First Look: Hot Wheels Fast & Furious '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport...

Right out the gate it is probably appropriate to remind everyone about our approach to Hot Wheels movie cars.

Just like all the Retro Entertainment cars, we are more interested in the cars themselves than the movies they came from.  At least when it comes to our approach here on the Lamley Blog.  I am a movie geek (Fargo remains my favorite movie), and love to see some of my favorite cars pop up on the big and small screen, but when it is time to showcase the mini versions of those cars, there are folks far more qualified to take the movie angle.

So we will focus on the car.  Yes, the just-released Ford Gran Torino was a bad guy car in the F&F 4, but that is all I remember because someone told me.  I saw the movie, I just don't remember.

But I could not be more excited for the model's release.  That is why we sought out a good friend in Canada and asked him to get us a couple.  They arrived this week, and we could not be happier with the release.

First off, we are as much in the dark as everyone else when it comes to this new Fast & Furious release.  Last year's release at Walmarts here in the US, and to hobby dealers elsewhere, was a huge success, and a perfect match for Mattel and Hot Wheels.  So successful in fact that it appears that they decided to do it again.

But that is where the questions arise:

1. What models are in this set?  Many from last year's set, and we can't see any differences, outside of the new metal spoiler on the R34 Skyline.  Other than that, the color, wheels, and decos are exactly the same.  
2. What are the new models in this set, and what did they replace?  New to this set is the '72 Gran Torino, which has never been released elsewhere, and the '69 Dodge Charger Daytona, which was released as a mainline last year.  They replaced the matte grey Chevelle and grey Nissan GT-R.  All the rest are the same.
3. Why was this set released again, one year after the first?  We don't know for sure, but maybe the release of the set, with the two new models was already scheduled to coincide with the release of Fast 7, which was planned for this summer.  As we all know, the release of 7 has been delayed due to the tragic death of Paul Walker.  But maybe the set was already so far into production that Mattel carried on.  Pure speculation, but it could be the case.
4. Will we see this set in the US, or will it be an international-only release?  Once again, we have no idea.  There is no reason to think we won't, other than it has been released overseas for a few weeks now, with no sign of it anywhere in the States.  Maybe Mattel wanted to make these available to the markets that didn't get the first set, and US collectors will have to make Canadian friends.  Not a bad option...
5. Is the Gran Torino as awesome as we think it is?  Hell yes.

If you have been a reader of Lamley for awhile now, you probably have a few things figured out about us.  We are JDM-obsessed, we break for classic Porsches and BMW's, we have a severe wagon fetish, classic pickup trucks strike our fancy, and we ADORE the Hot Wheels Gran Torino Sport.  While muscle generally means Mustang, Bowties, and Mopar, the Gran Torino is our favorite of the bunch.  Its profile evokes the classic muscle lines from front to back, but its grill is a telling sign of the over-the-top designs that were coming later in the 1970's.  It looks like nothing else, and Hot Wheels captured it perfectly.

And it is clear someone at Mattel shares our passion for the '72 Torino, because it has gotten a lot of attention since its initial release in 2011.  It has been in the mainline every year since, with recolors, it has been a Walmart exclusive, A Kroger exclusive, an RLC model, and a Super Treasure Hunt.  And now a Fast & Furious exclusive.  Whoever in El Segundo is responsible for this plethora of Torino tastiness, we salute you.

And it looks great here in green on chrome J5 wheels.  Obviously the 1:1 F&F version was updated and enhanced, but the design was kept clean, and the car is a beaut.  And the mini reflects that well.  The J5's, at least to me, really work, as does the green and white.  The design is very close to the actual stock version of the Gran Torino, with the side pinstripe, but updated enough to look very modern.

Nonetheless, we are very happy to add this to the ever-growing Gran Torino collection.  In fact it is time to give it an updated listing, which you will see below.

Enjoy...

Hot Wheels '72 Ford Gran Torino Sport (2014 Fast & Furious exclusive):

The Gran Torino Sport Family:

2011 Mainline

2011 Mainline recolor

2011 Mainline recolored (also released with a Walmart-exclusive banner on the windshield)

2012 Kroger exclusive Super Speeders

2012 Mainline white MC5

2012 Mainline white-lipped MC5

2012 Mainline recolor MC5 (rare)

2012 Mainline recolor J5

2012 Walmart exclusive

2013 Super Treasure Hunt

2013 Mainline

2013 Mainline recolor

2013 RLC

2014 Mainline

2014 Mainline recolor

2014 Fast & Furious

So is there another Fast & Furious line coming?

