Fast Cash

The roof functions as a clip to hold your cash as a Hot Wheel wallet.

Fast Cash

Name: Fast Cash
Debut series: 2007 New Models
Produced year: 2007
Designed: -

The story behind: Fast Cash is an armored car. It has doors in the style of vault doors. It has a large engine with a dollar sign on the front. The roof/spoiler of Fast Cash is made as a clip, to hold paper. It has a combination lock on the back of the car.

Look at that motor

The looks: Fast Cash is a very cool armored hot rod, the whole concept is made as it is a huge vault sitting on wheels. Have to admit this is a very original model, the body is made of metal with a lot of details in the doors and in the back simulating locks and hand lings . The chassis and the roof are made of plastic, which brings me to the next topic, the roof, O my, what an original way of making this car beyond functional. The roof functions as a clip to hold your cash as a Hot Wheel wallet.

Every time I go to the store I definitively take my Fast Cash with loads of speed and money! A fun addition to everybody's collection.

Rating: ****

Ready to cash out

Indian rupies 

Brazilian reales

Mexican pesos

Rodzilla

When they sold it as the "Year of the Dragon 2012" 

Rodzilla

Name: Rodzilla
Debut series: 1988
Produced year: 1988
Designed: Larry Woods

Cockpit and V8 ahead

The story behind:  Rodzilla is a casting in the shape of a reclining mechanical dragon. The driver sits behind the big V8 engine en under the fearsome dragon. The head of the dragon can be turned 360 degrees.

The looks: What can I say when a car looks like a humongous dragon sitting in 4 wheels. My model is from 2012 when they sold it as the "Year of the Dragon 2012" for those who dont know where, well this is celebrated in China folks (again one of my South Asia trips). The model is plastic with only the chassis made of metal. The color red with gold goes well with the model to warrant a flashy appearance. 

Rating: ***

Snacking at ya!

Batman 75th Anniversary Part1: Tim Burton Batman's Batmobile 1989.

Must be one of the most iconic coolest machines out there

Name: Batmobile (Tim Burton 1989)
Debut series: 2004 First Editions
Produced year: 2004
Designed: Terry Ackland-Snow
                   John Evans
                   Keith Short

The "Keaton" Mobile

The story behind:  Designed specifically for the 1989 Batman movie, during production, Anton Furst looked at jet aircraft components, war machines, and other such vehicles in their search to produce a car for an edgier, darker Batman than what has previously been seen. In the end opting for pure expressionism, the production crew took design ques from the Salt Flat Racers of the 1930s and the Sting Ray macho machines of the 1950s to produce a variable tank of a car.

Affectionately dubbed the "Keaton-mobile" after Michael Keaton; the actor playing Batman/Bruce Wayne in the films at the time, the car's popularity with fans has established a strong following. It has been used as a basis for several comic book cars (as well as itself making various cameos in the comics), as inspiration for the Batman: The Animated Series car, served as a spokesmodel for OnStar in 1999, and easily ranks with the 1966 Batmobile as one of the most popular Batmobiles of all time.

Batimobile 89

The looks: What can be said about Batman Batmobile, it must be one of the most iconic coolest machines out there. Just the idea of it roaming around your streets gives me the chills. Hot wheels wise on of the hardest to find as well, I was able to find this model after 3 years of searching through different auction places and thank God I was in southeast Asia at the time I had the chance to lay my hands on a model. 

The paint job is very sleek, black colored, it differs from the 2004 version which had some chrome accents especially in the air intakes and the turbine in the front, this time they are colored black. Its a give and take considering that the chrome made the car more detailed but the black gives it a cool dark vibe. The body is completely plastic considering the high detail very faithful to the original with only the chassis being metal. Windshield is blue while in previous iterations it used to be black. 

It is a very solid design that evokes everything that was cool about Burton's 89 movie, I still see the model and I hum the Batman theme created by Danny Elfman back then, it is so iconic that this model is a definitive have for any Hot wheels collectors out there! My rating is 5 out of 5 for this one.

Rating: *****

Gorgeous black

Screamin´ Howler

Will definitively make you scream everytime you see it down the ramps at full speed!

Screamin Howler

Name: Screamin´ Howler
Debut series: 1999 First Editions
Produced year: 1999
Designed: Greg Padginton

The story behind: Screamin´ Howler, what a name for a sweet design. It looks and is a massive hot rod with huge engines (ala hot wheels design). What impreses me the most about this model is how simple yet good looking it is.

