Look what just popped up on Instagram:
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Collectors, almost by definition, are obsessed with what they don’t have. Â In the case of so many Hot Wheels collectors, what we don’t have is what is coming. Â Hence our hunger for any hint of what is on the horizon. Â That has led to some – let’s call them “unofficial” – sources of information.
Regrettably I jumped into that pool at the beginning of my blog life, but soon learned what a slippery slope it is. Â It is always best to get the info from the proper source, and since I decided to only use official sources it has made this little blog gig that much more enjoyable for me. Â You think we are passionate? Â So are the nerds at the Design Center. Â It is their livelihood for crying out loud.
That is why this new Design Team IG feed is so significant. Â From everything I can tell, this is where the folks that actually design this stuff can show their work properly. Â No more crappy grainy pics of models with the wrong wheels or whatever. Â The right people showing the right products. Â All for us to drool over. Â And it is a direct line too. Â The actual designers of these models see what we think, in real time. Â And it can make an impact.
Case in point, the OG of Mattel IG, @matchboxworld.  Remember last year when they previewed the MX-5 Miata, and collectors quickly voiced their displeasure on the wheel choice?  Matchbox actually changed it because of that.
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I am not saying that the Hot Wheels Design Team will do the same, but they will know our opinions, good and bad. Â And we get to scratch that sneak peek itch we all have. Â Win-win.
Lately we have been seeing a lot of cool feeds coming from the Design Center. Â @hotwheelssounofficial launched recently, showing the everyday goings ons of the Hot Wheels Team:
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And never forget @matchboxworld:
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And that doesn’t even account for the designer’s personal feeds. Â There is a lot out there.
Honestly, IG has opened up a whole new way for collectors and designers to connect. Â Not only on what they are working on, but what interests them outside of work. Â We have never been more connected, and that is a good thing.
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I follow mostly everybody. I try and keep my page @phillywheels all about diecast but some guys do post their personal stuff but for a restomoder and customizers this is where it's at. Now with the teams at both MBX and HWs posting it's even better. Only problem I have is, you follow them it's good but if they don't follow back your not getting the feed. I follow just about everyone involved in the hobby. That is the only reason I started an account. I started posting my collection but I kinda hit a stoppage. This hobby truly is a second job at times. I used to have to have everything but realized it will never happen. I know I have tons of stuff to trade but getting around to inventorying all of it is just pain staking. Between work, kids, the wife and chores there's just not enough time in the day. I'm sure we all have this problem. I have at least a dozen retromods waiting on paint. I step in my room and I start one thing and next thing I know I'm on to something else. Anyway back to IG Lamley still my go to for info and great threads but your right IG is opening up a whole new avenue of resouces of info.
By the way wasn't this T-Bird a HW cast????
It's either the MBX cast from 1982, or the Corgi “Vega$” cast from 1979; Hot Wheels inherited that casting from Corgi and reissued it briefly in 1996 and 1997.
Yes, “Vega$” is the correct spelling. That was one of Aaron Spelling's fluff shows from 1978-1981.
the t-bird is beautiful
the wheels are great,…but the steering wheel
just takes this all away,…just too bad,…