First Look: Hot Wheels Fiat 500 in white...

Recolors are cool.  We are always happy to see second versions of the castings we like, no matter what the color.  But there are times when a recolor is so good, and upstages the first color so badly, that it is almost like a do-over of the model's debut.

And that is exactly the case with the Fiat 500.  Designer Ryu Asada's little happy creation looked nice in red, but it ravishes in white.  Accent it with a burgundy interior, and you have one of the great debut models of 2014.

You get a better idea of how nice this casting is.  Hot Wheels collectors are getting more and more familiar with Ryu's work, after coming over from Matchbox last year.  There have been many Hot Wheels models that have that "Matchbox realism" feeling to them, with realistic ratios, intricate details, and side mirrors.  That was one of Ryu's strengths at Matchbox, and he has clearly brought it over to blue.  The Civic EF showcases it best, but so does the Fiat.  And we know there are many more to come.

But let's ogle over the Fiat for awhile.  You customizers are probably thinking turning this version into an Abarth should be easy, and we agree.  The pearl white is very sharp, and showcases how sporty the little Fiat really is.  It even makes the dreaded Y5 wheels look nice.

We imagine this model won't be as hard to find as the red version ended up being, as it will probably carry through at least a second batch, as recolors usually do.  Good thing, because the white will end up being the model to have...


Hot Wheels Fiat 500 (2014 New Model):

First Look: Hot Wheels 1990 Honda Civic EF in teal...

The first issue of a Hot Wheels model always gets the most buzz, and buzz was the name of the game when the Civic EF was unveiled.  Collectors went crazy, and even drove up the price on the first to hit ebay up over $200.  Since then it has flown off the pegs in some areas (SoCal), and hung on the pegs in others.

It may be more of the same with the recolor.  Or it may not.  Red was an appropriate first issue.  So many Civics of that era were found in red, but in diecast land the teal upstages the red in a big way.

Teal is also a very era-appropriate color, and it looks like Hot Wheels did its best to match the real thing.  It also added a few more colors to the mix.  The basically used black, white, and grey in its detailing.  The teal mixes in red and orange, and the result is fantastic.

Of course when you get only one model for your First Look on the blog, you are at the mercy of what is sent.  The Civic casting has had an issue with straight tampo hits, and the b pillar suffers if things are only slightly off.  While painting the pillar black is a nice touch, it does require effort to find one that sports a perfectly straight tampo.  As soon as the teal is in stores, we will search for one.  In the main time, ignore the off-kilter tampo.  Straight tampo or not, the teal Civic is easily one of the best models of the year.

Is there another recolor coming?  We don't know, but if there is, we are hoping for white.  Seems like a logical progression.  But nothing will beat the teal in our view.

(Find the Civic on ebay, and be sure to check out the shop that supplied the Civic for us, Grana Toys.)

...)


Hot Wheels 1990 Honda Civic EF (2014 New Models):

Lamley News: The three j-tin Cool Classics unveiled by Mattel at Nationals...

A quick pop-in here late on Saturday night to let you know of a few tidbits from the Hot Wheels Nationals Convention in Illinois this weekend.

During the Saturday evening dinner, Mattel will preview some upcoming models, and there were a few that surely had the audience oooooing and ahhhhhing.  But there were three in particular that interested us here at Lamley, and thanks to our friend John Falk, we have the images.  They are all from the Cool Classics line, and we are very happy with all three:

Datsun Bluebird 510

Honda S2000

Subaru BRAT

The Cool Classics line continues to come into its own, and these three models are great examples of that.  The Cool Classic wheels, designed by Jun Imai, are perfect for the 510, and that is bound to be a very popular model.  Ryu Asada's S2000 is also a popular model, and we are quite fond of the Cool is Cool is Cool Subaru BRAT.

What do you think?  Are you in on these?

First Look: Hot Wheels Mastretta MXR...

This one, if anything, is a major curiosity.  A sports car with a Lotus soul, made in Mexico, and they seem to be serious.  They got Top Gear to come and take a ride, and struck a deal with Hot Wheels to help get the word out.  Who approached who is not something we know, but both parties were game to creating a Hot Wheels version, and the mini version is out with Batch H.

Daniel Mastretta & Hot Wheels designer Ryu Asada

We will let the car guys form an opinion on the real thing, and we will let our Lamley readers form an opinion on the mini version.

We will say this:  The real car is very nice looking, and the Hot Wheels version captures it perfectly, except for...wait for it...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

The fat lip syndrome that plagued the Lotus Evora GT4 from last year has taken another victim in the Mastretta.  Drat.

We know, we know, the raised front is done to make the model a true Hot Wheels track car.  A lowered front can cause problems on the orange track, and I am sure that both Mattel and Mastretta wanted this to be a true Hot Wheels plaything.  So from that perspective we are fine with it.  But from a collector point-of-view, its a bummer.  We are not delusional, these are toys, and should be played with, so we really can't argue it.  But it still is too bad this is the only solution.  It really changes the aesthetics.

But, other than this, it is really well done.  Just skip the first three images below and focus on the last five.  That is a fantastic-looling model.  For now, we will go race this on the track with the Evora, and then we will be fine with it.

Thoughts?

(You can get this and rest of Batch H on ebay...)


Hot Wheels Mastretta MXR (2014 New Models):

First Look: Matchbox MBX Exotics 5-pack...

I don't know of any collector who was terribly happy with what they saw in the 2014 1-120 list that was unveiled on Monday.  The percentage of road cars and licensed vehicles is lower than ever, and it, at least from a collector perspective is disappointing.  

Things can always change, but that is obviously up to Mattel as they figure out how the Matchbox line will perform better at the stores.  But what we know, is that when Matchbox does do a licensed vehicle, or a road car, they more-times-than-not nail it.

And occasionally they like to remind us of that:

That is the brand new Exotics 5-pack.  We may take slight issue with a couple of the model choices, but there is no denying each model looks great.  Front and rear tampos on most, great color selections, and realistic designs.  We may not be taking much off the pegs from Matchbox these days, but when we do, it is usually a fantastic-looking model.

So let's celebrate this rare moment in 2014 and do some close-ups on all five models, capping it off with a look at the best of the pack, the fantastic gold Lamborghini Miura.  The Miura was one of designer Ryu Asada's favorite designs, and can be considered his signature model before leaving for Hot Wheels.  We agree, and seeing it in gold was a must.

Enjoy...