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.

2020 Hot Wheels Art Cars ’70s Van

For months now I’ve been staying away from Walmarts and Targets. I have not been checking out garage sales or wandering through antique stores. And even though the monthly flea market started up again, I did not attend. When my wife and I made a grocery run to the neighborhood (Kroger-owned) Dillon’s and I saw a few display boxes loaded with Hot Wheels, I almost started drooling through my COVID mask.

Even still, I don’t want to be digging through the piles. So I was happy when this HW Art Cars ’70s Van with the King of Hearts livery was sitting right on top for me. This goes nicely with my collection of Super Vans – including the Super Van that I still have from my childhood.

I do like the Art Cars series, but I only buy the castings that I collect. So far, I have two variations of the ’65 Chevy Impala from the 2016 series, the striking black and white ’64 Impala from the 2018 series, and two variations of the ’64 Nova Wagon from the 2019 series.

Hot Wheels | GHC21 | 2020 Art Cars | Super Van | white with King of Hearts trim | MY | red chrome rim black 5SP

Other Super Vans in my collection include the chrome California Cruisin’ van from 1979, the white flamed-out version from 1980, the metalflake gray California Cruisin’ van from 1982, the 2008 Collectors Convention Super Van, the Archie Comics version from the 2013 Pop Culture series, and the Old El Paso Super Van from the 2013 General Mills series.

2019 Hot Wheels Art Cars ’64 Chevy Nova Station Wagon

Back in June, while en route to my family reunion in Minnesota, I found this Hot Wheels ’64 Chevy Nova Wagon at a Target near our hotel in the Minneapolis area. The Art Cars series started in 2015 within the HW City series. In 2016, the Art Cars became its own series and each car had a letter printed on top; if all the cars in the series were lined up side-by-side, “HW ART CARS 16” could be spelled out. The series has continued, with a different phrase used each year.

I’ve never collected an entire series of these, but I do enjoy the idea of it. And, of course, I grab them when they happen to use a casting that I collect. For example, the 2016 series included two variations of the beautifully decorated ’65 Chevy Impala. The 2018 series, which spelled out “50 YEARS OF [Hot Wheels logo]” included a really nice 1964 Chevy Impala. 

The 2019 phrase is, “READY SET GO” and the ’64 Nova Wagon was used for one of the Es. It’s decked-out in a wild tie-die like pattern and is set off by two different colored wheels from front to back. I see that there is also a red variation, so I’ll keep an eye out for that one and add it to this page if/when I find it. [Edit] See below.

Hot Wheels | FYC28 | 2019 Art Cars | ’64 Chevy Nova Station Wagon | gloss blue with multi-colored tie-die pattern, “E” on roof | front: yellow and black 5SP, rear: purple and black 5SP

I found the red variation at Target in October.

Hot Wheels | FYF21 | 2019 Art Cars | ’64 Chevy Nova Station Wagon | red with multi-colored tie-die pattern, “E” on roof | front: yellow and black 5SP, rear: blue and black 5SP

2018 Hot Wheels Art Cars ’64 Chevy Impala

Fans of the Hot Wheels ’64 Chevy Impala were excited to see it included in this year’s 50th Anniversary Black and Gold Collection. Well, to make for an even better year, it also showed up in this year’s Art Cars series. The striking black and white Maori-inspired graphics are complimented by a beautiful set of white-tire black lace wheels.

I found mine at Walmart, but funny enough, I think I may have passed over this car previously. At a glance, it is very similar to the black and white version of the 2016 Art Cars ’65 Chevy Impala.

Hot Wheels | FJW74 | 2018 HW Art Cars | ’64 Chevy Impala | white with black trim | white tires with black LW

2016 Hot Wheels Art Cars ’65 Chevy Impala

On top of each of the elaborately-decorated 2016 Hot Wheels Art Cars, you will find a letter of the alphabet. If you collect all of the cars in the series, you can line them up side-by-side to spell a secret message. I was thinking the message was “HW Art Cars” but with 10 cars in the series, that doesn’t work out quite right. Well, I don’t plan to collect all 10 cars so I may never know what it spells, but I do like the intricate Maori tattoo-like pattern on this ’65 Chevy Impala.

DHR84 | 2016 HW Art Cars | ’65 Chevy Impala | white with black trim | gold chrome and black OH5

Update: I also picked up the red version. I recently read in the Hot Wheels Newsletter that there is a hard to spot wheel variation: “Both have pr5 wheels the common version is all chrome rainbow wheels and the short run has a rainbow lip.” I think mine is the rainbow lip.

DHX64 | 2016 HW Art Cars | ’65 Chevy Impala | red with black trim | chrome and black PR5 (rainbow lip?)

I have a number of Hot Wheels ’65 Impalas in my collection, some of which you can see here, here and here.