The first issue of a Hot Wheels model always gets the most buzz, and buzz was the name of the game when the Civic EF was unveiled. Collectors went crazy, and even drove up the price on the first to hit ebay up over $200. Since then it has flown off the pegs in some areas (SoCal), and hung on the pegs in others.
It may be more of the same with the recolor. Or it may not. Red was an appropriate first issue. So many Civics of that era were found in red, but in diecast land the teal upstages the red in a big way.
Teal is also a very era-appropriate color, and it looks like Hot Wheels did its best to match the real thing. It also added a few more colors to the mix. The basically used black, white, and grey in its detailing. The teal mixes in red and orange, and the result is fantastic.
Of course when you get only one model for your First Look on the blog, you are at the mercy of what is sent. The Civic casting has had an issue with straight tampo hits, and the b pillar suffers if things are only slightly off. While painting the pillar black is a nice touch, it does require effort to find one that sports a perfectly straight tampo. As soon as the teal is in stores, we will search for one. In the main time, ignore the off-kilter tampo. Straight tampo or not, the teal Civic is easily one of the best models of the year.
Is there another recolor coming? We don't know, but if there is, we are hoping for white. Seems like a logical progression. But nothing will beat the teal in our view.
(Find the Civic on ebay
, and be sure to check out the shop that supplied the Civic for us, Grana Toys
.)...)
Hot Wheels 1990 Honda Civic EF (2014 New Models):
