Hot Wheels Neon Speeders Will Glow in the Dark

I'm considering starting a Hot Wheels Monthly Haul series in which I can share some of my discoveries. It would include beauty shots of each car and my take on how good each one is. But for now, let's look at the most recent Neon Speeders set. It's the second one for 2024 and the third since its 2023 debut. Mattel inserted two fantasy castings into the first set but gave up on that practice starting this year.

The neat thing about these cars is that they glow in the dark if you have a blacklight to reveal that trick. Mix 1 for this year was an all-Japanese affair, but things are different for the newest one. With eight cars inside, there's a 50-50 split between European and North American vehicles. There are no hot hatches, as it's all a mix of impressive machines in various categories.

You'll notice that all the cars in this collection feature Neon Speeders 6-Spoke wheels. With the right color, these look decent enough. But I'd rather not focus on them because there are many nicer rims. But let's get straight to the point and see what each one offers.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

You're looking at the first Porsche in the Neon Speeders series. It is an almost ancient casting, as it debuted in 1999. It must have been pretty good back in the day. But by today's standard, it certainly needs an update. I noticed some people don't like the 996, but it  deserves a bit of love.

You'll find almost 30 variations of this casting on the market, four of which are Fast and Furious models. Mattel opted for a Matte Neon Pink finish for the latest iteration, and I can't remember ever seeing a pink 996 before. The wheels and wheel gap make this item less desirable and might become a peg-warmer.

McLaren F1 GTR

It's safe to say that the McLaren F1 GTR is one of the most iconic vehicles in the new Neon Speeders set. I remember seeing one for sale in Gran Turismo 7 for 15 million credits, which is insane. It's one of my favorite Hot Wheels castings, but I may never own the entire collection. The debut Speed Machines iterations are fairly expensive, although spectacular nonetheless.

There's even a Super Treasure Hunt variation to look for, not to mention the NFT Garage release. The black and pink color combo works rather well, and I can already see people lining up to buy one once it arrives in stores.

Ford GT

This Ford GT casting, designed by John Violette, has been around since 2009. It was also part of the Speed Machines series in 2010 and later appeared in the Premium Boulevard collection. In recent years, the diecast manufacturer has seemingly neglected this item, as the most memorable iteration is the 2023 Speed Machines one.

It's about time we get a Car Culture release! The Ford GT is one of three castings without any pink accents, and I'm thankful for that. For once, the black wheels look stunning in contrast with the Neon Yellow paint job. It's tempting to say it's the highlight of Mix 2, but there's strong competition coming from the next car.

BMW M3 GT2

A few days ago, I showed you an interesting drag race between three Bimmers, and one was a supercharged M3 E92. It's the one BMW I would love to have in my garage, or at least drive hard for a few days at the track. It just so happens that the M3 GT2 is the only Hot Wheels BMW in my collection, and I have had it since 2016.

Since 2012, Fraser Campbell's casting has had 11 variations, with the Neon Speeders one included. It's sad that we haven't had a Premium one yet, but who knows what the future holds. Neon Orange works great with the black and green accents, and I'm adding one to my display as soon as I find it.

'16 Mercedes-AMG GT3

Some of my best Hot Wheels photos have the '16 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in them. I bought the First Iteration in Metalflake Gray when it came out in 2018, but failed to add any of the following seven releases. All three Premium ones feature some shade of Silver, while the iD GT3 came out in Spectraflame Green.

At least Mattel went for black with the Neon Speeders model, and the blue and pink accents further reinforce the idea that this is a proper race car. I can see how a wheel swap would make this collectible twice as exciting as it is now.

'15 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

Brendon Vetuskey designed the '15 Dodge Challenger SRT for its 2015 Mainline debut. I bought a Grabber Blue variation many years ago, but have since sold it. You won't find any Premium releases here, and it's almost a miracle the Neon Speeders SRT Hellcat features detailed headlights and taillights.

I have mixed feelings about the Matte Black finish and green accents: it would probably be cool in the real world. But there's something amiss here, and the Hellcat could be the least inspiring collectible in Mix 2 for 2024.

Corvette C7 Z06

The Corvette C7 Z06 is yet another casting that Mattel doesn't seem to care too much about. Since its 2017 debut we have only seen Mainline versions of it, all of which used the PR5 wheel design. I know some of you will appreciate last year's ZAMAC release, but to me, there's nothing memorable about this casting.

The car is fantastic, but it needs a set of Real Riders wheels and the right color combo to stand out from the rest. Mixing Matte Neon Green with pink and blue makes it look ridiculous, at least from an adult collector's perspective. Perhaps kids will enjoy it more than I do.

'16 Cadillac ATS-V R

The '16 Cadillac ATS-V R is Ryu Asada's work, reminding us of the iconic diecast designer who passed away. It debuted in the Mainline mini-series Legends of Speed in 2018, featuring a black finish and hints of yellow, red and blue. With four variations in the first two years alone, it vanished for 2020 and 2021.

Mattel gave us another Mainline release in 2022, but it's the NFT Garage Series 3 variation that most people would love to own. One Polish seller on eBay asks $317 for his copy, which may or may not be expensive depending on how you look at it. The Neon Speeders ATS-V R takes after the First Edition release, but the livery is slightly different and also better looking.

For once, I like how the NS6 wheels fit the car, and the Cadillac decal on the hood also adds to the realism. The latest version of this casting is one of the best so far (when talking about non-premium items) and I think I'd like to have it on display at home. I noticed someone is trying to sell a case of 10 Neon Speeders on eBay for $90. It's not worth paying that much for it, so be patient until it arrives in a toy store near you.