#tranquilcollecting
Hot Wheels never ditched Muscle. They just branched out a bit more than they did in the 2000’s. And if the 2000’s were the Golden Age of Hot Wheels Muscle, then there is no reason Hot Wheels can’t draw from it whenever they need to. Hot Wheels did a TON of Muscle Cars in the …
Alright here we go again. A couple more Matchbox polls for the 2019 Lamley Awards. These two are a bit of a trip to be doing. Two polls on Matchbox Moving Parts. If I told any Matchbox collector five years ago that Matchbox would have two lines of Opening Parts models in 2019, they would …
Obviously I don't know the sales and revenue numbers, but let's ask that question in the title from a collector perspective. Entertainment and Pop Culture have lasted longer, and thankfully done well, but Car Culture seems to be on a different level entirely. For those that have collected for at least the last 15 years …
Time to vote again! Hopefully you have already voted on BEST & WORST Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt in 2019, so now it is time to move to 2019 Hot Wheels Licensed New Models in 2019. This one is ALWAYS interesting. There are two polls: BEST Licensed New Model and MOST DISAPPOINTING. BEST is self-explanatory. …
Auto World is killing it. Truly hitting its stride. Releases are still sparse, which I actually like, giving AW collectors time to appreciate each one. This is the fourth of 2019, and like they've been doing lately, another home run. Release 4 marks the debut of the massive Ford F-150, the largest AW to date. …
Just a quick drop in to show you the just-released Hot Wheels 2020 C Case. Wheel Collectors got thief shipment and sent over photos. I put this in a video to start, and I will post pics soon: You can find all of these at Wheel Collectors. https://youtu.be/adZ-jQh89HU The two chase models to look for:
Man this feels nostalgic. Not the slammed Nissan Hardbody, or the classic Chevelle, or any car in this set. Each feels actually quite new. I'm doing a photo feature and write-up. THAT feels nostalgic. I picture a Depression-era newsboy shouting "Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Lamley actually wrote something!" But let's see if remember …
I am not even going to try to explain why I like Donks. It really isn't my place. I do, and I like them a lot, like I like a lot of car subcultures. While a Donk is technically a 70’s era Caprice or Impala, the term has come to loosely refer to plethora of …
Continue reading "Saturday Showcase: The forgotten Donks of 2006 Hot Wheels Hi-Rakers"
I've been surprised to hear a few of you complaining that the Fast & Furious Premium set is a little played out. What is more surprising is that I am going to be the one countering, especially considering my opinion on Fast & Furious. I don't hate the Fast & Furious movies. I actually have …
Continue reading "Showcase: Hot Wheels Premium Fast & Furious Off-Road"
It isn't something you think of too much when someone mentions Hot Wheels. The world of fast cars usually doesn't have space for the big rigs, unless of course they are there to transport the fast cars around. But Hot Wheels has done some big rigs, and done them very well. Awhile ago I decided …
Continue reading "Saturday Showcase: Collecting the Hot Wheels Behemoth Rigs"
We give you everything. Case Report done, so how about a Rapid Unboxing? Enjoy: https://youtu.be/ESLoJIbWwVM
The Bugatti is upon us. Hot Wheels N Cases are starting to hit US stores, and the Bugatti frenzy will begin. A&J Toys sent over the US N Case - the same heading to Walmart and Target - and I opened it last night. Two Chirons per case, so plenty to go around. Enjoy: https://youtu.be/3wQ6az7hd3A
Today, 9am Pacific, another RLC frenzy ignites. The Hot Wheels Redline Club really has been nothing but fire this year, and now it changes color. If you are an RLC member, you don't need me to tell you to be on your computer, phone, tablet, abacus, etch-a-sketch, or whatever you use to order models this …
Continue reading "Hot Wheels RLC Chameleon 240Z: You need to order it. You need to open it."
This was a bit of a surprising development when I opened a package from Mattel last week. Two carded Hot Wheels ID cars, with basic wheels instead of HWid wheels. I inquired, and got a bit of info. Not all the details, but some. I also got permission to share, so that is what I …
Continue reading "Hot Wheels ID is coming to the Basic Range, in the form of Chase cars."
Matchbox is hitting in droves after a bit of a lull. A new 9-pack, three new 5-packs, and now another basic mix. Wheel Collectors received their shipment of the new Q Case, and did a rapid unboxing for Lamley Viewers: https://youtu.be/7_RVNu57-N4 If you remember, Matchbox is now doing single assortments, which means every model in …
After a ton of fanfare, they are finally here. The first of will be many iterations of the 1973-1987 Chevy Pickup have been released by Auto World, and they are fantastic. https://youtu.be/fJ8tSttkZBQ This might sound a tad hokey, but falling for Auto World has been one of the more fun developments of my collecting life. …
Just in time for the RLC and Gumball 3000 sale today. I was wondering why the RLC was selling these on a day other than the standard Tuesday, and now I know why. After I made the video I learned it is available today on the Gumball 3000 site as well. So cool right? RLC …
Continue reading "Preview: Hot Wheels x Gumball 3000 Lamborghini Aventador"
Alright let's make sense of this out of the gate. Today I am previewing Release 3. Release 1 is out, Release 2 is not, but here is Release 3. If you don't follow Auto World you may not care, but considering the new Chevy Squarebody Trucks are mashed into this group means a lot of …
Continue reading "Preview: Auto World 2019 Premium Release 3"
A quick video I did on the Lamley Extras YouTube Channel last night at the Matchbox Gathering. There is no way to show all that goes on at the Gathering, but here are a couple of highlights. The first is a quick livestream I did before the Mattel Presentation at last night's dinner. Event organizer …
I think it is safe to say this lineup of 2020 New Models is loaded. Abe & the Matchbox Team dropped several hammers during the Sneaks Presentation at the Gathering last night, and it was pretty awesome to see. I live-streamed the presentation, which is below, and took some quick footage of the display cases …
No time to type, with the preview coming, so here is the video: https://youtu.be/i3YxvY06dAw
The Matchbox Gathering of Friends in Albuquerque is humming along, and as usual you can be a part tonight. The Matchbox Team will be previewing 2020 New Models, upcoming lineups, announcing the Custom Contest winners, and much more, and it will stream live on the Lamley YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/aVgiDGDaY4Y I have it scheduled to start …
It is still one of the visceral pleasures of collecting - ripping a blister off the card and freeing a $1 model. No offense to some of the premium brands, but it is far better than unscrewing a tiny screw or using scissors to cut open a fully sealed package. So that meant the N …
Continue reading "Opening a Hot Wheels Bugatti Chiron, two Supers, and bunch of other stuff."
Gassers are naturally bonkers. Nothing is aesthetically right about them. But that is what makes them so wonderful. A car this nuts needs a matching deco, and Hot Wheels gives them to us. And the ‘41 Willys gets it all. It is a complete stunner, enameled to look like it sits under a layer of …