Evidence is mounting that something Fast & Furious-related is coming to Hot Wheels.  We don't know if it will be in the form of another special line, or if it will be integrated into the mainline, but something is in fact coming.

We now have better pics of the upcoming Ford Gran Torino Sport in green, and while we initially thought it was just a recolor of the 2011 First Edition, it actually is a new, fresh deco:

And it looks amazing.  Now why do we think it is part of a Fast & Furious set?  First, it looks exactly like the Torino driven by Fenix in the 4th (?) movie.  (Hopefully I got that right.  I was lambasted for getting the driver wrong the last time I reported on this model.)

Second, we have seen images of the Hot Wheels R34 Skyline with the exact same deco as the Fast & Furious R34 released last year.  Silver with blue striping.  Only this one is the modified casting with the metal spoiler.  Last year's R34 had the plastic spoiler.  So that is coming as well, we just don't know where.

It could possibly be that a second F&F line was already in the process of being made for the 7th F&F, which was set to be released this year until the tragic death of Paul Walker.  The models then could be integrated into the mainline, or released as a special edition anyway.  Nonetheless, something is coming.

Will it be many of the same models as last year, with a few additions like the Torino?  We have no idea, but there are plenty of possibilities, including the Hakosuka Skyline used in the 5th movie.

We will wait and see, but one way or the other, we are very excited to see another nice, clean version of the Gran Torino on its way...

The rush on Paul Walker-related Fast & Furious Hot Wheels: What are your thoughts?

You knew it would happen, but we want to see what you think.

With the tragic passing of Paul Walker this last weekend, there has been a rush on anything Paul Walker-related.  That includes Hot Wheels, more specifically the models from last year's Fast & Furious line.  The R34 Skyline and Toyota Supra from the line have skyrocketed in price, as Paul Walker fans gobble them up on ebay.

So what are your thoughts about this?

On one hand, we totally get it.  These Hot Wheels may be the best memento Paul Walker fans can have.  He was a petrolhead, and he will always be associated with his F&F character.  Demand for these cars is up, and when demand goes up, so do the prices.

On the other hand, it does seem a little weird for anyone to take advantage of such a tragedy.  It doesn't feel right.  But if I didn't have the Hot Wheels R34 and Supra, I would want them, and these sellers are making them available.  And there is nothing wrong with pricing them at market prices.

At the same time, I just saw a commercial for the Blu Ray release of F&F 6, and they mentioned they will donate a portion of the proceeds to Paul Walker's charity, Reach Out WorldWide.  Is this the same thing?  Hard to say, as everyone benefits.  You get the Blu Ray, the studio sells their product, and the charity gets funds.

So what do you think?

If you don't have the models, do you want them?  What do you think about the demand skyrocketing, and sellers making them available?  If I had extras and wanted to make them available, should I?

Share your thoughts...

Hot Wheels Fast & Furious Models

June 3rd Matchbox Ambassador Update: New Road Raider & other sneaks...

Greetings collectors...

June is here, my kids are out of school, and the countdown has begun to the 10th Annual Matchbox Collector's International Gathering of Friends on July 19-21 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Once again, members of the Matchbox Design and Marketing Teams will be there to hobnob with collectors and give us an idea of where the brand is headed for 2014.  The exclusive models are done, and promise to be doozies this year.  Those who are attending, plan on being the envy of many when you return with the exclusives.

There is a lot more in store, and event organizer Jim Gallegos has told me this will be the best event yet.  I personally am looking forward to seeing many old friends there, and hope many new collectors can make it.  It is not too late to sign up and attend, just check out the info here.  For those of you who can't attend, I promise to pass along a full Ambassador Report on the news and festivities.  (And look for the first images of the exclusives here on the Lamley Blog as well.)

Moving on, who here has seen the new Fast & Furious 6?  Many of you are aware that Matchbox's blue friends across the hall are doing some very popular Fast & Furious models to help promote the movie.  Well after seeing this, it looks like Matchbox UNOFFICIALLY and inadvertently has done a Fast & Furious model of their own.  The Rock's character zips around London in an International MXT-MVA, just like the one Matchbox is introducing to the basic range this year, which we previewed earlier:

So no, this is not a Fast & Furious promotion, but not bad timing.  We should see this model very soon...

Now let's get on with the sneak peeks, courtesy of Mattel.

