I had an embarrassing moment the other day. I walked into my favorite hobby store and the owner had just brought out a huge amount of diecast cars. There were so many to choose from that I ended up leaving empty handed.
After a quick look at the different models from Solido, MiniGT, GTSpirit, Hot Wheels, and Matchbox, my only question was: how much does the entire store cost? Having a room full of diecast cars is not a mission impossible, at least not if you are specifically targeting the rare ones. But juggling multiple hobbies might make it impossible.
I was still happy that I had purchased the Mutt Cutts Van that day (the vehicle from Dumb and Dumber). So I wasn't sad as I walked out of the store. I had successfully drafted a list of Hot Wheels castings that were a priority for me, which turned out to be a great deal for my bank account. But with every new Premium set that comes out of El Segundo, there's a good chance I'll “fall in love” with another collectible. And the latest Boulevard mix is no exception.
This is the fourth for 2024 and I'm not sure if we'll see a fifth, as Mattel already released the Rerelease set months ago. Hot Wheels Boulevard has revealed two new models this year (the 1955 Plymouth Savoy and the '24 Honda Civic Type-R) plus another first release in Premium (the LB Super Silhouette Nissan Silvia (S15)). Mix 4 is here to spice things up and it all starts with a pair of Japanese sports cars.
Mazda 323 GTR
Photo: Lamley Group
The first time I paid attention to the Mazda 323 GTR was during my interview with Polish drifting legend Pawel Trela, circa 2011. He told me that he had won the national rally championship driving such a car and insisted that it was a formidable machine.
Years later, one of my fellow rotary enthusiasts showed me his first-generation RX-7 that used a 323 GTR engine swap. Mattel finally brought this underrated JDM machine to their Hot Wheels lineup, and we have Ronald Wong to thank for the design.
The white on white look is awesome and I'm always a fan of anything with Real Riders Aero wheels. I imagine the next one we get will be red or black, but I'm adding it to my list anyway.
2001 Acura Integra GSR Custom
Photo: Lamley Group
If I could add something After you Honda in my garage, it would probably be the Integra. Civics are awesome, but Integras are just a little cooler. While I like a lot of things about the more modern DC5, I would still buy a DC2 if I had the money.
So, I'm naturally drawn to buying Hot Wheels replicas of this car. This Ryu Asada-designed casting has been around for nearly a decade and was part of the Neon Speeders series earlier this year. But Mattel never gave it enough love, and it deserved a spot in Car Culture or Boulevard.
The Custom '01 Acura Integra GSR finally gets a metal base and gorgeous white Real Riders 6-Spoke Mag Wheels. They look great with the Metalflake Purple body and are easily one of the most exciting parts of Mix 4.
Meyers Manx
Photo: Lamley Group
Looking at the Meyers Manx, I can't help but be reminded of my days driving around Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in BF Injection. Last year, I almost rented one of these cars on vacation, but the rental company decided to double the price that day due to high demand.
The casting of Hot Wheels is a joint effort by Ronald Wong and Dmitriy Shakhmatov, and it’s great to see another debut in Mix 4. Mattel has had a Manx before, which was released between 2003 and 2014. There’s also a Monster Truck version to consider if you’re a fan of the model.
Seeing a removable/movable part in the HW Premium series is always exciting, even if we are just talking about a fabric top. The car would have been great with off-road tires on both axles, but for some reason the designers opted for slicks in the front. It's a big turn-off, but I don't speak for everyone.
Ford Transit Supervan
Photo: Lamley Group
After looking at two sports cars and a dune buggy, now let's look at a van: that's diversity for you! It's not just any van, but the Ford Transit Supervan that Mark Jones designed for the 2015 Hot Wheels Heritage: Real Riders collection.
We’ve seen 12 iterations of this casting through 2022, with the Rick & Morty design being my favorite. Consider the 2021 Ford Race Team Collector Set for a cleaner look. But then again, each iteration has something special.
The newer one is pretty funky with an orange finish and retro graphics, and I didn't expect it to work so well. It must have been a while since Mattel used that wheel design, and I honestly don't think there's any chance this collectible will become a peg warmer anytime soon.
De Tomaso Pantera Group 4
Photo: Lamley Group
The final vehicle in Mix 4 is the De Tomaso Pantera Group 4, a race car. It debuted in Boulevard in 2022, sporting a red, white, and green livery. Since then, Mattel has only developed one more iteration, including it in the Team Transport series. Gulf fans must have been thrilled with that release, and even the 8-spoke wheels looked awesome in black.
Given my love for yellow cars and bikes, I would still go for the latest version of the Group 4 Pantera. I prefer a clean look for these little Hot Wheels cars and Mattel did an excellent job with this car. However, it is unlikely to outsell the 323 GTR. I have already seen the latter for sale for $30 on eBay, which is a bit steep.
But patience will pay off if you can wait another month or two for this set to hit stores. I promise it will be worth it. It might have been different if there was an object to chase inside, but that's a feature of the Car Culture series.
