Once I found out that the Hot Ones were coming back for 2025, I decided let’s take a look back at the previous versions. The Hot Ones has been a cornerstone of Hot Wheels for decades, and looks to be continuing.
- The Hot Ones (1981) series was originally released in 1981 with a new wheel and axle design. This new design was marketed as “FASTEST NON-POWERED METAL CARS!”
- The wheel type, HO, or Hot Ones.
- The Hot Ones (2011) line is a throw back to the classic cars of Mattel’s line-up. With many different styles of wheels included in this release.
The 1981 Hot Ones highlights:
Some of the most Iconic Hot Wheels ever produced
What can I say? I like my Camaros and Chevys.
Hot Ones, 2011 rebirth highlights:
2012 Hot Ones continues, highlights:
That Toyota truck has eluded me to this day. The Blue Silverado is a gorgeous piece.
2011 Series Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Lots of 1980s models
- Throwback tempo designs which was authentic to the previous generation
- Plenty of Metal bodies and bases, which are always a plus.
Cons:
- Many HW design junk made it into the two waves, which clogged pegs and made some of these harder to come by
- The wheels are not consistent like Ultra Hots for instance
- Less of a theme and more just a “what we picked” line.
Back again for 2025:
The Hot Ones is returning for 2025. All cars feature Spectraflame-style paintjobs and feature retro-style graphics. It is the successor to the Ultra Hots Series originally introduced in 2022.
I’m not jumping up and down about these, but I will most likely collect them as they come, as I did with Flying Customs and Ultra Hots before this. This photo was a sneak preview from T-Hunted.