We have one new model to show this week.  Say hello to the MB895 Road Raider, Matchbox's newest police vehicle.  This model, Matchbox's own creation, was done to compliment the recent SWAT Truck.  And you may notice two members of the Road Raider Police Force in the back of the truck.  Yes, that's Rover and Spot in the back, hitching a ride to their next assignment:

Next up, one of my personal favorite Matchbox castings.  I have always been a fan of the Audi R8, and am very happy to see this model return to the range.  The licensors at Audi are, appropriately, sticklers on what the R8 looks like in miniature, especially in regards to the side blades.  They would like to see the blades highlighted, which can complicate things for the normal deco process on the Matchbox basic version.  So it was a bit of a surprise to see it back, as the team has figured out a way to get the blades printed along with the front detailing.  This version comes in blue, like the 10-pack version from a few years ago, with the much better looking 5-spoke wheels:

Lastly, the ever-popular Desert Thunder V16.  At last count, there are over 30 different versions of the Desert Thunder since its debut in 2007.  If you count wheel and deco variations it goes much higher.  So let's add another, and to be honest this has to be one of its better looking versions.  A seriously cool deco, no matter what you might think of the model:

That is it for this week.  Seven more weekly updates before I relinquish my duties as Ambassador.  I will try to make all seven count.  Next week's will not disappoint, as an ultimate driving machine plans on making an appearance.

Until then...

First Look: Hot Wheels '69 Dodge Charger Daytona, Fast & Furious Edition (plus comparisons with the Superbird and Charger)...

Happy Fast & Furious Day!

I am sure there are a few of you who have or are headed to see the latest exploits of Dom and the gang. I will admit to doing the same.  It has become a tradition for a good friend of mine and I to find time on the FF release day to see the movie and thoroughly envelop ourselves in the terrible dialogue, bad acting, and over-the-top stunts.  And we love every second of it.

It is funny that many people I know equate my excitement about FF6 to the fact that I love cars, but to be honest it couldn't be further from the truth.  The movie is pure guilty pleasure, and the cars are the bonus.  While I am not much into modified Chargers and tuners, I can sure enjoy them.  And while most of the cars featured in the movies don't drive the same path I might, there are always some fabulous exceptions.  For example, how great was it in the 5th movie that the filmmakers used a hakosuka as O'Connor's daily driver while slumming it in the favellas of Rio?  Only a handful of American moviegoers would know what car that actually was, while everyone else would think it was just another Brazilian car.  And no, I never saw any '71 Skylines when I lived in Brazil.

I have yet to see FF6, but that changes later today.  So we will see what vehicular beauties we have in store.  There are a few we know about, mainly Dom's Charger Daytona, which replaces his '70 Charger, which I think was destroyed in the 5th movie.  Or 4th.  I cannot remember.

Which leads us to the Hot Wheels version.  It appears the Daytona will be the only model Hot Wheels produces for the new movie, which compliments the 8-car set depicting cars from earlier FF movies.  Since we know FF7 is already in the works, let's hope we see another FF set from Hot Wheels with other models (including the hakosuka) from previous movies, including 6.

But for now we enjoy the Daytona.  I think it is the consensus among collectors that this will be a cool model to have, but there have been some questions.  So we will try to answer them here, mainly with the photos:

1.  Is it just the Superbird casting, slightly modified?

No.  While they are essentially the same size, there are clear indications that the Daytona is NOT a modified Superbird.  The wing, pillars, rear wheels, and base all indicate this isn't the case.

2.  Is it just the '69 Charger casting, slightly modified?

We don't think so.  There are some definite similarities, mainly in size and detailing, but when put side-by-side, some differences emerge.

So whether the starting point was the '69 Charger, the Daytona is clearly a brand new casting built from scratch.  And to be honest, isn't the real Daytona just a Charger, slightly modified?  What is wrong with Hot Wheels doing the same thing?

3.  Why not use the old Daytona tool?

The old Daytona was retired.  What happens to the mold when it retires is beyond me.  Once the decision was made to discontinue the casting, it was gone.  HW would not have anticipated getting the FF license, and in turn seeing a Daytona in number 6.  So they built another, and did a completely new take on it.  Plus it falls more in line with the Chargers that have been done recently, the '69 and '70.

4.  Will this be part of the exclusive 8-car FF set?  

No.  This will be a basic model only.  Maybe if they do a set next year, we will see another version.  But there isn't really a need.  This one is detailed well for the most part.

Our take?  We like it.  I have the four colors of the FE Superbird in the collection, and the Daytona will join them.  Whether or not I collect future versions of this casting remains to be seen, but this clean FF version will suffice if I don't...

Your take?

(Find the '69 Dodge Charger Daytona and the rest of HW Batch M at Wheel Collectors...)


Hot Wheels '69 Dodge Charger Daytona (2013 New Models, Fast & Furious):

With the Superbird

And with the Charger

And for good measure...