Photo: Mattel
Something rather unexpected happened to me a few days ago. I was on a short vacation when I came across a toy store I hadn't visited before. And it had so many Hot Wheels cars inside, but I didn't buy a single model.
I just couldn't spot anything interesting and couldn't be bothered to dig deeper for anything in there. That wouldn't have happened 10 years ago when I could spend up to an hour finding the cool cars I wanted. But this is just part of maturing as a collector, and buying Premium models online makes everything much easier. I spent three whole days driving the 2024 Mazda MX-5 this week, so I didn't pay much attention to any news from Mattel.
Some may know that the company had a big announcement with its Elite 64 series. I knew the '17 Toyota Tacoma was on its way for some time now, but I didn't realize it would go live so soon. It's the fourth model in this year's Elite 64 line, after the Porsche 928 Safari, the Pandem Datsun 280ZX, and the Bugatti Type 59. The latter was a real hit, but the Datsun wasn't bad either.
If you haven't bought any model in the series yet, you can kickstart the collection for around $400. It would have been cheaper to buy them from Mattel directly, but that ship has long sailed. And I'm afraid that's true for the latest Tacoma, too. It's at least one grade above the classic Pikes Peak Tacoma that Mark Jones designed over 20 years ago, and the same applies when comparing it to Ryu Asada's Tacoma from a few years back.
Looking at every Elite 64 release so far, I can't help but wonder something: Is Mattel still searching for the right strategy here? Some collectibles (like the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL) featured opening doors, while others have detachable parts (like the LBWK Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4). Most people perceived this series as one step beneath the exclusive Red Line Club models.
But will it be like that in the future? The latest Elite 64 item features a list of over 10 accessories for customization, increasing realism. The white, red, and black livery isn't mind-blowing, but it's also not meant to be the main attraction here. I feel that the diecast manufacturer will soon use this Mod Shop approach with future models, which may be the winning solution.
There's only one concern: this item went live a few days ago for $30 apiece, which is what you would expect to pay for an RLC design. There's no word about how many units the factory produced, but it must have been a hit, seeing that it's already sold out. Some people are already asking for over $80 for it on eBay. I suggest you give it two or three months and get one for less than half that sum.
Some may know that the company had a big announcement with its Elite 64 series. I knew the '17 Toyota Tacoma was on its way for some time now, but I didn't realize it would go live so soon. It's the fourth model in this year's Elite 64 line, after the Porsche 928 Safari, the Pandem Datsun 280ZX, and the Bugatti Type 59. The latter was a real hit, but the Datsun wasn't bad either.
If you haven't bought any model in the series yet, you can kickstart the collection for around $400. It would have been cheaper to buy them from Mattel directly, but that ship has long sailed. And I'm afraid that's true for the latest Tacoma, too. It's at least one grade above the classic Pikes Peak Tacoma that Mark Jones designed over 20 years ago, and the same applies when comparing it to Ryu Asada's Tacoma from a few years back.
Looking at every Elite 64 release so far, I can't help but wonder something: Is Mattel still searching for the right strategy here? Some collectibles (like the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL) featured opening doors, while others have detachable parts (like the LBWK Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4). Most people perceived this series as one step beneath the exclusive Red Line Club models.
But will it be like that in the future? The latest Elite 64 item features a list of over 10 accessories for customization, increasing realism. The white, red, and black livery isn't mind-blowing, but it's also not meant to be the main attraction here. I feel that the diecast manufacturer will soon use this Mod Shop approach with future models, which may be the winning solution.
There's only one concern: this item went live a few days ago for $30 apiece, which is what you would expect to pay for an RLC design. There's no word about how many units the factory produced, but it must have been a hit, seeing that it's already sold out. Some people are already asking for over $80 for it on eBay. I suggest you give it two or three months and get one for less than half that sum.
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