*Disclaimer – I began writing this in the middle of last year, before a lot of things became irrelevant, tariffs started disrupting releases and distribution, and while I still mostly enjoyed buying things frequently. Proceed with caution.*
I started my list early this year. Or what’s now last year. I knew that the time to choose my top ten was going to be here at some point.
Having a hobby shouldn’t be as overwhelming as it is sometimes. The sheer amount of things to collect seems to be increasing exponentially. Every time I open Instagram it seems I’m fed the latest post by a preview page, hinting at the next new casting by the latest new brand. Even established brands are branching out and creating niches with sets of cars you never knew you needed. GreenLight is very good at this. Same with M2, if you’re into the sort of crossover episodes featuring diecast and soda pop. Or now Chuck E. Cheese, apparently.
I can only speak for myself, but it seems I really need to hone in on what I want to collect in 2025 or I’m going to have a diecast breakdown. I experienced the same thing with magazine subscriptions – at one point I was getting a dozen or so periodicals in my mailbox each month. Considering I was only able to read one or two every 30 days, the stack of unread issues piled up real quick and it wasn’t subsiding. I’ve been culling through what I really want to remain a subscriber with and letting others lapse. That Hemmings killed off both Muscle Machines and Classic Car was devastating, but the silver lining was less mail. Unsurprisingly, my life hasn’t been affected by placing unread magazines in my basement. It goes on.
Back to diecast and the ever increasing amount of product available for collectors to purchase. The popular opinion is to collect what you like. To find joy in the things that find their way into your home. The problem with that sentiment is that there are so many cool things being released. And I like a lot of it. GreenLight’s California Lowriders series takes some of their excellent castings such as the 1973 Cadillacs or 1964 Chevys and dresses them up in period paint over a lowered chassis. They look great. But do I really need three different versions of the same casting? Yes and no.
Tomica Limited Vintage is really good at tweaking their castings just enough to get the most return out of collectors. The difference between five Toyota Crown castings might be wheels, grilles and paint color. Again, they pray upon one’s inability to curb the impulse to own every variation. But who’s really to blame? A test I’ve been trying to implement involves really thinking about the cars I’ve ordered and how quickly I open the box once it arrives. I have monthly preorders from Amiami arrive from Japan and I just opened four boxes. Meaning I let the last few months just sit in the box in my basement. Did I really need those then if I wasn’t itching to open them as soon as they arrived? With the introduction of 145% tariffs on things from China, it seems that made my decision for me. Because while it wasn’t hard to preorder a bunch of $20 cars, those same cars now costing substantially more makes it an easy pass.
My collection is mostly kept in my basement due to the combination of having a curious four five year old and not a lot of display area in my office. That means that as things arrive, I can either photograph them right away (almost never happens) or place them downstairs and make a mental note to get to them sooner rather than later (usually the case). The inadvertent out of sight, out of mind situation created by the drop and go of incoming packages always ends in a “why is this basement so cluttered all of a sudden?” feeling.
So, I wrap up 2024 start the middle of 2025 with my 2024 Top Ten and prepare for the incoming year. As always, these aren’t in any kind of order.
I wrote a tome on DiecastTalk’s releases for the last few years and have no intention of rewriting any of that. If you want to find it, click HERE.
The Sequoia is a great bigger brother to the 4Runner casting, with great detail and appropriate heft. Issac mentioned how hard they worked to get the headlights correct, and when you compare the initial pre-pro pictures with the retail release, you can notice the improvement.
What I will additionally say is they have no intention of slowing down their exclusives. After my Five Year Anniversary piece dropped, a preorder for a Pizza Planet Toyota Hilux began shipping. And here is where DiecastTalk is heads and shoulders above the rest. If there was an award for presentation and packaging, they would handily scoop it up. From the TRD Box Set to the creative take on pizza delivery, no two releases are the same and would make for a great display piece, had I been a cardboard collector.
The 1993 Ford Probe GT was a welcome casting to the diecast world. But it wasn’t the first time Ford’s attempt at replacing the Mustang was made in small scale. Think back to Matchbox and their wacky days of laser decos. Thirty years ago the 1:59 scale coupe was introduced with a very period graphic for the orange brand. The following few years saw the car recolored with similar splash graphics, but it didn’t have full tampos until it was part of the Premiere series. Unfortunately, it was saddled with a massive engine sticking out of the hood, negating any added realism.
