The rarest Hot Wheels

The legendary Hot Wheels were created by Mattel and they have been producing these cars for 55 years! They have made too many cars to count over these years and have gained popularity with car enthusiasts and kids. The cars are super fun to play with and have turned into a huge collectable too. 

But what are the rarest Hot Wheels out there and just how expensive are they? Discover when these iconic cars were created and explore the highly sought-after rare items. Plus, we have some guidance on creating your own collection with your kids in this blog too!

How many Hot Wheels cars are there to collect?

There are so many Hot Wheels cars in the world that you can collect but it is difficult to collect every car out there. Due to Hot Wheels starting in 1968 there have been over 4 billion cars created! So, it would be pretty much impossible to collect every Hot Wheels that has been produced. If you put every car ever produced in a line, they would circle the world 4 times!

What was the first Hot Wheels car to be made?

The first car ever to be produced, that started the legendary Hot Wheels collection, was a 1968 Camero RS. It was a dark blue colour with a black roof and redline tyres. Soon after this car was released, Mattel released the 15 other cars to create the first collection. This collection was known as the Original Sweet 16!

When and where was the first car made?

The Camero RS was first produced on the 4th of January 1968 and was sold on the 18th of May the same year. The idea was discussed and thought of a few years earlier in 1966 as a new way for kids to experience vehicle play. 

It was produced in America by Mattel and the first collection of cars made their debut at the International Toy Fair in New York.

What was the first collection of Hot Wheels?

After the first car was produced, Mattel produced 15 other cars known as the Original Sweet 16. These quickly followed the release of the Camero RS and hit the shelves giving kids and adults more choice and a collection to start. The collection of cars were: 

·        Camero RS

·        Custom Cougar

·        Custom Mustang

·        Custom T-Bird

·        Deora

·        Custom Firebird

·        Silhouette

·        Custom Barracuda

·        Ford J-Car

·        Custom Corvette

·        Custom Fleetside

·        Hot Heap

·        Python

·        Custom El Dorado

·        Beatnik Bandit

·        Custom Volkswagen Cheetah

What are the rarest Hot Wheels to have?

With over 4 billion cars that have been produced within 55 years, there are a few rare Hot Wheels that are very hard to get your hands on (and are extremely expensive). Mattel didn’t mass produce every car and the Original Sweet 16 are now quite rare due to the many other cars that are available today. 

However, the number one rarest Hot Wheels car is the 1969 Pink Volkswagen Beach Bomb Prototype. Mattel produced various colours of this car, and lots of them, but the pink colour was only tested out. They produced only two of the prototypes and never made any more. One of the reasons for this was that the car was very unbalanced that it couldn’t stay upright when moving. Also, pink wasn’t a colour that Hot Wheels used often as Mattel traditionally thought it wouldn’t appeal to their mainly male audience. Due to its rarity it costs a whopping $175,000!

Other rare cars are:

·        1971 Spectraflame Purple Bye Focal $6000- Made by Larry Wood and is one of the 10 most expensive cars due to its rarity.

·        1969 Brown ’31 Woody $8000- Made by Harry Bradley. Only produced in Hong Kong and believed to be a prototype. 

·        1971 Purple Olds $12,000- Rare and popular because of its unique design and restricted manufacturing. 

·        1970 Ed Shaver Custom AMX $10,000- Only released in the UK and modelled on the car drag racer Ed Shaver drove. 

·        1969 Cheetah base Python $6000- Around only 9 are still in existence. The Python was originally named Cheetah but Mattel didn’t have the rights to the name. They rushed production and only very few were still produced with the old name instead of the new one!

·        1970 Mad Maverick $15,000- One of the rarest cars as only 3 were produced. Written underneath the car, the name Mad Maverick had to change due to trademark issues. 

·        1974 Blue Rodger Dodger $3000- Produced in very low volumes and is extremely desirable with collectors. 

·        1968 Pink Beatnik Bandit $5000- One of the Original Sweet 16 cars and a colour that was produced in ultra-low volumes.

·        1968 Over Chrome Camero $25,000- Only 20 of these are known to exist! It is a rare antifreeze-over-chrome colour that was used for advertising.

Are they a great collectable?

Hot Wheels are absolutely a great collectable and are worth collecting if you collect them for the right reasons! While rare ones are hard to come across and super expensive, there are cheaper options to start (or add to) your collection. 

Collecting these cars should be for enjoyment and to give you a boost of happiness, not just for financial gain. You should only purchase and collect within your means too, don’t fork out lots of money if you can’t really afford to (even if you really want a hidden gem!)

If you can pay the price for some of the rarest cars then go for it! However, you can collect newer and less rare Hot Wheels too. Some are highly collectable and others are worth holding on to just in case. Due to Mattel continuing production of these cars, you really never know when a car will become rare, valuable and a hidden gem!

How do you start collecting them?

If you’re new to the Hot Wheels collecting world it can seem daunting to start due to the massive amount of cars that have been produced over the years. Don’t worry as we have a few tips to help you begin an amazing car collection that can be added to and passed on to other generations.

Choose a type

Before starting your collection with your kids it is best to think about what type you would like to start with. This helps you with a direction to go in and stick to. It could be the model of cars that you both really like or you could start by the year they were produced. You could even pick your kids favourite colour or characters and see what cars you can get!

For inspiration to help start a collection check out our range of Hot Wheels here!

Think about why you want to collect

Have a think about why it means so much to you to start a collection. It could be a fun bonding hobby to do with your kids or giving your children a passion for cars. It could even be as a way to gain money from re-selling in the future or to bring nostalgia to you that your children can look back on when they are older too! Whatever the reason, understanding why you are starting this collection with your kids helps you with a direction to go in and gives you a purpose.

Create a passion

To keep you and your kids interested in this hobby, it is best to create a passion with collecting items. Choose cars that you and your children love, it could be because of the quirky details, how it looks, the colour or they feel nostalgic. Doing this makes sure that everyone still enjoys collecting and feel excitement and happiness when the collection grows. 

You could also talk about the history of the cars you have with your kids to keep them entertained while learning something new. You could ask them why they like the car, what else they would like to collect and other aspects they love. Doing this creates a passion for collecting as well as for cars in general so is perfect for the budding car enthusiasts!

Can you unbox your Hot Wheels if collecting?

As with other collectable toys, Hot Wheels are of more value when they are packaged as they can be verified easily due to the information on and within the box. However, they are still at a great value if unopened and used. Many Hot Wheels collectors love to open and actually enjoy the cars.

Kids can open their collectables up and even play with them as what’s the point of the collection if you can’t enjoy them? Just make sure that they take extra care with them to prevent damage if you want your cars in pristine conditions. It is best to let your children play with their cars as they can build a connection with them more, making them eager to add to the collection. They can also learn more about the cars too!

Plus, with the original cars many were used as toys as they weren’t originally thought as collectables! They only come unopened anyway and are now quite valuable and rare. 

So, what are you waiting for? Start your Hot Wheels collection and let your kids enjoy the endless hours of fun these cars can bring. Create a passion for cars and inspire budding car enthusiasts with various unique, fun and rare Hot Wheels. Share the rarest Hot Wheels and the history of where they all began with your children to ignite an interest and create excitement. See which rare Hot Wheels your kids love too and how expensive they are!