Screamin Power...

The looks: What is more impressive than 2 huge engines on each side of the car?...yep whats most impressive is that it features a cargo area behind the seat (probably for carrying groceries). Whatever it is this one is a very solid design, and when I say solid, I say heavy. the whole body is die cast having only the chromed engines made of plastic.

What this model screams is continuity with production started in 1999 and not being produced ever since 2009 Screamin´Howler will definitively make you scream everytime you see it down the ramps at full speed!






Rating: ***

What a nice cherry red color

Shell Shock

O Shell-shocked!

Shell Shock

Name: Shell Shock
Debut series: 2007 First Editions
Produced year: 2007
Designed: Josh Henson

The story behind:  Usually I like the nifty little references that hot wheels makes in each and every one of its models, for this one. they choose to reference that nice 80s cartoon that drove a whole generation insane , i am talking about TNMT. TNMT or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was not only the biggest cartoon of the 80s but it was also a marketing plot to sell anything that had a shell and it was green, serously! 

The looks: About the car, o shell shocked! this one it looks like a snapping turtle with revolver guns on its cheek. The hood is a definite turtle carapace. Aside from that the model is almost plastic made with only the chassis being of metal. This one it aint build for walking but it sure delivers a packing! Give it a chance if you can!

. 

Rating: ****

Ready to snap in!

Swamp Buggy

After 2 years of being delayed, Swamp Buggy is here to stay! 

Swamp Buggy

Name: Swamp Buggy
Debut series: 2010 First Editions
Produced year: 2010
Designed: -

A look from above

The story behind:  Originally slated to be released in the 2008 Turbo Driver CAR-Tridge line, the Swamp Buggy fell victim to the line's cancellation. The Swamp Buggy had to wait 2 years before it was finally released in 2010 in the Race World Jungle Series

The looks: This buggy looks like a swamp frog, given said that I believe its one of the most original models since well, it looks like a nice small frog, the colors (depending on which year you acquired yours) it will be more less constant with this swamp frog line. From my perspective is one of the most "jungly" cars out there.

Everything in this model is plastic, but then again with that radical design, its the best way to go (and cheaper as well). After 2 years of being delayed, Swamp Buggy is here to stay! Totally recommended just for its sheer fun looks and original colors

. 

Rating: ****

To the frog below....

IROC Pontiac Firebird

 Back to the 90s with this one!

IROC Pontiac Firebird

Name: IROC Pontiac Firebird
Debut series: 1998 First Editions
Produced year: 1998
Designed: Mark Jones

Screams quality!

The story behind: It is based of in the actual IROC (International Race of Champions) 1990s production car which raced in this North American Championship. In March 2008, IROC auctioned off its tools, equipment, cars, and memorabilia, and went out of business. About the actual car originally this races started being competed only by Porsches but because of the wide competition in the market (NASCAR, F1) and because the wide disciplines they were covering it was natural that different cars were brought in for different types of races. 

The looks: The car is die cast with only the chassis being plastic , this car reminds me of Hot Wheels from the 90s , it is an actual car with a very solid design which pays a lot of respect for the story of the model. The one I have is one of the few that got released back in 2011 so it is white in color with the Highway patrol decals. Inside the car there is one seat passenger as well as all the detail you could find from a real IROC competition car. Back to the 90s with this one is how I feel, not only the IROC tradition was in its prime but also Hot Wheels was in its prime!

Rating: ****

Just a beauty...

Wattzup

 Take it or leave it since this one makes no difference.

Name: Wattzup

Wattzup

Debut series: 2014 First Editions
Produced year: 2014
Designed: -

The story behind: Lightning quick in the curves, and pulsing down the straights, this single-seat racer has a special "electroshock" surprise for any would-be competitors. Stay clear, or your rear will be seared!

Above the shock

The looks: If you really bought what I just put above than you are ready to buy this one, by the looks of it its deceives you thinking that is some kind of car-bug hybrid, it is only after the package comes out that you get the real purpose of it. The car is some sort of electricity conductor, it has a battery at each side of the car powering up the main weapon which is some kind of terminals from which electricity comes....THATS AS MUCH AS I CAN EXPLAIN ABOUT THIS ONE!





In reality it is a generic racing car, very low on its gravity point with all this additions, it kinda of looks like an F1 racing car with pincers. Wattzup left me cold so take my advice take it or leave it since this one makes no difference.

Rating: **

Detailed view of the batteries

NCC-1701 Enterprise

To boldly go where no Hot Wheels has gone before

Lift Off

Name: NCC-1701 Enterprise
Debut series: 2013 First Editions
Produced year: 2013
Designed: -

Something must be odd with the scale

The story behind: Keeping up with my 80s reviews I wanted to go back even further, welcome NCC-1701 Enterprise. Yes there has been lots of iterations with the name Enterprise, there was a space shuttle, a couple of flag ships and even the first nuclear aircraft carrier, so its no wonder they carried the name towards Star Trek which was a very popular show late 60s early 70s when space travel was a hot topic and just before our imagination went to the crapper thanks to facebook, twitter and so forth.

The show Star Trek dealt with exploration and the occasionally, "saving human race" so the ship in question albeit is a flag ship is not as gunned as per say Star Wars or even Battlestar Galactica vessels. 

The looks: To boldly go where no Hot Wheels has gone before in 2013 they choose to include it in the Hot Wheels roster. Albeit amusing I am not sure is a solid contender, most of the body is metal with only the propulsion being plastic. The model is detailed enough to avoid complains from the most avid fans of the show. It also includes a plastic stand which makes your ship to stand. Overall not my favorite Hot Wheel by any means considering it is smaller in scale than say, your average toy car. For fans only!

Rating: ***

Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence.

Hot Wheels Truckin Transporter Caged Cargo

 This is the time Optimus Prime goes cargo cage!

Caged Cargo

Name: Caged Cargo
Debut series: 2013 First Editions
Produced year: 2013
Designed: -

The story behind: Hot Wheels Truckin Transporter has been around for some time, probably since 2006 considering if my memory don't fails. Anyway the hefty thing about these babies are:

1) They used to be much bigger and they use to come with a Hot Wheels.

2) Nowadays they have changed them to fit the tracks but no Hot Wheels included.

Roll Out!!!

From this pointers I can take that by 2014 Hot Wheels is getting very cheap with quality and production, not only they release less models per year but also they have taken out some things that collectors like myself took for granted, o well, I guess everybody has to make a buck! Back to our product, so this one is in 1:32 scale like every other hot wheel, but, is it good? Lets find out!

71 Dodge Demon

The looks: So as far as I go I got excited with this model in particular, it has this 80s vibe which is undeniable considering this kind of cargo trucks became famous thanks to Transformers franchise and the similar look to the Optimus Prime. I would had rather have it in red but then again , this one is all right, the wolf decal makes it look very bad ass and the cargo, is very well, I could say is a give and take actually. As per norm I took the liberty of putting a car as a nice combo. About the car 71 Dodge Demon, it fits the scheme well also evoking the past, the color is blue with green flames, almost the whole body is die cast metal which is solid for the time we are living in right now.

This is the time when Optimus Prime goes cargo cage!

Rating: ***

Combo Truckers

Hot Wheels Angry Birds Editions

When the birds took the world!

Name: Red Bird & Minion Pig
Debut series: 2012 First Editions
Produced year: 2012
Designed: -

Minion Name: Minion Pig 

Red Bird

The story behind: Angry bird took the world for surprise back in 2009 with its addictive gameplay, ever since the world has seen numbers and numbers of different iterations of the franchise (a la LEGO). Forgive me if I don't follow suit but I feel that suiting franchises into other popular franchises just makes everything spoiled. Anyway it was about time when the franchise winked at Hot Wheels to build 2 of the characters from the franchise immortalized in cars. I remember I was in India when these 2 models arrived, of course its been 2 years ever since and I just got the chance to have the Minion Pig (hence the nifty review mind you!).

Ruling the world!

The looks: Entirely made of plastic these 2 models are the closest you can get to the characters, the Red Bird it has this compact body with the trademark "angry look". The body is nicely painted red cherry for most of the body while the chassis is peach. Yellow beak and black tail are included, all plastic of course. Minion Pig on the other hand is apple green and while the first part of the body is indeed the pig the back of it includes an 8 piston motor (Hot wheels trademark). If you ask me both models are nice but detailed wise I prefer the Minion Pig, it has more into it than the Red Bird which is well, a bird mounted in wheels. Anyway its 2014, when the birds took the world , and while they aren't slowing down, this 2 models are HARD to find! So if you see them, don't miss the chance of owning them! 

Rating: ****

  

Ready to get it out!