First Look: Hot Wheels Retro Entertainment Batch F...

Finally.

After months of delays, the latest batch of Hot Wheels Retro Entertainment is finally out.  Who knows why it was delayed.  It is Mattel after all, and they specialize in things like that for some reason.  But it is here (in stores and at dealers like Wheel Collectors) and it was worth the wait.

Based on what we have seen, the models in this batch that have collectors in a tizzy are not the same models that we are happy to have.  So, with that in mind, why don't we take advantage of awards season (Birdman for Best Picture!) and break this batch down that way.

Best Model: Undoubtedly the 1963 Aston Martin DB5.  We know the Ecto and Thunder Roller have many collectors scouring their local stores, but we have made it pretty clear that movie cars are not our thing.  For us it is less about the movie the car came from, and much more about the car itself.  So the Ecto and TR are cool, but ultimately the Aston is by far the best looking model of the bunch.

I still cannot convince myself this is a Hot Wheels car.  Hot Wheels has done a large number of great castings, but I wouldn't peg them to nail a classic British car in all its stock glory.  The wheels work so well, and the paint is clean.  Easily one of our favorites for 2015.

Best Wheels: Yeah, a goofy award, but very appropriate for a model that otherwise we would not give one flying flip for.  But the wheels on the Batmobile are fantastic.  We have seen those rims plenty of times before, but that color is unique.  Maybe we have seen rims that color before, but we don't remember when.  Customizers, you should have a field day with these.

Best Ecto:  Well, we weren't going to pick the Thunder Roller for Best Ecto, were we?  It is of course the Ghostbusters Ecto 1A, which seems to be the most detailed of the Ectos so far.  Of course this is the Ecto from Ghostbusters 2, but we don't have the previous Ecto to compare it to.  (Remember, these cars interest us very little.)  But, this one appears to be nicely detailed, and maybe a bit more interesting.  The wheels are cool at least.

Heaviest Model:  The Thunder Roller.

Best Hidden Gem: The Ford Super Deluxe, once you rid it of its manure cover.  Yeah, it is the car that Biff crashed into a manure pile, so adding the poop is a clever idea.  Good thing you can remove it.  That black Ford is a pretty sharp car.