The Background:
The total collection is over 12,000 cars. Most of which have been bought in the last ten years. I began dabbling in Hot Wheels in 2007, discovered Treasure Hunts and Super Treasure Hunts in 2010, and went off to the races in 2013. I began going to shows, vintage shops, flea markets, and hunting stores more and more. I’ve spent entire days hunting cars, and been out all night waiting for dump bins to hit. I’ve pulled multiple supers from one bin, and multiple different supers in one run. I’ve been to many Kmart days. I used collecting Hot Wheels as a full time hobby, even missing work from time to time in order to attend events. The collection has grown and grown, and it’s become a daily thing to hit stores looking for cars.
What I’ve Accomplished:
- One of Every Super Treasure Hunt from 2011 (Minus the Datsun 240Z) to 2023 except for: 71 Datsun 510 (2021), ’95 Mazda RX7 (2021)Honda Civic Type R (EK9) (2022), 84 Mustang SVO (2022) and just about half of 2023’s Offerings: 68 Copo Camaro, 1968 Mazda Cosmo Sport, Renault Sport RS 01, 82 Toyota Supra, ’65 Mercury Comet Cyclone, Porsche 935, and Volvo 240 Drift Wagon.
- At least one of every Walmart Zamac release from 2013 to 2023, only missing the 2023 Kool Kombi (for now).
- At least one of every Regular Treasure Hunt from 2001 to present, with a handful from 1996-1999, and only missing some from 2023.
- All Store Exclusive Recolors from Kroger, Best Buy, Gamestop, and Dollar General.
- All Target Red Editions released so far.
- All but a couple of all Kmart Day recolors from 2004-2018
- All but one 2004 Zamac.
- All but one or two Anniversary series cars
- All of the Christmas/Winter/Happy New Years editions
- All kinds of subseries, Premiums, Team Transports, Car Cultures, Redlines and Real Riders, Pop Cultures, Ultra Hots, Target Retros, Cool Classics, Classic Series, Batman, Fast and Furious, and the list goes on.
- There’s probably more.
- All kinds of mainlines from 1993 to 2023.
Why It’s Getting Harder Out Here:
Since the pandemic of 2020, there are more and more people collecting Hot Wheels. Most of these people are flippers, trying to cash in on “the more valuable” cars, knowing people will pay for items to “have it now”. Combine this with store staff less and less interested in putting out cars, as “collectors” hound them and harass them in order to receive new stock. I used to be able to get cases from Target on a regular basis just by being polite and cleaning up the area when I was done. It wasn’t perfect, but more often than not it paid off. Now? Target hasn’t gotten cases in what seems like months, Walmart only puts out cars when they feel like it (could be days or nights), and you have people who are combing the stores at opening and closing in order to corner cases. (I used to be one of these, so I get it.)
But Life intervened. Marriage and Children take up a lot of time, along with working a full schedule, and it’s harder to get out and run to a bunch of stores hoping to find something. I’d get lucky at a Walmart or Target and buy 25+ of the newest case, then go weeks with finding nothing of note. Most of the trips I’ve made in the second half of 2023 have seen me come home empty handed. I’ve used eBay more than ever to obtain the pieces I want to have in my collection, because frankly, it’s just easier and less time consuming than running from store to store. This is also because:
Less and Less of Stuff I want:
There are all kinds of Hot Wheels products on the horizon, and almost none are things that I am personally interested in. For example:
- 2023 had the worst group of Supers in years
- NFTs? Nope
- Elite64? Pass
- 1:43 scale? Overpriced and nothing I need.
- Almost all Boulevards? Nothing I need. There were several sets previewed for 2024 and I think there were 2 cars I identified as something I’d want.
- Same goes for Car Culture and Team Transport. Nothing that is going to make me make a special trip.
- Even the Entertainment series, is just the same stuff released over and over.
I’ve decided I don’t need to be in the stores every day, just to pass over this stuff every time.
What about Greenlight, Auto World, and Johnny Lightning?
I don’t buy everything of those lines as it is, so it will continue to be the same. If I’m in a store that carries them, I’ll be looking for chases, and definitely plan on continuing with Square Bodies and other models that I have been enjoying from these brands.
What’s the Plan for 2024?
- Store Exclusives: I’m still planning on pursuing these as I’ve always had a special liking on these recolors.
- Red Editions: Have to keep the trend going
- Zamacs: Same, no need to break the chain now
- Ultra Hots: I’ll pick these up as they come
- Premiums/Car Culture/Team Transport etc: I’ll pick the ones up that I like, which the majority, I don’t.
- Treasure Hunts: I’ll look if I’m in the store.
- Supers: I’ll look if I’m in the store, and possibly take to eBay if necessary.
More or less, I plan on being more strategic and wise with my Hot Wheels purchasing going forward, as there just isn’t enough time and the hunt has become more and more frustrating. I applaud those who have the time to be in the stores daily, and admire those who are having no trouble finding the things they want for their collections. In a way, I am admitting defeat, but I feel like I’ve had a solid 10 year run, and there are just other things that I need to be spending my time on. I will be updating the blog with checklists, and new content the same as before, however.
It’s been a good run.
