It is the year of the Hot Wheels Acura.
The Acura NSX Super Treasure Hunt has garnered the most attention, but it is time to move on to the new models. The 2017 Acura NSX will be out later in the year, but with the F Cases being released soon, we get the 2001 Custom Acura Integra GSR.
The car is probably most interesting because it is maybe the first “nostalgic” Hot Wheels casting from this millennium. It has a lot of credibility with certain folks in the car world, and definitely with Honda/Acura nut on the Hot Wheels Design Team, Ryu Asada.
Have a gander at the video below to see it out of the package, and let us know what you think. Is it on par with other recent classics like the 1990 Honda Civic or ’96 Nissan 180SX? Will you be grabbing one when they hit the pegs? Let us know…
Pics are coming soon, as is the F Case Report. Stay tuned…
The integra is possibly one of the best models out for 2016,let's see what is left in hotwheels
180SX remains king imo
Is it a new mold for the wheels? The tires looks more rounded than other OH5.
Regarding the chipping on yellow paints, it is probably linked to a ban on the use of cadmium salts (sulfides) for yellow/orange/red pigments, since 1988. The truth is that there were never a really good substitute for those salts in yellow paints. The organic colorants have a low cover power and usually it is necessary to use more layers of pain or use a too thick paint that results on a more friable(breakable) cover. There is light though at the end of the tunnel as the European Union (EU) council in Sweden is having second thoughts on the banning of cadmium sulfide in paints. Let's wait and see and may be we will be able to see the beautiful yellow used by Van Gogh, Monet and others back to the ordinary diecast paints.
If you're wondering what makes it “custom” I can shed some light on that as an Integra owner. Since it's an Acura it would have had the rounded headlight or “bugeye” front end, rather than the japanese-spec or JDM front that this casting has, which is a popular modification for Integras outside of Japan. The casting also sports a larger aftermarket front lip, dive planes or canards on the front bumper, an aftermarket vented hood, and taller rear wing. (GS-R's were only available with a small rear spoiler from the factory unlike Type-R's). Lastly, since all GS-R's had moonroofs, it could theoretically have been modified with a Type-R roof panel. No GS-R was ever sold in yellow either, and it looks to have an aftermarket exhaust.
What makes it custom (other than the paint color) is the whole front end (bumper, lights, front fenders) is from JDM Integra, the canards on the front bumper, the hood, and the rear wing. The wing looks like a Type R wing but seems like the wing part is lower than the wing stands, which makes it look like an adjustable/3-piece wing. And if we're getting nitpicky, it should be GS-R, not GSR. 😉
Paint does look bad, as do the tampos…the lights are all too small, and, of course, since it's a Hot Wheels, they're horribly applied.
Any ideas why Matchbox is sooo much better?
Exactly the same thoughts that I had. Leave these real cars to Matchbox and let them come up with the standard they had exhibited for Model S.
Exactly the same thoughts that I had. Leave these real cars to Matchbox and let them come up with the standard they had exhibited for Model S.
Thank God it doesn't suffer from Huge rear wheel syndrome.