Auto World’s release of the ’93 in their Deluxe line is a two-edged sword. On one side, the Probe finally gets its full deco debut. But being a Deluxe means that it has universal plastic wheels and a plastic chassis. Once again, the Probe is still just a bridesmaid. Regardless, it’s a great step in the right direction for the nearly forgotten front wheel drive V6 coupe and collectors are better for it. Plus, anyone with an aftermarket set of wheels and an ounce of talent can easily swap out the chrome 5-spokes for something more appealing.
The first Lexus SC400 debuted in the Hot Wheels line in 1993, in black metallic paint with Basic Wheels. Designed by Bruce Bauer, it was arguably the only standard car credited to him, having the Shadow Jet II, Power Pipes and Rigor Motor also on his CV. The lines were crude, lacking any distinguishable door jams, but the massive amount of wheel variations for the metallic burgundy release of 1995 provided bountiful options for collectors. I think I’m still trying to find them all. The addition of a more realistic counterpart was a welcome addition to 2024 and a great representation of Car Culture.
The Mark Jones designed Toyota Soarer made its debut in the Fast and Furious premium line, depicting the 1991 coupe that was seen briefly in Tokyo Drift. The car is based off a real Lexus SC masquerading as the JDM Soarer, formerly owned by by Emerald Ignacio aka driftgirl on IG. The proportions are attractive, and the burgundy color is a great nod to the original casting. But the head and taillights are a bit bloated, like two too many CCs of botox in the upper lip. That many of the tampos don’t line up and the shape isn’t quite right doesn’t help, either. Regardless, it has side mirrors and is a great addition to my collection.
Auto World 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Like the Probe, this is another car that was predominant in my youth. I’ll say this though, I wish they debuted the car with stock wheels. Ok that aside, it’s another great choice for a car that is under represented in small scale. And the fact that the casting can double as the Eagle Talon is a bonus. The LaSalle Silver is such a perfectly early 90s hue of beige. The GSX trim is the turbocharged all-wheel-drive monster and the hood pops to reveal the 4G63 motor that makes all the fun possible. Considering how slow Auto World is to release series, I will have no problem collecting each of these.
GreenLight 2022 GMC Sierra 2500 / 3500 (Karson Diecast Exclusives)
This is a pivotal release for the latest iteration of GreenLight Collectibles. With a new owner at the helm, the last year has seen plenty of changes for the better. Stronger packaging, stiffer QC, and in this case, appropriately sized tires! These Sierras came at a premium, but IMO are worth the extra cost. I did an entire write up on the first two white and black ones HERE. The arrival of the 3500 Denalis, dual wheels and all, and especially in great colors, proved this was a casting worth collecting.
Beyond the casting, it hopefully serves as the improvement of things to come. GreenLight has been hit or miss with their releases, in terms of wheel fitment and QC issues just to name two things. With the new president, Vincent Tang, things are looking up – recent toy show previews have proved just that. Only time will tell and newer release are in hand before a verdict can be reached though. Stay tuned for my 2025 Top Ten, right.
Hot Wheels Pontiac Aztek Custom
This is what I’m here for. Newcomer Craig Callum has been with Mattel since 2022 and first 2024 marked the release of his own castings. His Aztek design really tapped into what sets the Hot Wheels apart. The proportions are all Pontiac, with added flares and aero to give it that blue brand vibe. And the color just pops! It was red later in the year with bronze wheels, but nothing will top the first release. Let’s see the basement grade auto journalists put this on their next regurgitated Ugliest Cars List.
Tomica Limited Vintage Nismo 400R
I already mentioned TLV’s ability to remove the money from my wallet by offering the same casting seven different ways. To say that the 400R is just a gussied up R33 GT-R would be the fauxest of pas. And although the R33 also debuted this year, it’s the 400R that gets the hat tip from me.
This isn’t the first time the 400R has been replicated in 1/64 scale. Kyosho released one over a decade ago in their Nismo box series. Inno64 also took a swing at it. But once TLV announced it was making their own, you just knew it was going to be a must have. I fully believe that wheels can make or break a casting. Get the sidewall too big and the wheels appear small. Tomica got them just right and the model just pops in yellow. The silver one’s front bumper doesn’t quite match, which is disappointing, but red and blue are also real nice.
