Lamley Awards 2024: Doomus RLC’s Top 10ish and 10ish of 2024! (FINALLY)

Well, here we are, another year down, and a boatload of diecast to go through! And I know, I know, yet again another “year-end” article where I state “I really need to get back to writing more articles” because, hey, life right?

I have some ideas of ones I want to do, so we’ll see how it goes. But in the meantime, I finally got everything for 2024 opened that I wanted covered in here, so let’s take a look at my favorites of 2024! No real order, but there was one in particular that I absolutely LOVED.

Hot Wheels Elite 64 Porsche 928 Safari

In 2023, Hot Wheels brought back a Porsche 928 to the lineup. Initially I was excited but then seeing the final execution I ended up VERY disappointed. I didn’t mine the Safari/rally aspect of it, but the way it was done just didn’t feel right. The roof rack was of particular annoyance, and in the end I never ended up bothering to buy any of them. But in 2024, a few cars into the Elite 64 line, this 928 Safari came out, and my god was I happy. I was quite floored with how well this one came out. Check it out on eBay!

Kaido House/MiniGT Honda NSX, Kaido Works V1 (KHMG106)

Jun Imai’s Kaido House brand through MiniGT has been both super popular and widely panned by collectors. It really seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it brand. At least for me, I have enjoyed most of the castings he’s done so far and looking forward to new ones going forward. This NSX, however, I fell in love with it in the early stages. The details are amazing as always, but this one just stood out for me. The red Evasive release was the debut, and even though I opened the chase of it to my surprise, this “plain” yellow one was easily my favorite. I have no skin in the game when it comes to going after the LTDEDN and LTDBLK releases he does, but the green LTDEDN release of this NSX is one I really hope to own one day. But this yellow one will surely be hard to top in my eyes. Check it out on eBay!

Johnny Lightning Street Freaks 2023 Release 2 1965 Chevy Tow Trucks “Rat Fink”

Yes, it says 2023 Release 2. Problem is, with whatever issues are going on with Round 2’s production and distribution, these didn’t actually appear until March or April of 2024. Auto World and Johnny Lightning have had several delays over the last couple years, unknown as to really why (at least not known publicly). Hell many planned JL releases for 2024 are STILL not out. But that doesn’t take away from how awesome this pair of tow trucks is. Rat Fink is a popular theme among us collectors who like the old-school of car culture and diecast. And these two trucks are LOUD, just like Rat Fink would want them. My love of Zingers is known here, and even if the planned 2024 Street Freaks release did come out in 2024 calendar year, these trucks weren’t getting topped. Check it out on eBay!

Hot Wheels RLC 1971 AMC Javelin “Street Freak”

Probably the most, not necessarily controversial, but criticized release from RLC in 2024, likely due to two reasons: the modern collector doesn’t have an appreciation for these wild-style customs of the 1970s, and the paint job is straight out of 1970s ugliness. But that is precisely why I love this thing. It’s not over-the-top like the Johnny Lightning Zingers, and it has just that right amount of flavor to be undoubtedly Hot Wheels. Can not wait to get more of this tooling. Check it out on eBay!

M2 Machines Las Vegas Super Con 1976 GMC Sierra 3500

M2 has its issues. We all know this. Quality has gotten better in my experience but they still have their problems. These crew cab dually trucks have been quite popular despite that, including with me. But this one in light purple for the Las Vegas super convention last year, for me, just stands out. I love the firechicken on the hood (really hoping we get a real Indyhauler truck at some point). Love the low stance. Love the black chrome wheels. To me this one was just too awesome to not have here. Check it out on eBay!

Hot Wheels RLC 1986 Nissan King Cab truck

The RLC team, led by Brendon Vetuskey, has been on a roll the last few years, coming out with honestly some exciting new toolings yearly. A lot of criticism for the pricing, I know, but for me they are still quite enjoyable. This Nissan King Cab with the dancing bed was a huge surprise for us. I loved the execution on this homage to the mini truck scene. The biggest downside with it was the timing, as hobby renowned customizer and mini-truck-fanatic Chris “Nightstalker” Walker sadly passed away before it released. Check it out on eBay!

