adds to the feel of those trucks with air suspension allowing them to be slammed to the ground, but are able to raise their stance enough to go over humps. The novelty will wear off quickly, but it is still a neat feature.

I’m very happy with these trucks. To me, it brings a bit of nostalgia and also a better appreciation of other die-cast brands. There isn’t really a lot catering to the smaller 1:64 scale compared to the 1:18 scale modelers, and it’s a shame that the choices are becoming more and more limited. But there are high-quality brands in this smaller scale that have every right to call their products as collectibles rather than toys. The Muscle Machines line surely fit into that former category.

Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 (Hot Wheels)

The Lamborghini Huracan.

Essentially a replacement to the Lamborghini Gallardo, the Hot Wheels Lamborghini Huracan is based on the LP 610-4 model. In real life, that is a mid-ship V10 with 610 HP and 4-wheel drive. The Hot Wheels first edition of this casting comes in a beautiful yellow hue, obviously based on the Giallo Midas Pearl. And while it isn’t an actual Pearl finish, the shade of yellow is absolutely stunning on this car.

In typical Hot Wheels fashion, the stance is aggressive with wheel-arch filling rollers. The PR5s look good on this car and the tampo’d headlights are a nice touch. Too bad they did not put the same treatment on the taillights, but the Lamborghini text on the rear license plate holder was a nice touch. There is just something about the way Hoy Wheels casts their vehicles that really grab you nowadays. The lines of the car are perfect, the sculpted front and rear end of the car look great, the exhaust and rear valence, and that stance.

There is one annoying thing about this casting that really is a bummer for me. The clear rear bonnet is a Lamborghini signature that ensures you have a good view of the engine powering the beast. On this casting, however, there is a bit of the casting that shows through the clear plastic (but not in a good way). Never mind that the mold of the engine is just black, but the bright yellow metal of the cast is just screaming from under that rear bonnet. It is in the mold of the engine cover though, but it does not really help alleviate the eye-sore that it is.

Overall, this is an excellent addition to the ever-growing lineup of Lamborghinis in the Hot Wheels stable. The only thing missing right now is a Real Riders treatment.