2023 Hot Wheels Mazda 787B Variations

I admit I’m very late to discovering the Hot Wheels Mazda 787B. First introduced in the premium 2018 Car Culture: Circuit Legends Series, it featured a removable engine cover, a plastic wing and Real Riders. In 2020, the 787B was issued in two different premium releases: the Car Culture: Team Transport #16, paired with a Sakura Sprinter and; the Replica Entertainment: Gran Turismo Series.

2023 brought us the first mainline release of the Mazda 787B, with the engine cover cast shut and the wing now a part of the metal body. Three color variations of the 787B were included in the Retro Racers Series.

The real-life Mazda 787B made history in 1991 when it became the only rotary-engine-powered car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

D | HKH01 | 2023 Retro Racers | Mazda 787B | metalflake blue with white, black and yellow Mazda 78 racing livery, clear windows, black interior, black plastic base | Malaysia | white AeroDisc wheels front, gold 5-spoke wheels rear

After I found my first Hot Wheels Mazda 787B (the metalflake blue version) at a local Dillons, I was determined to find the others. I was a little surprised that it only took a trip to a different Dillons to find the red one.

D | HKJ79 | 2023 Retro Racers | Mazda 787B | red with white, black and yellow Mazda 78 racing livery, clear windows, black interior, black plastic base | Malaysia | white AeroDisc wheels front, gray 5-spoke wheels rear

The Dollar General-exclusive black variation of the 787B proved much more difficult to find. I spent every spare minute I had for the better part of two weeks checking out every DG in the Wichita metro area (there are more than 20), only to come up empty-handed. I finally broke down and bought one on eBay.

eBay | HKL36 | 2023 Retro Racers (Dollar General exclusive) | Mazda 787B | black with white, black and gold Mazda 78 racing livery, clear windows, black interior, black plastic base | Malaysia | white AeroDisc wheels front, gold 5-spoke wheels rear

Now that I’m sitting here happy with my 3 color variations of the 2023 Hot Wheels Retro Racers Mazda 787B, I see that the 2024 HW Race Day variations are showing up in stores – one of which is a Super Treasure Hunt! Sigh.

2023 Hot Wheels Fast & Furious 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS

The Hot Wheels ’70 Chevy Nova SS was first in released in 2021. This example, from the 2023 Fast & Furious series, is the third variation of this casting, all three of which represent the car driven by Letty Ortiz in the F9 installment of the Fast & Furious movie franchise. This version, which I found at Kroger-owned Dillons, has silver paint, the signature black SS stripes, and 5-spoke Real Riders, making it virtually identical to the other two. (To be fair, the 2022 release has Larry Wood 5-spoke Real Riders and a black metal base, so if you look closely you can see a difference.) The striking card art on these is what makes them stand out.

Click here to compare to the first release of the Hot Wheels ’70 Chevy Nova SS and click here to compare to the 2022 version. Other Hot Wheels Fast & Furious cars in my collection include the 2019 5-pack and ’61 Impala, and the 2020 ’61 Impala and ’66 Nova.

Hot Wheels | HNW54 | 2023 Fast & Furious 3/5 | 1970 Chevrolet Nova SS | silver with black stripes, painted details, clear windows, black interior, metalflake silver metal base | Thailand | Real Rider 5-spoke wheels

The back of the packages shows the other castings included in the segment.

Seeing triple? The 2021, 2022, and 2023 releases of the Fast & Furious ‘70 Chevy Nova SS are very similar. Still, I’ll be looking for the 2024 issue as well!

2023 Hot Wheels McDonald’s Layin’ Lowrider

I was snooping around online a few months ago when I came across an image of the Hot Wheels Layin’ Lowrider that I hadn’t seen before. Layin’ Lowrider, first released in the 2022 Experimotors series, is a tilted-stance, unlicensed model (with strong hints of Chevy Impala) that has a vintage Matchbox Rolamatics-like ability to make its motor rattle as it rolls. How could I not be an instant fan?

So, I dug around a little for information on my mystery image and discovered that there was a McDonald’s Happy Meal version of Layin’ Lowrider that had only been released in parts of Asia and the Middle East.

Well, I wanted one. So, I got on eBay and was a little surprised to be able to score one out of Malaysia for a reasonable price. I was even more surprised when it showed up in my mailbox less than a week later.

