On my recent visit to the Paramount Antique Mall, 2.50 was the number of the day. I found the Peterbilt Tanker, the Site Dumper and each of these Racing Champions Stock Rods for $2.50 each. With the 10% sale discount, my haul cost me under $12.
The question posed by the Stock Rods series of the late 1990s, as it explains on the back of the package, is “What if your favorite drivers traded in their stock cars to race in a classic hot rod from the past?” It’s a fun idea, and in addition to opening hoods and nice detailing, each car comes packaged with a display stand and collector card.
There was an entire display of these, but I resisted all but the Impalas in the bunch. The first one that caught my eye was this Ken Schrader ’60 Impala. I love the giant tires on the back, but I think I would install a roll cage before I got behind the wheel of this beast.
Racing Champions | 1998 Stock Rods #67 | ’60 Chevy Impala | green with black top and hood, Schrader APR 33 trim, opening hood | display base and collector’s card
My son really liked this Terry Labonte gold-chrome ’58 Impala Custom convertible trimmed with Fruit Loops and Starburst graphics.
Racing Champions | 1998 Stock Rods #143 | ’58 Impala Custom convertible | gold with Terry Labonte Fruit Loops 5 trim, opening hood | display base and collector’s card
If gold-chrome isn’t your thing, maybe you prefer the somewhat more understated Ricky Craven red ’58 Impala with extra-wide white wall tires.
Racing Champions | 1997 Stock Rods #8 | 1958 Chevy Impala | red with Ricky 25 trim, opening hood | display base and collector’s card
Back when I was still single, I discovered Homies figures in a vending machine at the grocery store. Every time I went out for a grocery run, I would reward myself with a new figure or two. Years later, after he was old enough to not try to eat them, my son inherited my collection of figures. The characters were created by California cartoonist David Gonzalez, whose comic strip “Hollywood” appeared in Lowrider Magazine. According to the official website, “the Homies are a group of tightly knit Chicano buddies who have grown up in the Mexican American barrio (neighborhood) of “Quien Sabe”, (who knows) located in East Los Angeles.”
These Homie Rollerz were released by Jada Toys in 2004. I thought I had all of the 1/64th cars, but the JadaClub website shows other color variations and castings that might have been part of the same or a later release.
2004 Homie Rollerz | 1987 Buick Regal | black | with Eightball & Laughing Boy
I try to stay away from 1/24th scale cars (for lack of space), but I couldn’t resist this ’47 Chevy Fleetline which came with four Homie figures. It’s got an opening hood and doors and I like that it has the old-style car cooler in the passenger side window.
2004 Homie Rollers | ’47 Chevy Crestline | metallic green and black | with Hollywood & Gata, Silk and Mija
When my wife and I got married, these two Homies were our cake topper.
And finally, here’s a variation on the theme. Homie Hoppers are 1/25th scale remote control (plastic, not die cast – made by Lindberg) models with “hopping’ action.” Prior to today, this ’64 Impala had never been taken out of the box, but my son is right now practicing his hops.
For fans of the Hot Wheels 1966 TV Series Batmobile – and I am one – 2022 was a good year, with 5 new variations of the casting issued within the 12 months. I have so far scored 4 of those models, gradually finding them at various places during the course of the year. The Hot Wheels version of the famous George Barris creation was first released in the 2007 New Models and has already been produced in 43 different variations, the latest of which will be included in the 2023 Batman 5-pack.
The Replica Entertainment Series began in 2013 (then called Retro Entertainment) and usually includes at least one of the many different Batmobile castings each year. These are metal body/metal base releases with Real Rider wheels, and the card art is usually as well-done as the vehicles themselves. The TV Series Batmobile in the 2022 series is no exception. I found this one at Dillon’s (Kroger) grocery store in a nearby suburb.
Hot Wheels | HCP10 | 2022 Replica Entertainment: Batman Classic TV Series | TV Series Batmobile | metalflake dark blue with red and white tampo, tinted black windows, black interior, black metal base | Indonesia | chrome red and black oh5
2022 also brought us a Batman Series, not quite on the level of the Replica Entertainment segment (unlike that premium series, these have plastic bases and regular wheels), but with some pretty fun card art just the same. There are 5 different Mixes, with vehicles representing all of the different Batman movies and animated series. By the way, the only 2022 TV Series Batmobile that I don’t yet have is from the Walmart exclusive Mix 5. I found my Mix 1 TV Series Batmobile at Target.
In addition to the TV Series Batmobile, Mix 1 of the 2022 Hot Wheels Batman Series included (pictured here on the back of the card) variations of the Batplane from the Batman Animated Series, the fantasy Batmobile that was created by Hot Wheels designer Omar Rehman in 2019, The Dark Knight Batmobile, and a Gotham City Police Department ’11 Dodge Charger RT from the Batman vs. Superman movie.
Hot Wheels | HDH00 | 2022 Batman 4/5 | TV Series Batmobile | metalflake black with red and yellow pinstriping, red and white bat logo on doors, clear windows, red interior, black plastic base | Malaysia | chrome red and black OH5
The Batman Mini Collection from 2022 is yet another 5-car series of different Batmobile castings, with at least two variations of each – except for the 1/5, metalflake dark blue The Dark Knight Batmobile, which is a Treasure Hunt. This series includes a new casting, the ‘Tooned version of the Classic TV Series Batmobile.
The first color variation of the (non-‘Tooned) TV Series Batmobile is a relatively straightforward gloss black. In my mind, it’s the color the car was meant to be, but it still looks sharp with the red and white Batman tampo and retro-slot wheels. I also found this one at Target.
Hot Wheels | HCV64 | 2022 Batman 4/5 | 1966 TV Series Batmobile | gloss black with red stripes on sides, top and hood, red and white bat on doors, light blue tinted windows, gray interior, black plastic base | Malaysia | retro slot wheels
The second color variation is a much more unconventional, but still very striking, metallic gold paint with purple, black and white tampo combination. It also has retro slot wheels, but in this case they are painted black with a chrome lip. I found this one at Walmart.
Hot Wheels | HCW61 | 2022 Batman 1/5 | Classic TV Series Batmobile | gold with purple, black and white tampo, purple tint windows, gray plastic interior, black plastic base | Malaysia | chrome lip retro slot wheels
As part of its 50th Anniversary celebration in 2018, Hot Wheels released the Black and Gold Series, a mix of 6 cars (and one chase model) painted satin black with gold accents, all packaged in distinctive black and gold blister cards. Since then, the popular Anniversary Series has returned each year, with a new color combo each time. While I’m a big fan of these series, I haven’t made a point to collect all of them. I have been fortunate, though, that the series often includes one of the castings that I do collect. 2022, which brought us the 54th Anniversary Blue and Pink Series, included the ’64 Chevy Nova Station Wagon in Mix 1. I grabbed this one last April when I saw it at the Wichita Flea Market.
The Hot Wheels Blue and Pink ’64 Chevy Nova Wagon is metalflake dark blue with a matte dark blue 54 and pink stripes on the sides.
Hot Wheels | 2022 Blue and Pink 5/5 | HDH60 | ’64 Chevy Nova Station Wagon | blue with pink 54 tampo, clear windows, black plastic interior, unpainted metal base | Malaysia | black pr5 with chrome ring
The back of the package shows the other castings offered in the Blue and Pink Series, Mix 1.
Since 1998, Hot Wheels has offered car-hauler/vehicle combinations under various names such as Long Haulers, Truckin’ Transporters, Racing Rigs and Trackin’ Trucks. From 2000 to 2003, the series was called Pavement Pounders. Described as “Power Transporter for Hiway Haulin’!”, these two-packs include a car-hauler paired with an exclusive Hot Wheels vehicle. The haulers feature a cab that separates from the trailer and a tailgate ramp for easy loading and unloading.
This hauler is referred to as the Short Nose Sleeper Cab Truck.
For 2002, the back of the package shows eight different combinations utilizing six different cabs, five styles of trailers and 8 Hot Wheels castings.
Hot Wheels | 89048 | 2002 Pavement Pounder ’59 Impala | black with yellow, gold and red tampo, tinted windows, gray interior, chrome plastic base | Malaysia | gold lace wheels Short Nose Sleeper Cab Truck | dark blue cab with white Hot Wheels logo, black windows, chrome plastic engine, grille, exhaust and base, black trailer with Midnight Run label graphics | China | gear wheels
Racing Champions | 1998 Stock Rods #67 | ’60 Chevy Impala | green with black top and hood, Schrader APR 33 trim, opening hood | display base and collector’s card
Racing Champions | 1998 Stock Rods #143 | ’58 Impala Custom convertible | gold with Terry Labonte Fruit Loops 5 trim, opening hood | display base and collector’s card
Racing Champions | 1997 Stock Rods #8 | 1958 Chevy Impala | red with Ricky 25 trim, opening hood | display base and collector’s card
The Race Case Chevy 