The cross-breeding of JDM (in its most general form) and Hot Wheels has grown to a frenzied pace of late, and for those of us who pay attention to these things, the rumors that 2014 will be an epic year for JDM Hot Wheels collectors has not gone unnoticed.
Well, those rumors are starting to materialize into real models. Right on the heels of the unveiling of the Datsun 620 Pickup and black recolor of the Toyota 2000GT comes the news that the freshest of fresh Japanese nostalgics has joined the Hot Wheels ranks.
Our worldwide perusal of social media has uncovered the first images of the Hot Wheels Honda Civic EF Hatchback, the legendary 4th-generation Honda that remains the cat's meow for Civic nerds. And when we say the freshest of fresh Japanese nostalgics, we mean it. The real EF was introduced in 1987, making it barely meet the 25-year threshold, the youngest a nostalgic can be. Maybe one or two will roll into JCCS in Long Beach here in a week-and-a-half.
And while we can't confirm just yet, this Hot Wheels version appears to be the creation of one Ryu Asada, who just recently crossed the hall from Matchbox to join the Hot Wheels Design Team. Ryu becomes Hot Wheels' latest resident JDM expert, and if you know Ryu, you know he LOVES Hondas. While still with Matchbox, Ryu created the Honda S2000 and CR-X for the blue brand, as well as the Ridgeline and Type R for the orange. And now that he has joined blue full-time, it looks like his second creation, after the Chevy C10 Pickup, is one of his beloved Hondas. Other evidence it is Ryu's? All the detail. Ryu's signature at Matchbox was realism, and that is evident on the EF.
Now that we have seen both the 620 Pickup and Civic EF, we think that is enough evidence that the rumors are correct. It just makes us more and more excited for what is to come. We already know of a couple of other JDM models that are getting recolors for 2014, and that news will be unveiled in due time, just keep checking our Facebook page for the details...
Hot Wheels Honda Civic EF (2014 New Model):
Other Ryu Asada creations:
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