Tomorrow’s RLC offering continues the happy Hot Wheels deluge of Gran Torino Sports.

Sometime later this year, Hot Wheels will be offering a Datsun Bluebird 510 to Redline Club members.  Technically, it will be offered to everyone, if it doesn’t sell out the first day.  But we all know it will.  If the Kmart mail-in promo is any indication, collectors are still bonkers for the 510, and a premium release with an opening hood, spectraflame paint, and 4-spoke Real Riders will keep it that way.  And I am just as excited as any for that release.

But tomorrow’s offering might be even more exciting, at least for me.  I mentioned last week that I would be featuring two of my all-time favorite Hot Wheels castings in the coming days.  The first was the Kenmeri Skyline.  The second is this one – the ’72 Ford Gran Torino Sport.

On Tuesday, April 4th, the second RLC Torino release will be made available to Redline Club members.  Sub plan members already have one on its way to them.  If there are still some available after Tuesday, it will be made available to everyone.  And anyone who gets one is in for a treat.

Let’s start with the Series 14 model first, then I can explain my love for the Torino.  This is the premium casting, which has an opening hood, slightly higher rake, and a different chassis and interior (the interior isn’t chrome like the basic model).  This is the second release for the premium casting, the first being several years ago in a spectraflame blue that I still think has never been topped.  But where the blue bedazzled, this new version in olive screams classic cool.  Olive-colored cars just work, and Hot Wheels spectrflame olive cars even look better.  And with the nostalgic look, the Neo wheels work too.  I almost always prefer Real Riders to the Neos, but in this case I like the combo.

So yeah, Hot Wheels had me at “olive-colored premium Torino”.  They actually had me at “premium Torino”.  No, they had me at “Torino”.  I love the Gran Torino.  It isn’t pure muscle, but has the elements.  The silhouette is there.  But add that front grill and big boat feel and you have my type of car.  The lines on the Torino are more interesting than most other cars, and it shares that quality with other favorites like the Kenmeri, Nissan Laurel, and BMW E9.  (And no, I am not comparing the look of the Torino to the E9, just saying both stand out from everything else.)

It is just a joyful little casting, and easily a favorite.  If I am asked what my favorite Hot Wheels castings are, models like the Torino, Kenmeri, Greenwood Vette, 510 Wagon, and Subaru BRAT are what come to mind.  There are probably many others – and many to come – but you you can see a pattern.

But the Torino doesn’t have to be your favorite, like it is mine, for you to enjoy this new release.  In fact, just enjoy how fruitful the run has been for the Torino.  We have seen it multiple times each year since its debut, and I will happily take multiples of this one over, say, multiples of a dragon car.  Happy Torino.

(Thanks as always to Mattel for the preview.)

All the Gran Torinos:

2011 Mainline

2011 Mainline

2011 Mainline

2011 Mainline Walmart Banner exclusive

2012 Kroger Exclusive Super Speeders

2012 Mainline

2012 Mainline Wheel Variation

2012 Mainline

2012 Mainline Wheel Variation (found only in multipacks)

2012 Walmart Exclusive

2013 Mainline

2013 Super Treasure Hunt

2013 Mainline

2013 Fast & Furious

2014 Mainline

2014 Mainline

2014 Fast & Furious

2015 9-pack Exclusive

2015 9-pack Exclusive

2015 9-pack Exclusive

2016 Mainline

2016 Walmart Zamac Exclusive

2016 Mainline

2013 RLC Real Riders

2017 RLC Series 14