Mini GT 1954 Hot Rod Lincoln Capri (purple)

Mini GT is one of those brands that I have a huge appreciation for what they do, as what they do come out with is top quality for the price. The problem for me is they do a lot that I have basically 0 interest in. Modern cars from McLaren, BMW, Bugatti, Pagani, Porsche, Lamborghini, these do nothing for me. I don’t get excited seeing a 750S, Urus, M4, Chiron, etc. They do have several items that do catch my eyes, don’t get me wrong. But this Capri. THIS is what gets me going. And this wasn’t just a lowered chassis for the Capri they did before. This was a full retooling. I am hoping this is a sign of doing more along this line. Check it out on eBay!

Hot Wheels Mazda Autozam “Texas Toot”

Why do I like this thing? This is ridiculous. When the vehicle won the Legends Tour to be made as a Hot Wheels in 2022, I was worried the execution was going to be… not good. I was thankfully wrong in that. For a $1.25 vehicle they knocked this dumb thing out of the park. Check it out on eBay!

Johnny Lightning 1985 Toyota SR5 Pickup, Pop Culture “Mystery Matinee”

Round 2, especially the Johnny Lightning branding, has had a tumultuous couple of years. Auto World’s release schedule was all sorts of wacky for 2024, and about the only Johnny Lightning 2024 releases that actually came out on time(ish) were Pop Culture and Collector Tins, and I’m willing to bet they focused on those due to possible contractual obligations. Even with the issues, a couple new toolings made their debut as hobby exclusive releases, with the 1974 Pontiac GTO and this Toyota truck. The second release in hand, however, was part of the Pop Culture “Mystery Matinee” set, which seems to have taken over for the “hidden” movie cars that would be under the Trivial Pursuit sub-series. We all know what this truck is from. And for a ~$8 retail release they knocked this thing out of the park. This thing is perfect. Check it out on eBay!

And for the 10th car in the list, my absolute favorite release of 2024 without question:

Greenlight Hollywood ‘The Crow’ 1973 Ford Thunderbird

Not a doubt in my mind. This is, hands down, my favorite release of 2024. Possibly in a few years, honestly. This era of the Thunderbird has been largely ignored in the 1/64(ish) diecast world, with MotorMax having really the only other one I can recall seeing. ‘The Crow’ is one of my all time favorite movies, and this car plays a key part in it, when revenge is taken on the vehicle’s owner. It’s done in a street machine style custom, with the super charger intake standing tall through the hood and side pipe glory. This thing is perfect. Absolutely perfect. I LOVE this thing. Check it out on eBay!

To add, a few items that were just off of my top 10, but I took the pics so going to feature them anyway. I took the time so I might as well use them, hah!

M2 Machines Auto-Drivers 1968-1969 Dodge Darts

When M2 debuts a tooling they tend to go all-in and release a crapload of them in the first year. This Dart was no exception with 5 of them in 2024. And honestly they did quite a good job on the casting. But the 3 done with the meaty rear wheels, two of which were Target exclusives with the blowers, absolutely stood out for me. Check it out on eBay!

Hot Wheels RLC 1964 Dodge Power Wagon

Another stunning casting from Brendon and team, I loved what he did with this. Designed with the cross-ram 413 engine, done in a dark olive fitting for the truck, using deco style of some later Dodge Demons with the hood decals, and the “NO HEMI” license plate, this was a stunning release. Check it out on eBay!

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Poison Pinto Treasure Hunt

Brendon Vetuskey isn’t just in charge of RLC but was also heading up the Monster Trucks line. The last few years he’s been bringing some old HW designs into the line, and in 2024 he brought the Poison Pinto back from the dead. But it wasn’t just done in green like the original Flying Colors release, but they did a Treasure Hunt version in zamac as homage to the 1970s Super Chromes release. And I loved this thing. I don’t collect a lot of the Monster Trucks but this was one I absolutely had to have when I found out it was coming out. Check it out on eBay!

ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION, Greenlight also updated how they do chases in their releases. California Lowriders Series 6 was essentially the first release to debut this new direction, and I absolutely was floored by it. I didn’t do individual pics of the cars, as I will eventually do a picture showcase of all 19 cars since I finally got the last chase I didn’t have. Video here to check out the 18 I did have when I made the video (and on eBay!):

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NOW, for some of my favorite adds throughout 2024, the older releases that found their way into my collection

M2 Machines Stretch Rods

I remember these from when they were new over 15 years ago. Just took a long time to gain an appreciation for them. I got that gold ’59 Cadillac one off Whatnot early in the year, and after really giving a good look went after more over the rest of the year. The red Ford here was actually from a three-car set, the Impala and Caddy were solo releases. It seems they are starting to roll these back out, with the ’57 Bel Air having a few releases over the last couple years and the Impala and Caddy popping up again (Impala in an Auto-Haulers release, the Caddy in a hobby release). Sadly these newer ones don’t have the opening doors anymore, but hoping to see the Ford and Mercury come back again too. Check them out on eBay!

Ertl American Muscle and Racing Champions Mint 1962 Pontiac Catalinas

The Ertl American Muscle 1/64 tools from the early 2000s are really nice, multi-piece replicas. I’ve worked on getting a number of them over the last few years, and this Catalina is probably my 2nd favorite of these old tools behind only the 1961 Impala. The blue, black and red ones here were from the early Ertl line, where the aqua-ish one is from a Racing Champions Mint release from a few years back. With these 4 I believe I now have all 5 releases of the car, having the dark red “Route 66 Toy Company” one from 20ish years ago already. Check them out on eBay!

Motor Max American Graffiti 1971 Impala and 1976 Caprice

Two quite sought after Motor Max toolings, and I was able to snag both black ones here for quite cheap considering eBay prices for them. Found them at a local antiques mall. And the orange Caprice I got in a lot of cars on eBay that got slept on. Still one more colorway of each car that I know of to obtain (a yellow ’71 Impala and a red ’76 Caprice), hoping I can track them down. Check out the Impala and Caprice on eBay!

Greenlight Black Bandit promo 1971 Dodge Charger Super Bee

A last minute add, and I just love how this one turned out with the black bandit treatment. It just looks awesome. Check it out on eBay!

Auto World Surplus Goodies Barn Finds squarebody trucks

This was just a fun set to put together. I did also get the “clean/restored” ones. But there is something charming about the dirty deco on these. These got covered on here back when they came out by both Bearded Mug Media and Champion DJK. Check it out on eBay!

M2 Machines Col. Squarebody bed-less Flying Tigers trucks

Somehow got the original Col. Squarebody truck for a steal on Whatnot, and ended up tracking down both the SOPC pink one as well as the holiday ornament pair later on. These bed-less trucks have a soft space in my heart, I just love these things. Especially with the turbo’d motor. Check it out on eBay!

M2 Machines GMC Jimmy, 2022 Walmart exclusive set

Much like the bed-less trucks above, I’ve always loved the K5 Blazer and full size Jimmy since I was a kid. I found the 2022 Walmart exclusive set at a local toy show for a VERY reasonable price. This pair of lowered ones with the big meats out back hit just right, but the full 6 truck set is quite awesome. Check it out on eBay!

Hot Wheels Custom Classics 1968 Cadillac, Winning Trophy series

1:50ish scale for this one, but it’s always a great time when I can complete a casting. This was the last one I needed of this 1968 Cadillac and I finally was able to add it. I’ve gone pretty hard at these 1:50 scale cars the last couple years, trying to get the full Custom Classics set and just the ones I wanted from G-Machines, Dropstars, Volkswagen and the bent-card set. There is also the first 1:50 scale line, Hot Import Nights, but not a whole lot appeals to me from those. Check it out on eBay!

Hot Wheels 100% Classical Gassers, ’51 Henry J and ’48 Austin

This is just an awesome set, one that contains castings that only appeared here. They actually share the same base as the Willys gassers from the line. Just another great find from the year. Check it out on eBay!

Hot Wheels Preferred Series, Hummer H1, orange

Just like with the Cadillac, this Hummer completed this casting for me. Such a cool casting. A bummer we haven’t seen these wheels since this time though. Check it out on eBay!

And lastly, some of my other favorites of 2024, because why not?

Well…. until next time! Hopefully it isn’t several months away again, hah!