You can start a Hot Wheels collection with $1. But to build it, you'll need a lot more. The thought of it is pretty scary. I've met people who have spent over $100,000 on the hobby and still have items missing.
The Hot Wheels range is huge, as these little cars have been around for over half a century! I've been collecting for about a decade and every now and then I find casts that I didn't even know existed. That's why it's such a great hobby! If your wallet (or wife) doesn't hold you back, you might never get bored.
Picking your battles is crucial to your sanity, so do it wisely. Stick to a few drops or a collection and go from there. Think of it this way: I recently talked about the latest release in the Boulevard series. This line started in 2020 and there are already over 100 cars to dig into if you want the full collection.
It takes time and money to get there. And the same goes for the Collector Edition series. Since 2008, Mattel has developed just under 100 collectibles for it. I haven't done the math yet, but it won't be cheap. The whole thing would cost between $3,000 and $6,000, which isn't bad when you compare it to something like the Super Treasure Hunt series or the Red Line Club series.
Each year, the diecast manufacturer chooses a different Spectraflame color for all of its cars (except the ZAMAC one), and that has led to some impressive results over the years. Red is the designated finish for 2024, and we’ve seen four of them so far. JDM enthusiasts have been enjoying Dollar General’s unique Nissan Silvia (CSP311).
Then we got the Porsche 356 Outlaw through Kroger. The Custom '70 Chevy Nova was a Walmart drop, and then the '65 Dodge Coronet was available through Dollar Tree. Target's promotional car for 2024 is the Mark Jones-designed Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI. I recently had fun driving one around Mount Panorama in Gran Turismo 7, so I'm a big fan of casting.
It debuted in the 2022 Boulevard Series, sporting a red finish and Real Riders 6-spoke Mag wheels. Mattel used the same wheel design for the Car Culture: Spectacular release the following year. But the new white paint scheme was decidedly more exciting. Designers switched to 5-spoke wheels for Team Transport, even though the car looked similar to the First Edition release.
But it’s on a whole other level with the Spectraflame paint job, which gives off STH vibes. I honestly think this is one of Mattel’s most impressive collectibles this year, and I’m kind of bummed I don’t have access to a Target store in my area. Buying $20 worth of Hot Wheels merchandise there and following the remaining steps will help you get one of these tiny DTM replicas. But of course, there’s always the eBay method: you’re lucky if you can get it for $20 or less.