New Hot Wheels Premium Collector Set Is a BRE Special

That means I'll search seven or eight stores for the latest Mainline cases and Premium collectibles. I decided to set a $50 limit, as I'd rather spend my birthday money on a new pair of racing gloves than struggle to find a bigger display case for my diecast cars. My main concern is that I will be visiting a place focused on model cars, and it's like Disneyland for me whenever I walk in.

Looking past the recent Mattel Creations situation with the Archive Sale, I have other news. One of the most popular collectors in the global community has just opened up the latest Premium Collector Set. I'm not that big of a classic Nissan fan, as I'd much rather have an R32 GT-R or any of the S-Chassis cars instead.

But I'm sure BRE enthusiasts will be all over this new box. I find it interesting that Mattel chose this path after the previous set, which also featured the Custom Datsun 240Z and the Nissan Maxima Drift Car. When I first looked at the Premium Collector Set line a few months back, I concluded that Nissan/Datsun was already in the lead, with Ford falling in second place. I will reevaluate the situation once we see the final set later this year, so let's focus on the BRE one for now.

BRE Datsun 620

Jun Imai designed the first two castings on this list. The Datsun 620 debuted in 2014 as part of the HW Off-Road: HW Hot Trucks series. A Kmart-exclusive model followed suit, and Mattel played with various colors for the next few years. In 2016, the Datsun 620 joined Car Culture, ditching the tedious 5-spoke wheels in favor of the popular Moon Disc rims.

In 2018, it was one of the 15 Super Treasure Hunt models that everyone was after. But it's pretty insane that we couldn't get a second Premium variation until last year when it popped up in the Pop Culture: Vintage Oil mix. It was pretty good with the Motul livery and the black Real Riders European wheels.

But I'd argue the recent BRE drop just takes it up a notch. The black and white livery complements the chrome-line wheels, and I always like placing small items in the bed to make these castings look more real. But we all know the Datsun 620 is not the show's star here.

BRE Datsun 510 Wagon

That title goes to the BRE Datsun 510 Wagon, which debuted one year earlier than the pickup truck. Time and time again, collectors are eager to get their hands on any iterations of this casting. As the First Edition appeared in the Boulevard series over a decade ago, it made for a strong start.

The BRE release is the 33rd one so far, and I'll likely do an in-depth analysis of them all soon. It is one collection you don't want to start if you're running on a limited budget. I spotted two iterations selling for over $1,000 each on eBay. So, I'd assume you will need at least $4,000 to buy them all.

The newest one uses a simple white and teal livery with bronze Classic 4-Spoke Real Riders wheels. Even if collectors won't necessarily appreciate the other three items in this set, the 510 Wagon could still make it tempting enough for them in the long run.

1991 BRE Nissan Sentra SE-R

Mark Jones designed the last two castings that appear in this set. The 1991 BRE Nissan Sentra SE-R is the newest one here, as it just debuted in 2022.Interestingly, the First Edition was part of the Japanese Tuners Collector Set.

It was quite stunning in Metalflake Navy Blue with the black Mini Real Riders 5-Spoke Modern rims. But I can't say the same about the Car Culture 2-Pack release in Metallic Silver. Of course, that's all down to personal preference, and I know some of my friends have the opposite feeling on the topic. I don't mind the six-spoke wheels on the BRE iteration, but I still prefer the five-spoke model for this casting.

The red, white, and blue livery is more recognizable than the previous ones. But variety is always good, and it shows that collecting based on certain liveries could be a fantastic way to go about the hobby.

BRE Sakura Sprinter

The Sakura Sprinter is one of the old-school haulers in Mattel's present-day portfolio. Recently, we have seen several new designs in Team Transport, such as the Second Story Lorry and the Flipsider Hauler. But the boxy Japanese-style truck is still a crowd favorite, and I own a few of them, too.

The BRE release is the 11th since the casting's debut in 2018 and the second one for 2024. It's the first time Mattel has used it in the Premium Collector series, and it fits the theme rather well, seeing that these are all Japanese machines. Given there's a BRE version of the Fleet Flyer hauler, too, these make for an awesome display if you have enough space at home to go for it.

With this out of the way, there's only one more set to look out for in 2024. And I'd be willing to bet it will bring some American Muscle into the highlight.