When we started the Cool is Cool is Cool with Hot Wheels classic pickups in red, there were two prevalent responses we got from readers:
- What will be the next Cool is Cool is Cool model? We like this series. (Thanks readers.)
and
- How can you do a series on Hot Wheels classic pickups and not include _________________!!
We were quickly reminded of the pickups we didn’t include, so now we are trying to make that up. There were three mentioned the most: The ’62 Custom Chevy, the ’69 Custom Chevy, and the Texas Drive ‘Em.
Well, never fear, dear readers, we have you covered. We recently featured our favorite version of the ’62 Chevy, and this is coming:
So you can look forward to that, but today let’s focus on the Texas Drive ‘Em.
The TDE has been a collector fave since its release in the Hot Wheels Classics line in 2009. It seems that every time it is released it is an event among collectors. The RLC version from 2012 commands serious dollars
, and it does not stay on the pegs when HW releases it to retail.
Because of that, the Lamley collection was devoid of the TDE, but that needed to change. So we went looking the one TDE that we thought would be best in the Lamley collection. The RLC was tempting, as were some of the carded Classics chase models, but we decided to keep with our red pickup theme, and the Walmart Classics set exclusive sitting simply in spectraflame red was the clear choice.
Thankfully,ebay seller hotwheelsfred2011
had one, and we were able to buy the Red TDE plus a few other hard-to-find models. (His shop is definitely worth checking out.) It arrived a few days later, and now the Lamley CiCiC pickup collection has a very worthy addition.
Why this is called a “Texas Drive ‘Em” and not a “70-something Ford Truck” is beyond me. Hot Wheels is clearly not trying to hide the fact that this is a Ford truck, considering the word “FORD” is on the hood and the tailgate.
That must be a Ford thing, as Hot Wheels’ version of the Ford Raptor, which also contains the word “FORD” on the front grill, is actually called the Sandblaster. Whatever it is called, it is actually a fantastic model, and a perfect classic pickup casting. We could do without the bikes in the back, but no real reason to complain.
How great-looking is this model? To us, there are two obvious companion truck for this one, the Walmart ’79 Ford F-150…
and the ’83 Chevy Silverado in spectra frame red:
The Lamley collection feels that much closer to complete…
Great shots! I can't help to think that I started the whole “stacking” photos with the shots I posted of these two castings on another popular site back in 2009.
The Texas Drive 'Em is definitely a fantastic casting. I remember when the first colorway (orange and white with OR5sp) of the S5 Classics release came out, I saw it hanging on the pegs at TRU. But being TRU, the Classics series were priced at $5 or so, so I left it. I regretted not buying it since. The motorcycles in the back I think was a nod to the Hi Tail Hauler from the '70's, which is a ~1956 Ford pick up with two motorcycles in the bed.
I only have a few releases of this casting. The Walmart July 4th release, the Flying Customs release, and that orange and white S5 Classics release that I bought at a toy show for a $3 steal. The next one I really want to get is the OR6sp version of that orange and white Classics release, and the antifreeze and white release that was the third colorway of the truck for S5 Classics.
The two Holiday Rods (NOT Walmart's Holiday Hot Rods, it was a different series) are also VERY nice releases of the truck. High detail in the paint and tampos. And pricey.
-doomus