This China-cast version has an all-plastic construction that is just a hair larger than the Malaysia-made original. As much as I like to keep my newer models in the packages, this one had to be freed so that I could apply the groovy stickers.

My only dissappointment is that the motor is cast in place so this Happy Meal model doesn’t bump and rumble like it was meant to.

Hot Wheels | 2023 McDonald’s | Layin’ Lowrider | green plastic body, HW music-themed stickers, opaque windows, gray plastic motor and base | China | 5-spoke wheels

2023 Hot Wheels Gassers ‘64 Nova Wagon Gasser

The Hot Wheels ’64 Nova Wagon Gasser, a modification of the ’64 Chevy Nova Station Wagon casting, was first released in 2019 and has so far been produced in about 11 different variations. This sweet, metallic purple Supernova is another of the fun cars my friend, Brad, found for me.

Other favorite Hot Wheels ’64 Nova Wagon Gassers in my collection include the 2022 Dragstrip Demons release and the 2021 HW Race Team model.

Hot Wheels | HKH63 | 2023 HW Gassers | ’64 Nova Wagon Gasser | metallic purple with Supernova tampo, magenta tint windows, chrome interior, engine and grille/bumpers, black plastic base | Malaysia | 5spoke wheels

2023 Hot Wheels Pop Culture: The Mandalorian Concept Art ‘70 Chevelle SS Delivery

The Hot Wheels ’70 Chevelle SS Delivery – a modification of the ’70 Chevelle SS Wagon casting with the rear windows filled in – was first released in 2011 and has been produced in about 10 different variations. The broad sides of the vehicle allow for some fun decorations and there have been some really nice ones issued, including the metallic orange GameStop mail-in from 2019.

This release from the 2023 Pop Culture: The Mandalorian Concept Art segment is another model my friend, Brad, scored for me. I haven’t seen The Mandalorian, a television series in the Star Wars franchise, but this striking variation of the Chevelle Delivery is very welcome in my collection.

Hot Wheels | HKD04 | 2023 Pop Culture: The Mandalorian Concept Art | ’70 Chevelle SS Delivery | brown with Mandalorian art and scallops, painted details, light tint windows, brown interior, unpainted metal base | Indonesia | preferred series Real Riders

Click here to see a sampling of the Hot Wheels ’70 Chevelle SS Wagon in my collection.

2023 Hot Wheels Wagons ‘64 Chevy Nova Station Wagon

The Hot Wheels ’64 Chevy Nova Station Wagon was first released in 2013 and has so far been produced in about 15 different variations. This red model with white and black stripes and retro slot wheels is another highlight of the 2023 releases. My friend and fellow collector, Brad, found this one for me.

Other Hot Wheels ’64 Chevy Nova Wagons in my collection include the 2022 Blue and Pink release, the 2017 Surf’s Up 5-Pack version and the 2015 Heritage Series – Redline model.

Hot Wheels | HKH70 | 2023 HW Wagons | ’64 Chevy Nova Wagon | red with white and black tampo, clear windows, black interior, chrome plastic base | Malaysia | retro slot wheels

2023 Hot Wheels Car Culture: Team Transport ‘61 Impala and ‘72 Chevy Ramp Truck

For me, the most anticipated Hot Wheels release of 2023 was this Car Culture: Team Transport pairing of the ’61 Impala with the ’72 Chevy Ramp Truck. I searched high and low for one locally and never had any luck. Fortunately, my friend Brad, who seems to score me all of the coolest Chevys, found one for me and put it in the mail.

Hot Wheels | HKF40 | 2023 Car Culture: Team Transport #54 | ’61 Impala and ’72 Chevy Ramp Truck

The Hot Wheels ’61 Impala has been around since 2012 and has been issued in about 13 different variations, 4 of which have been under the various Fast & Furious segments. Previous favorite releases of mine are the 2013 Cool Classics model and the 2020 American Steel version, but this light blue and red beauty with El Segundo Chevrolet racing livery has taken the crown.

‘61 Impala | light blue with red, white and black El Segundo Chevrolet 61 tampo, painted details, clear windows, gray interior, unpainted metal base | Thailand | Real Rider white hub steelies

This is the first issue of the Hot Wheels ’72 Chevy Ramp Truck and I’d say they did it up right. From the two-tone paint to the pinstripe on the sides of the ramp – and, of course, the chrome mag wheels – this thing is just about perfect. Word is that it will make a second appearance this year (paired with the ’66 Chevelle) in the Team Transport Mix 1.

’72 Chevy Ramp Truck | red with cream and black tampo, painted details, smoke tint windows, chrome interior and grille, cream plastic ramp with red pinstripes, unpainted metal base | Thailand | Real Rider mag wheels

Other Hot Wheels Car Culture: Team Transport items in my collection include: the 2022 Custom ’70 Chevy Nova and Horizon Hauler; the 2020 Collector Set with the ’66 Super Nova, Retro Rig, ’55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser and ’65 Mercury Cyclone; and the 2019 ’66 Super Nova and Retro Rig.

2018 Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary ZAMAC Flames ‘68 Olds 442

One of my favorite childhood Hot Wheels is the Police Cruiser version of the Olds 442 – I still have the blackwall variation from 1977 that I’ve had since I was a kid. I also have examples of the 1977 Chief’s Special and the 1977 Maxi Taxi. And a few years ago, I scored the 2009 Hot Wheels Collectors Neo-Classics Olds 442 Security Car, a retool of the original. Now, I know it’s a different casting, but another of the keepers that my mother-in-law found for me last summer is this 2018 50^th Anniversary ZAMAC Flames ’68 Olds 442.

The Hot Wheels ’68 Olds 442 made its debut in the 2008 Modern Classics series. It has since been produced in about a dozen different variations, making appearances in great segements like HW Boulevard and Cool Classics series. In 2011 it was a Treasure Hunt and a Super Treasure Hunt. This 50^th Anniversary model is the most recent release.

Hot Wheels | FRN28 | 2018 50th Anniversary ZAMAC Flames | ’68 Olds 442 | ZAMAC with yellow and green flames, 50th logo on rear quarter panel, green tinted windows, black plastic interior and base | Thailand | yellow rim DD8 | mint in rough card

The back of the card shows the other castings available in the series.

Another fun 442 casting is the Olds 442 W-30, first released in 1993. Click here to see my Collector #267 from 1995.

2011 Hot Wheels Treasure Hunts ‘58 Impala Carded

When we went to visit my wife’s family in Toronto last summer, my mother-in-law (who cares very little about my collection) surprised me by handing me a bag of carded Hot Wheels that she had found at a thrift store. There were a few keepers inside, especially this ’58 Impala from the 2011 Treasure Hunts series. The package is pretty rough, but I believe it’s an International short card, which are generally not found in the States.

The Hot Wheels ‘58 Impala was first released in the 2007 Classics Series 3. Including 5 color options from that first year, it has only been issued in about a dozen different variations.

Hot Wheels | 2011 Treasure Hunts | T9723 | ’58 Impala | metalflake magenta with purple, pink and silver tampo, clear windows, white interior, unpainted metal base | Malaysia | 5-spoke wheels | Canadian short card

Other Hot Wheels ‘58 Impalas in my collection include two different colors from the 2007 Classics and one from the 2008 Since 68 series, the 2013 Retro Entertainment: American Graffiti release and the 2022 Art Cars Treasure Hunt.

2023 Hot Wheels Art Cars Super Vans

The Hot Wheels Super Van was first released in 1975 and the original was produced in about 23 variations up to 1985. In 2003, the model was retooled and it’s still going strong with about 43 more variations to date. I found two of the three variations of the 2023 HW Art Cars Super Van at Target. If I ever come across the Zamac version, I’ll post it here.

Hot Wheels | HKK16 | 2023 Art Cars | 70s Van | metalflake dark blue with white crossword puzzle tampo, smoke tinted windows, gray interior, chrome base | Malaysia | muscle car 5-spoke wheels

T | HKH46 | 2023 Art Cars | 70s Van | white with black crossword puzzle tampo, smoke tinted windows, black interior, chrome base | MY | gray mc5 wheels

Other retooled Super Vans in my collection include one from 2013 with Old El Paso livery, the Archie Comics Super Van from 2013, the 2008 Hot Wheels Collectors Convention Super Van, and the HW Art Cars Super Van from 2020.

Variations of the original Super Van in my collection include the black with flames version that I still have from my childhood, a chrome example from the 1979 Super Streeters series, the white flamed-out version from 1980, a metalflake gray variation from 1982, and a nice metalflake blue Kellogg’s promo from 1985.

My 1977 Paramedic and 1979 Thor are other Hot Wheels models that used the same casting as Super Van.