#lamleydaily – July 29, 2017
Model: Hot Wheels Mad Manga
Line: 2012 Mainline (New Models Recolor)
Where to get it: There are a couple on eBay, but not many
Why it’s in the collection: Because, even with his paws all over the current direction of Hot Wheels Design, Jun Imai’s greatest model remains the Mad Manga. Already five years after its initial release, it is hard to remember how out-of-leftfield the Mad Manga was for collectors. This unlicensed model looked like nothing else, and if you weren’t familiar with bosozoku, there was nothing to relate it to.
But we are in the JDM era now at Hot Wheels, and this model fits right in. I credit models like two 510’s and the pair of Skylines released in 2011 as the models that ushered in this era, but it may be the Mad Manga. It didn’t introduce a car to Hot Wheels collectors, it introduced a culture. Things have been very different since.
It’s looks like a Japanese Car
It is……
I like and I love the mad manga thumbs up.
Mad Manga is one of the best generics to come out of the last few years.
Definitely a ballsy model to do for Mattel. I believe I have most of the releases, and the wild paint and decos fit in perfectly with this type of vehicle. I was familiar with bosozoku before the Mad Manga, but never thought anyone would immortalize it in $1 diecast form. Glad they did though.
Also, the ebay search is more useful if you take out the “2012” part. Lots more listings without the year.
the car is nice…love the first few releases…
I wonder if there are more Bosozoku style models in the future??
I am collecting Hotwheels since 2008 and when that Mad Manga (which is based on a Skyline) arrived in the shop (back then the best way to get info before hitting the toy shops was hotwheels.br), I went totally berserk, I knew that car and deco were 100% real bosozoku cars, I love japanese culture in many aspects and bosozoku bikes and cars were known to me since late 90’s, that REAL car in the 2 color variations is definitly one of my best Hotwheels memories