As I have mentioned before, sales of Hot Wheels cars have been steadily increasing over the past decade. That’s not because today’s kids have any interest in cars. While it is true that Mattel has expanded the HW name into new and creative areas to appeal to today’s youngsters by integrating the series into other genres, the majority of sales increases are driven by the copious and never-ending series of special editions, collector series, and nostalgia reissues. So it’s no secret where most of these sales are really coming from!
If I were a Mattel executive looking at the long-term and thinking about the future, that might keep me up at night, but since I’m the consumer in the exact demographic who is buying all these toys, I couldn’t be happier at the stunning variety of 1:64 diecast cars that are currently available!
And so, we come to another impromptu trip to the infamous Colorado Diecast, where I stepped in last Saturday afternoon to find the shop’s 50 Cent bargain bin packed to the gills, loaded more deeply than I had ever seen it with thousands upon thousands of cars! I sifted through those piles, and within the space of an hour had bought well over 50 cars! Adding in a few high dollar premiums, I got out of there for just around $100 with almost 2 additional cases full of additions to my collection!
I’ve mentioned this before too: this is getting out of hand!
Or…is it? Because, hey, it’s the proverbial kid in the candy store: faced with piles of cool toy cars for half a dollar, how could any gearhead stop? The expense is so low and the fun factor is so high that self-control becomes a minor afterthought: there’s just too much cool stuff! As my baskets fill up and my shelf space disappears, all I can think is: WHY NOT?
Of course, that doesn’t mean that I want to be making significant alterations and changes to the diorama every time I come home with a new pile, but it’s also true that a few changes here and there are just irresistible! So, here’s some highlights of just a few of the most recent purchases and their effects on the environs around Drag City.
And so, what about you, dear readers? What are you adding to your collections these days? Surely not everybody has a incredible store like Colorado Diecast in their backyard, but are you able to resist those aisles at the big box stores when you walk into them to pick up the things that you need? Or do you find yourself making detours to that toy section with the same little sense of excitement in your chest that you felt when you were five years old, and throwing a few extra goodies into your basket before you check out?
I don’t know about y’all, but as long as Mattel and other toy companies keep making the kinds of things that I like, I’ll never stop… For the simple reason that, at these prices and these sizes… I don’t have to! And neither you do!
These cars sure are irresistible and I can see why. So many great things, like even the Snoopy one I saw in the video. Even if they don’t make it into the diorama, which is looking great as always, they are still cool to have and play with!