First Look: Hot Wheels '70 Ford Escort RS1600...

It's an Escort.

Crazy eh?  Hot Wheels does a Civic last year, and the folks go nuts.  And the model that has the Hot Wheels world abuzz this year?  An Escort.  And if we were not car nuts, that might sound a little weird.  But hopefully most of you are, so you know why an EF Civic and Escort RS1600 are big deals.

And as far as that Escort goes, for us it isn't because of a movie.  This is not a car that needed a movie to make it cool.  It was already supercool, at least in the UK.  It is Japan's Skyline, or the US's Mustang.  It has a rich rally heritage, it is beloved in the motherland, and it is a super version of the most common car of the era.  And that was well before it jumped a bridge and took on a tank.

And by golly Hot Wheels made one.  Who would have thunk?  Of course it is because of that Furous and Fast movie, but at least it is here.  And the good thing?  The movie version is stayed true to a common RS1600 deco from the era, instead of going full custom like most F&F cars.  So once we get past the movie hype, hopefully we can excited about more true versions, like an Escort Mexico and additional takes on that superb stock deco:

The RS1600 is a rally racer, so it fits in so well with the tastes of many of our readers, and with us at Lamley.  So we are ecstatic to see it in Hot Wheels form.  And with that heritage this is a model that will be at its best not as the next subject of Instagram trolling (LOOK! I have 50 and you have none!  I am better than you! Don't hate!), but as another classic Hot Wheels car sitting next to models like the Datsun 510, Hakosuka Skyline, Ford Gran Torino, and Chevelle SS.  Maybe even some Matchbox gems like the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint and Volvo P1800.  It can be a part of a diverse, satisfying collection.  (I see a future post coming.)

With that in mind, one model we know it looks great next to is this one:

Yeah, that is the hardly-used Hot Wheels Ford Anglia, which was replaced by the Escort in the UK in 1968.  And surprisingly, now we have Hot Wheels versions of both.  A bit unexpected, but unquestionably cool:

So yeah, we are all in on the Escort, but maybe not for the same reasons the masses are.  This is one cool car, and definitely a highlight of the 2015 lineup...


Hot Wheels Ford Escort RS1600 (2015 New Models):

Hot Wheels Ford Anglia (2005 Faster Than Ever):

Collectors, never fear: The first batch of 2015 HW Zamacs will be released, and more Fast & Furious is on its way...

Just a quick update for collectors fretting about a few recent Hot Wheels models that seem to be hard to find:

Hot Wheels 2015 Walmart Zamac Exclusive #1-3:

We got a lot of questions about where these have gone.  The Lamborghini Veneno, '10 Ford Shelby GT500, and '68 El Camino never showed at Walmart stores with Batch E.  The questions really started streaming in when Batch G was recently released, and Zamacs #4-6 were included.

Well don't fear, you will have your chance to get these three, it just may not be for a few months.  Some of you are aware of the recent labor issues at the Los Angeles Port.  Among much bigger issues, Mattel's toy distribution was greatly affected, and many shipments sat, unable to be shipped to their destinations.  That included the large Batch E bins, which included the Zamacs.  You may remember that most E batches came in small bins or individual pegged cases.

And while they sat, newer batches, including F and G, made their way to shore.  And since Walmart wants their product current, they bypassed the large bins and took F and G.  So E sat, and sat, and sat.

So the Batch E Zamacs have been produced, and will make it stores, but probably not until the stores need extra large orders.  That means the holidays.  Of course it could be earlier, but later this year seems more likely.  Ultimately, they will come, no one knows exactly when.


2015 Hot Wheels Fast & Furious:

At least these exist.  But from what we have heard, and seen locally, not every store has gotten a bin.  And considering the popularity of Furious 7, it isn't just kids and Hot Wheels collectors that want these models.  That means the stores that have gotten bins have sold out quickly.  And of course when demand increases, so do prices on eBay, and that gives sellers the ideas of buying stores out.

And that has been happening.  But if you haven't had luck finding them, don't fret.  Once again, because of the labor strike at the port, only half of the order has shipped to stores.  The other half is due to hit within the next 2-3 weeks, meaning many of the stores that haven't had them will get them. Hopefully that means those that want them will find them, and the desire of others to buy all of them for future profit will wane.

We will see...

First Look: Hot Wheels 2015 Fast & Furious set...

The tradition continues...

For the last few years, a good friend and I "assemble the crew" and head out to the movieplex to catch the latest Fast & Furious movie.  It is definitely a guilty pleasure.  We take great pleasure in Vin Diesel's monosyllabic line readings, the constant references to family, and maybe a car or two.

But damned if I didn't get sucked in and started liking these more than I intended.  I am sure I was not alone in that sentiment when the movie ended with a tribute to Paul Walker, and my friend and I enjoyed watching the sea of tough guys trying to hide their macho tears.  Not that we didn't have knots in our throats as well.

But back to the models.  Furious 7 definitely has enough cars to merit another series of Hot Wheels, and we are sure we will see it.  And when it comes out to promote the sure-to-happen Furious 8, we will see some new stuff, and Dom's Charger won't be a part of it.

On one hand, this may be the best version of Dom's Charger yet, outside of the Retro Entertainment version.  On the other hand, this is the fifth version of Dom's Charger, there are only so many versions of a black car that you can do.  So we will take it, but this is the last time we hope we see it.

But that is our only complaint.  We collect these cars more as individual models than representations of the Fast & Furious franchise, so based on the look of these there is no disappointment.

Now bring on that Hakosuka we saw in 5, and the pure white Supra we saw in 7...

(Find the Hot Wheels Fast & Furious models on eBay...)


2015 Hot Wheels Fast & Furious Series: