The Cybertruck is dead. Is it worth collecting?
Elon Musk did not have a good week. I'll leave the press to document all his misgivings on the political front, but here we'll talk about the just-announced end of the Cybertruck.
It's a good thing. From its odd unveiling, to long delays, to slow sales, it seemed destined to fail. It debuted with necessary hubris. It looked weird, but different was welcome. In a sea of crossovers and identical pickup trucks, a polarizing design was at least interesting. A new vehicle that brought strong opinions on both sides was better than the usual "meh". Strong opinions led to a ton of preorders.
Then we waited. Covid. Post-Covid. Twitter to X. The evolution of Elon Musk as a political figure. By the time the Cybertruck finally hit the market, Tesla was no longer an innovative EV car company. It was a political statement with a ton of culture-war baggage. And the Cybertruck became its symbol.
So, was it a good truck? Did it deliver on its promises? Maybe, but that doesn't matter. But it was the MAGA hat of vehicles. It didn't matter if it was a good truck. Sales were terrible. It was a flop. And it's gone.
Enter us diecast nerds. "Collect what you like" is always the mantra, but "Collect what is interesting" is cool too. Among our Skylines and Porsches there should always be some space for the oddities. Obscure concepts, total lemons, Malaise Era Icons, and complete automotive flops. My personal feelings for the Cybertruck aside - I'm not a fan - I'm kinda glad I have a few in my collection.
You might agree. And if you don't have any Cybertrucks in your collection, it isn't that hard to collect a few. Both Mattel brands and Tomica have done them, and I am not aware of any other premium brand examples. There are some RC and larger scale offerings, but the most basic toy offerings are the way to go.
Back in February 2020: The Tesla Cybertruck comes to Hot Wheels
There was a moment when the Hot Wheels Cybertrucks hit pretty high aftermarket prices, but that has settled a bit. What I don't know, and is impossible to predict, is if the end of the Cybertruck means an aftermarket surge is set to happen again. The opposite can happen.
Tomica released one in its Premium line, but I haven't seen it in hand. It isn't hard to snag.
But let's talk the blue and orange brands. Hot Wheels has offered four, Matchbox one. And here is the order in which I think you should pursue them:
1. Matchbox Moving Parts
If there is a "must-have" of the bunch, it is this one. Matchbox released theirs well after Hot Wheels, but it is easily the most accurate replica of the two. The opening front hood is cool, but it is truly the proportions that make it the most. When you tell your grandkids about the weird truck that the weird guy made, pull out the Matchbox.
2. Hot Wheels ID
If I had to predict, this will be the most collectable Cybertruck. The Matchbox was done in small numbers, but this one could have been even lower. The HWid line was headed the way of the real Cybertruck at the time of this model's release - it was headed towards its demise. The later mixes showed up at some Targets, but not a lot, and while this model isn't the most rare ID, it is one of them. The ID line will most likely become a highly desired line for Hot Wheels collectors, and this Cybertruck will be one of the signature models. It is also a different casting than the mainline Hot Wheels version, closer to the proportions of the Matchbox model. It also has a Cyberquad molded into the bed, which makes it slightly different. It's the best looking Hot Wheels version, and will end up being the most rare.
3. Hot Wheels Mainline 1-3 (2021, 2022, 2024)
Pick your poison. Same casting, done in a Hot Wheels lifted truck style, based on the concept (roughly), and each one is a raw Zamac. Only the wheels are different. I guess the first release would be the most desirable, but that would mean carded. I am guessing if demand for the HW Cybertruck grows, all of these will be in demand, behind the HWid. But they are all pretty easy to grab now.
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