Pegwarmer Yesterday, Treasure Today: What Hot Wheels model will be the next Datsun 510 or Bugatti Veyron?

If you were to ask someone who just started collecting, what current Hot Wheels castings are the most highly desired right now, there would most likely be some models that would surprise long-term collectors.

Long-term collectors would surely mention the Drag Bus, Dairy Delivery, Blown Delivery, ’67 Camaro, and Chevy Panel.  But newer collectors might offer something completely different, and there is a very good chance they would mention the Datsun 510, Nissan Kenmeri and Hakosuka Skylines, and the Bugatti Veyron.  They have watched secondary prices for many of these skyrocket in value, as well as follow the obsessive scouring for current releases like the Zamac Hako by collectors on Instagram.

And to think these were all pegwarmers just a short time ago.  The 510 especially hung and hung and hung.  Up until mid-2013 I was still coming across 510 First Editions hanging in various stores.  Yes, the 510 First Edition, from 2009, still hanging 4 years later!  That seems absurd now, as the same models are now selling for $10 each on ebay.  Even the Vintage Racing BRE 510, while released in small numbers, hung on the pegs if the store actually got the batch.  I think I left 5 or 6 (hand-slap to forehead).

The First Edition Skylines are doing the same thing, going up and up, and I was still seeing those on the pegs as late as fall last year.

And those don’t even touch the Veyron.  A model that notoriously littered the pegs with each release is now impossible to get for a decent price.  In particular the Walmart exclusive in satin red, which was the one Walmart exclusive no one picked up back then (I must have left 30 hanging), and now is garnering $75-plus on ebay.

Even Matchbox has its share.  Have you seen how much MB Toyota Land Cruisers command on ebay, including this red 10-pack exclusive?  At one point the sealed 10-pack was selling for over $300.  And that was a very easy pack to grab when it was released.

Of course we all wish we could go back in time and gobble up all the 510’s and Veyrons we can (not to mention raiding the TJ Maxx stores of their plethora of Boulevard Datsun Wagons), but unless you are Marty McFly or The Terminator or Bill and Ted, that is impossible.

But what you can do is try and predict what castings considered pegwarmers now will be everyone’s most wanted in the future.  So today we are asking that question.

And the answer?

We have no bloody clue.  None.

And neither do you.  But we can always speculate, and maybe throw out some ideas.

First, some models to eliminate:

1. All JDM.  JDM is white-hot right now, and the bubble will burst.  Yes, some models will remains highly sought-after, like the Vintage Racing and RLC BRE 510’s, as well as the FE Skylines, and Boulevard Datsun Wagon.  But the secret on these is more than out, and these models are anything but pegwarmers now.  Prices will settle soon, and many speculating crazy value on models like the current Kenmeri might be a little disappointed.  Zamac Skyline and Kmart 620?  That might be a different story, based on their limited release, but that is for another article.
2. Cars that were never pegwarmers.  The Datsun Wagon was never a pegwarmer, nor the ’67 Camaro, and have you ever seen a Drag Bus last more than a few hours in the store?  Same with models like the recently released ’55 Gasser.  Yeah, you can find one here and there, but for the most part they don’t stick around long.  They are popular from day one.
3. Specific lines.  We are talking about castings today, not overall subseries or premium lines like Faster Than Ever, Speed Machines, Vintage Racing, and Boulevard.  We think models like the Zamac Ferrari 599XX and McLaren F1 GTR will be very popular someday, but they were never pegwarmers.

In particular, non-Mustang/Camaro/Corvette castings like the ’69 Pontiac GTO and ’69 Dodge Charger.

Yes, these models were out almost 10 years ago, but we are still shocked you can grab either for under $3 on ebay.  The day will come when you can’t.  These are still two of the best-looking Hot Wheels in the Lamley collection.

The BMW 2002 and E30 M3 are practically worshipped in some auto circles, and everyone’s favorite Hot Wheels JDM designer, Jun Imai, tapped into that with these two castings.  Both are superbly done, both are insanely cool, and both hang…on…the…pegs.  In fact, I just snagged a few FE BMW 2002’s yesterday.

Doesn’t it seem both castings are following that 510/Skyline path?  Both foreign cars, both not as mainstream as other models, and both ground zero cars in particular auto scenes.

We still see the Kmart E30 M3 at some stores.  Will we regret not snagging them later?  Maybe.

Or how about just a unique model?  Something like the Studebaker Champ?  A long vanished carmaker, a truck that is scarce on the roads, in a racing design that might be totally made up.  The Champ was a passion project of one of Mattel’s designers, but no one really knew what to make of the model.  

Especially on models like these: