We have to thank James Bond for being the reason that Hot Wheels has decided to do the Series 1 Lotus Esprit.
I have said it many times before, but I don’t care too much about Hot Wheels movie cars, unless said movie car is an actual cool car that HAPPENS to be featured in a movie. That means Ferris’s Ferrari, Simon’s Dodge Power Wagon, Marty’s Toyota Truck, or Bond’s Aston aren’t in the collection because of the movies or TV shows they were on, but because they are darn cool cars.
But I am definitely the minority. Clearly the entertainment cars, whether the premium series with real riders, or the mainline cars with a movie theme, have been major successes for Mattel. I may not care at all for the Homer or Snoopy, but a lot of people do.
And that is a good thing. If the attention a dreadful model like the Mystery Machine gets leads to Hot Wheels doing more movie cars like the Lotus Esprit, then I am all for it. The S1 Esprit wouldn’t have been done by Hot Wheels in a million years, unless of course James Bond drove one in a movie. And he did. Or at least drove one into the ocean where it turned into a submarine.
And that Lotus submarine will be part of the Retro Entertainment series, but the “car” version gets to debut in the mainline. And we are pretty happy about that.
Ryu Asada finished the design of this one, and it is clear realism was a goal. No large rear wheels, no exaggerated features, just a real looking classic Lotus. Plus, side and rear tampos, which really pop on this one.
We don’t expect this model to fly off the shelves like the Homer, but it will be appreciated by a good number of collectors. We think.
(Find the Lotus Esprit S1 and the rest of 2015 Batch A on ebay…)
Hot Wheels Lotus Esprit S1 (2015 New Models):
I think your comments are mis-judged – any sane collector woudl be frothing at the mouth to have this one – so much so that I am looking for several additions.
Why would folk get a Homer car over this one? Infinitely better I would think…….?
BTW, why is the blog always referred to as “we”? Surely this is the John Lambert Blog? Dave Tilley is but a bystander these days is he not?
This is a winner in my book. All it needs is a better set of wheels (MC5 or PR5 would do the job). Say any bloody thing you want, but this car is going in my collection the moment I get the opportunity to do so. And the same applies to more than 75% of all collectors worldwide.
I think these would fly off the shelves faster than The Homer ever did D:
I have yet to pick up a Lotus for my collection and believe me.. this will definitely be the first! I'll take the white version, but I hope they produce a model that looks just like the S1 in 'For Your Eyes Only' – dark red metallic w/ gold lace wheels. Now that's mouth watering.
Something about the color combo that seems very appealing. I think it would make a great Mainline even if it never makes it as a Retro Entertainment model.
As far as the Snoopy and/or Homer thing is concerned, I love Snoop 'cause he's dope and I had to have the HW's creation. I do have the green Homer machine though and don't care too much for the Simpson's – I was supposed to sell the Homer a while back, but it somehow grows on you a little so I have to put that on the sell list anyhow.
I live in Pakistan unfortunately they are not common here i would love to collect them. I luckily got this one and its my first one!n I loved the Lotus espirit in gran turismo games.