2022 Hot Wheels Flying Customs ’66 Chevy Nova

The Hot Wheels Flying Customs were first released in 2006 and 2007, a segment of a series that also included Lowriders and Super Chromes. The series, which invited you to “Rediscover the excitement and groove of classic Hot Wheels action with die-cast tributes,” featured retro packaging with a nod to the Flying Colors cards of the 1970s. (Click here to see a couple of Corvette Stingrays I have from the 2006 series.) The popular line, which was exclusive to Target stores, was relaunched in 2013 and again in 2020 (click here to see my 2020 Flying Customs ’68 Nova) continuing through 2022.

The Hot Wheels ’66 Chevy Nova was first released in the 2007 New Models series and has been produced in about 32 different variations. This nice metalflake purple model from the 2022 Flying Customs series is another of my finds from a March visit to J & J’s Treasures.

Other recent examples of the Hot Wheels ’66 Chevy Nova in my collection include the 2020 Fast & Furious Motor City Muscle release and both red and black variations from the 2019 HW Flames series.

Hot Wheels | GRT22 | 2022 Flying Customs | ’66 Chevy Nova | metalflake purple with magenta and teal tampo, blue tint windows, black interior, gray plastic base | Malaysia | retro slot wheels

The back of the card shows some of the other Hot Wheels castings available in the 2022 Flying Customs series.

2004 Hot Wheels First Editions ‘Tooned 1964 Chevy Impala

The Hot Wheels ‘Tooned 1964 Chevy Impala was first released in 2004. It went on a long hiatus and, when it was brought back in 2020, it had been retooled; on this original release, the rear and front grille are part of the upper body and the blown engine is larger than it is on the later release. The two different tools of this casting have now been produced in 4 different variations. I already have a loose version of the first release in my collection, but I found this carded example on a March visit to J & J’s Treasures.

Click here to see my light blue 2020 version of the ‘Tooned 1964 Chevy Impala as well as my loose first release and a few other ‘Tooned Hot Wheels.

Hot Wheels | C2706 | 2004 First Editions | ‘Tooned Chevy Impala 1964 | flat brown with gray and black tampo, black tint windows, chrome plastic interior, engine, exhaust and base | Malaysia | 5SP wheels

2022 Hot Wheels Wagons ’70 Chevelle SS Wagon

The Hot Wheels ’70 Chevelle SS Wagon was first released in 2009 and has been produced in about 29 different variations. For 2022, three variations of the ’70 Chevelle SS were included in the HW Wagons segment; a glossy pink Kroger exclusive, a metalflake dark blue model and the glossy red version you see here. My example is one of several nice carded cars I picked up in a March visit to J & J’s Treasures.

It’s interesting to note that of the many body styles available on the real-life 1970 Chevelle (coupe, 2-door and 4-door sedan, convertible, wagon and the El Camino coupe utility), only the Malibu Sport Coupe, Malibu convertible and El Camino were available with the SS option. So the Hot Wheels ’70 Chevelle SS Wagon is somewhat of a fantasy car.

Hot Wheels | HCX23 | 2022 HW Wagons | ’70 Chevelle SS Wagon | gloss red with black and silver tampo, tinted windows, black interior, chrome plastic base | Malaysia | gray mc5 wheels

Other Hot Wheels castings included in the 2022 HW Wagons segment were the Volvo 850 Estate, the Cruise Bruiser, the Nissa Maxima Drift Car (new for 2022) and the ’94 Audi Avant RS2.

Other examples in my collection of the Hot Wheels ’70 Chevelle SS Wagon include two variations from the 2009 first release and a nice 2019 HWC Collector Edition GameStop Mail-In ’70 Chevelle SS Delivery.

2003 Hot Wheels Concrete Cruisers 5-Pack

I always like a good 5-pack. When it comes to newer Hot Wheels, I try to keep my collection focused on just a few castings – mostly Impalas and Novas. But every once in awhile, one of the castings that I collect gets released in a 5-pack, which gives me an excuse to bring home some other models that I don’t normally get to enjoy. I found this 2003 Hot Wheels Concrete Cruisers 5-pack back in March at J&J’s Treasures. Not only does it include a nice ’65 Chevy Impala, but it has 4 other knockout models – and all of these are exclusive to this set.

Hot Wheels | 57060 | 2003 Concrete Cruisers 5-Pack

The Hot Wheels Montezooma is based on a custom 1980 Chevy Monte Carlo and was first released in 2001. It has been issued in about 10 different variations up to 2011 on the original base, with another 3 variations in 2006 and 2007 that were mounted on a Hi-Rakers base.

Montezooma | orange with orange, purple and black tampo, clear windows, black interior, gold plastic base | China | gold lace wheels

The Hot Wheels ’65 Chevy Impala made its debut in the 1998 First Editions series and has been produced in about 34 different as recently as 2017.

’65 Chevy Impala | metalflake orange with gold, black and white tampo, purple tinted windows, white interior, gold plastic base | China | gold lace wheels

The Hot Wheels La Troca is based on a 1950 Chevrolet 3100 lowrider. First released in the 2001 First Editions, it has since been produced in about 31 different variations and counting.

La Troca | metalflake blue with silver and blue Baby Blue Suede tampo, solid black windows, chrome plastic base | China | lace wheels

The Hot Wheels ’64 Riviera is another popular casting that was first released in 2002 and has been issued in about 38 different variations, most recently in the 2019 Art Cars series.

’64 Riviera | white with green and silver tampo, blue tint windows, gray interior, chrome plastic base | China | lace wheels

The Hot Wheels So Fine was first released in the 2000 First Editions. Based on a chopped and lowered 1951 Buick Roadmaster, this awesome casting has been produced in about 27 different variations. It most recently represented The Joker in the 2015 Batman 5-Pack.

So Fine | light purple with white, silver and black tampo, tinted windows, black interior, chrome plastic base | China | lace wheels

I have quite a few Hot Wheels ’65 Chevy Impalas in my collection, including the 1998 Jiffy Lube Special Edition, a festive example from the 2009 Holiday Rods, a sweet summer ride from the 2013 Sunburnerz Series, a hot model from the 2014 Heat Fleet, a pair of fun variations from the 2016 Art Cars series, and a nice gold model from the 2017 HW Flames 5-Pack.