The cars of the Hot Wheels Convention, Part 1: The Datsun Wagon, Kool Kombi, & Dodge Power Wagon…

Find the LA Convention Models on ebay

So why do diecast nerds go to the convention?

There is a whole slew of reasons.  Some do go just to get the exclusives, and based on the six this year, their reasoning is definitely merited.  Some go to see old friends and make new ones.  Sounds contrived but I watch it happen all the time.  Some go to find the elusive unicorns they have been trying to find to fill in gaps in the collection.  Some go to make enormous deals.  I have seen five-figure deals done in rooms on more than one occasion.  Some definitely go to sell, sell, and sell.

Some even go for the Saturday presentation, and Mattel definitely didn’t disappoint this time.

Whatever the reason, it is a major hustle and bustle the entire time.  Nights are late, mornings are early, rooms are a little too warm, and some collectors are a little too angry about the website.  But it is a hell of a lot of fun.

I will say that my experience at Nationals was a little more complete.  Mainly because that was the only thing to do in Lexington, but having to leave early to tend to a flooded basement could also be a major culprit.  So I feel like I didn’t get the whole experience.

But I did get the models, and I can at least show them.

There were six Mattel-issued models, and most likely you have seen them all.  Three Convention Models – the Datsun 510 Wagon, Dodge Power Wagon, and Kool Kombi – plus a dinner model (Mercury Cougar), an RLC model (Bruiser Cruiser), and the finale (Dairy Delivery).

Some aren’t up my ally, but it was truly a great batch of models.  Not surprisingly the 510 Wagon got the most attention, deservedly so considering it is such a hot model and it looked fantastic in its Mustang Boss-like deco.  But the others were no slouches.  The Power Wagon looked great in purple with a simple deco, and the SoCal-appropriate Kool Kombi was perfect as surf-mobile.

The other three, including one that I think may be the best model of the Convention, will be featured in Part 2 later.

But for now, take a gander at what the lucky attendees were able to go home with.  These three are the Convention Models, which paid attendees are able to buy.  There is a limit of two per paid attendee to make sure everyone gets a chance to buy them.  I bought two of each, and am still trying to figure out what to do with the extra carded models.

So should you attend either the Convention in LA or Nationals in the Midwest?  Yeah, I think you should.  There is fun to be had, even if it is just to get the models.  If anything, it is excellent people watching fodder.

(Find the LA Convention Models on ebay…)