2020 Hot Wheels Rod Squad Zamac ’68 Chevy Nova

The other day I was doing a little inventory on my collection of Hot Wheels ’68 Chevy Novas when I realized that I hadn’t been doing a very good job of keeping up. So I decided to go online and fill in a few of the missing pieces.

I always like the look of the zamac cars, but I think I’m not the only one, as I generally have a hard time finding them in the stores. While I did manage to find both of the other color variations of the 2020 Rod Squad ’68 Nova, this one eluded me. Fortunately, there’s eBay.

I landed the first version of the Flying Tigers-inspired Road Squad ’68 Nova at the GameStop collectors event back in November of 2019. I found the red variation somewhat recently while on a grocery run to the Kroger-owned Dillon’s.

Zamac, is an acronym for the zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper alloy used in diecast toys. Hot Wheels in the Zamac series usually have tampo graphics placed over the unpainted metal, allowing the zamac sparkle to create a striking contrast. This is not the first time the ’68 Nova has been given this treatment – in fact the 2004 First Editions model had a zamac variation. I also have an example of the Zamac 2014 Chevrolet SS.

Hot Wheels | GHG35 | 2020 Rod Squad 6/10 | 1968 Chevy Nova | zamac camouflage with white, red and black shark teeth trim | MY | chrome red rim DD8 | Alternate tool (no hood scoop)

Click here to see photos and links to my entire collection of Hot Wheels 1968 Chevy Novas.

2020 Hot Wheels Rod Squad 1968 Chevy Nova

Staying away from big box stores during the pandemic, I’ve missed a lot of the latest release Hot Wheels. But we make regular grocery runs to Dillon’s (owned by Kroger) so, on occasion, I’m able to find something there. I picked up the first-to-market release of the green camouflage 2020 Rod Squad ’68 Chevy Nova at the Gamestop Collector Day Event late last year. A few weeks ago I spotted this red camo variation on one of our grocery runs. (There is also a zamac camo version that I am still on the lookout for.)

Hot Wheels | GHF41 | 2020 Rod Squad 6/10 | 1968 Chevy Nova | red camouflage with white and black shark teeth trim | MY | chrome red rim DD8 | Alternate tool (no hood scoop)

Click here to find a page of photos and links to my entire collection of Hot Wheels ’68 Chevy Novas.

2020 Hot Wheels Rod Squad ’68 Chevy Nova – Gamestop Collector Day Event

This morning, when I realized the only Hot Wheels Gamestop Collector Day event in town was at a store a short distance from my house, I decided to go check it out. Arriving just a few minutes before the doors opened, I was the 10th person in line and was given that number. My wife, who was nice enough to go along, was number 11.

I have to admit, I wasn’t very prepared. I really only wanted the first-to-market ’68 Chevy Nova, but as we stood in line, the guy in front of me filled me in as to what the Treasure Hunt cars were. The store had 10 cases of 2020 Case B, and each person with a number was allowed, in order, to open a case and pick out 5 cars. After everybody went through the line, we were allowed to go back around for a second look at another case.

The first two people in line look through their cases.

I’m pretty sure the first guy in line found one of the Treasure Hunt Unimogs. I wasn’t too worried. With my number 10, I was guaranteed to get the last of the 10 unopened cases and was sure to find at least one of my Novas, which I did. I didn’t find any Treasure Hunts, but my wife and I picked out an assortment of other cars as well.

My lucky number 10.

On our second trip back through the line, the guy right in front of me scored the Super Treasure Hunt Porsche out of a case that had already been looked through!

The closest I’ll ever come to finding a Super Treasure Hunt.

When my wife and I went to the counter to pay for our cars, I was planning on leaving most of them behind. But as I was looking back through them, the manager was talking about how disappointed he was that people weren’t buying more cars, and how he was going to be stuck with a bunch of Hot Wheels he didn’t have room for in his tiny store. He had run a well-organized event, so in an effort to encourage him to do it again, I decided to go ahead and buy all of the cars we picked out. As it turns out, the Hot Trucks ’19 Ford Raptor is an exclusive color variation, and the Factory Fresh BMW K 1300R and the Porsche series ’96 Porsche Carrera are first-to-market.

The assortment of cars I was guilted into buying.

The Rod Squad Nova is pretty darn cool. I’ve long been a fan of warbirds, so seeing the Flying Tigers inspired camouflage and shark teeth on this ’68 makes me pretty happy. It makes a really nice addition to my collection of ’68 Chevy Novas.

Hot Wheels | Gamestop Hot Wheels Event | GHD28 | 2020 Rod Squad 6/10 | 1968 Chevy Nova | olive and tan camoflage with red and black shark teeth trim | gold rim black wheels | Alternate tool (no hood scoop)

After everyone paid for their cars, the manager handed out these Collector Cards to each of the participants who were still in the store. The 8×10 sheet details the ’70 Chevelle Delivery that you can get if you buy 20 cars and mail in the cards along with your receipt.