With all due respect to the Hot Wheels Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra castings, the true Japanese trucks in the Hot Wheels lineup are the Hilux-esque ’87 Toyota and Datsun 620. The 620 especially is the epitome of classic Japanese pickups.
Well, we get to add another. Photos have just surfaced of the first New Model of 2016, the ’77 Chevy LUV.
Yeah, it is a Chevy, but that is the only thing that isn’t JDM about this one. The Chevy LUV (Light Utility Vehicle) is actually a rebadged Isuzu Faster. The Faster was Isuzu’s response to the small Datsun and Toyota trucks, and they had GM distribute it in North America as the LUV. The LUV actually stuck around for awhile until Chevy developed their own small truck the S-10.
And that makes this a very excited new casting around here. I won’t hide from being a JDM apologist, especially when it comes to unique castings like this. The LUV is such a great choice, and a hefty kudos to whoever came up with the idea to produce it.
Of course the Hot Wheels version got the typical Hot Wheels treatment. Instead of stock, it is a racing version. Of course I would prefer stock, but I don’t have any problem with this one. It looks great. Plus, the deco is actually (almost) stock. This is actually a slightly modified “Mighty Mike” trim, as shown in the LUV’s brochure:
It also came in red, which I would think is the next recolor.
Nonetheless, we cannot wait to have this one in hand. 2016 is off to a very exciting start…
My head just exploded, such is the awesomeness
Re-badged probably to appeal to the US market. Looks boss, though.
Wow. It went from a must-have to 'ahhh…. maybe' real fast. Stock would've been SO cool.
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Typo in the post title? '72 Luvs had quad round taillights under the tailgate, '73s (I owned one way back in high school) had horizontal rectangular taillights under the tailgate, '74s and up had the vertical taillights on each side of the tailgate, but the quad headlights only went up to '77, with the larger two headlights happening afterward.
My jaw hurts from hitting the floor.
This is sweet!!
Never in my life would I expect them to make one of these, now all they need is a Ford Rs200, then my life will be complete!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ctd-Matchbox-1990s-034-Ford-RS200-wt-blue-7-OFFSETSUPERSTARSNEWMODLECARD-/291529454390?hash=item43e0827336
Dr. Doom, same reaction here. I also hope to see a lifted version of this as well.
Awesome Hotwheels treatment of a classic little pickup but with some US muscle under the hood makes it a must have for 2016 now I just have to complete my 2015s downunder which is proving quite a mission this year
I think you are right. It's a '77. I will make the changes.
Are you guys blind? This designer needs to be fired he must be the same guy that ruins the 65 ranchero , 64 chevelle and god knows how many others. It's garbage and kids won't even want it. If they made these cars stock with good paint jobs collectors would come back in droves. But instead they have them look like $1 cars.
This isn't JDM. You couldn't even buy it in Japan
Burning Rubber is burning something else.
Well, for collectors who do prefer the “stock look”, I think the Datsun 620 got our hopes up pretty high. Having said that, we did get the stock-look with the Datsun, so it's not all bad!