PARA64 1995 Honda Civic Coupe EJ1
PARA64 is one of my favorite manufacturers of affordable castings. They’ve come out with some real nice recolors this year, and some splendid new castings. In my opinion, the best we’ve seen yet is the Honda Civic EJ1 Coupe. Of course in this wonderfully 90s Aztec green. Its release partner is in black, allowing diorama creators the opportunity to finally recreate The Fast and the Furious truck hijacking scene. The EJ1 joins previously released EM1 Si, the latest FL5 Type R, the Euro FN2 Type R and the EP3 Type R. And with their application of authentic factory colors, creating a used car lot is as easy as browsing through eBay to collect them all. I love clicking on something and seeing the “You bought this item”, because clearly I forgot once boxes hit my basement.
Hot Wheels RLC 1986 Nissan 720 King Cab
The RLC’s Overdrive program has been a great way for me to get the cars I want without having to set an alarm and fight the bots. It also helped me kick the habit of buying my maximum to sell the extras for $7 profit after fees. I’m just not that baller anymore. Back to the Nissan. This one sparked my curiosity when I first saw it previewed because of it’s dancing bed. That in then came with Masters of the Universe on the screens was the icing on top. The purple really pops, too…enough that I’ve had to retrieve it from my 5-year-old’s playsets more than once. I can’t see this release being topped.
Tomica Limited Vintage Chevrolet Astro LT AWD
The TLV Astro van was as good in hand as it was when it was first previewed. It’s sad the second wave’s all-white candy van has to come in a DioColle that’s already overpriced before tariffs hit. The Astro holds a small place in my heart as my family had a purple conversion version of one when I was younger. Now, if TLV releases one like that, I might have to eat the added cost of importing things and add it to my collection. I won’t even let the unopened box fester in my basement for that long.
Matchbox Moving Parts Bizzarrini 5300 GT Corsa Revival
At first I thought this was a left field option, but then realized it was the Revival version, which means it’s a NOS-sort of build on a 1960s classic. Designed by Garry Gopinath for Matchbox, the Moving Parts has an opening hood allowing all to see the small block Chevy V8. This design, number 3, also replicates the press car that the rebirthed Bizzarrini used at inception of the Revival.
A few honorary mentions.
The Red Line Club GMC Typhoon is a great follow-up to the SS 454 OBS that was released a few years back. The proportions are nice, balancing the shrink it down for 1/64 while giving it the Hot Wheels feels. I don’t think a future release can top this one, but I’ve been wrong before.
Hot Wheels absolutely crushed it with Car Culture this year. As I was collecting a few for my Top Ten and rummaging through their dedicated bin, I realized how many greats I’ve forgotten. The Nissan 300ZX GTS and Subaru Forester STI both jumped out at me. Their proportions and provenance both shine through and their two others that will be hard to top in subsequent releases. The 300ZX returned in 2025’s Silhouettes as a nod to the Calsonic livery, but it pales in comparison.
PARA64 had some other great releases worth mentioning. Their debut Porsche race cars took a premium approach to the ‘Moby Dick’ 935/78 and Carrera RSR 3.0 and covered them in well researched liveries.
Furuya released a bug eye Subaru WRX Wagon and it hit real hard. And the fact that further releases appeared to be licensed was a bonus. Naturally, I gravitated towards WR Blue, but it was this black release which cemented my admiration for the casting.
Mini GT was releasing banger after banger, but eventually it was just recolor after recolor. Both of these are recolors, but I feel they’re the best of the best…a standard Shelby GT500 and the wide body version. The colors, the wheels, the stance, they’re all on point with these two. The subtleties between the castings is what sets MGT apart. They remind me of the MK4 Supra and the TRD 3000GT.
As I revisited and reworded this Top Ten, I realized that it wouldn’t be fair to continue writing about 2024’s releases midway through the following year. The fast-paced social media feed paired with the short attention spans of those who consume it drives the point home that these long form, 2,500+ word pieces are written mainly for my own enjoyment. Prove me wrong.
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