How to spot valuable Hot Wheels
29.12.2021
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
There are small treasures hidden amongst your standard Hot Wheels cars. But how can you tell the difference between conventional and rare models? Here’s what to look out for.
Hot Wheels cars are produced by the millions and sold all over the world. Toy stores and online shops receive the vehicles in boxes containing 72 Hot Wheels each. Every now and then a few rare models are mixed in with the batch. Similar to Pokémon or Magic cards, this is done to encourage collectors to hunt for gems. Hot Wheels come in three rarity levels: Treasure Hunt, Super Treasure Hunt and Factory Error.
Rare: Treasure Hunt
For every few million cars, there are a few hundred thousand Treasure Hunt models. Although they’re rare, you’ll still come across them quite regularly. Treasure Hunt cars are marked with a small round flame. The flame is printed on the car as well as on the packaging behind the car.
Source: hwtreasure.com
In most cases, rare also means valuable. On platforms such as eBay you can find quite a few Treasure Hunt cars. At auctions, they normally go for double or triple the original purchase price. Older models are more valuable.
Very rare: Super Treasure Hunt
Super Treasure Hunt cars are even rarer. There are only a few thousand of each of them in the world. It could take you years to find one of them. And you need to be really lucky. These rarities are different from normal Hot Wheels in several ways. Super Treasure Hunt tell-tale signs are the «TH» on them, rubber wheels and Spectraflame paint. In addition, there’s a golden flame on the packaging behind the car.
Source: hwtreasure.com
If you happen to find a Super Treasure Hunt in a store, get it right away! These cars are a true goldmine. On the secondary market, these cars easily make a hundred times their original purchase price. At auctions, older and rarer models have also been known to change hands for several thousand francs/euros.
Extremely rare: Factory Error
Factory Errors can be both cars as well as their packaging. The most common vehicle errors are mismatched wheels, missing, broken or loose parts, and improperly applied decals. Packaging errors include cars that have the wrong packaging motif or are upside down.
Source: hotwheels.fandom.com
As Factory Errors are extremely rare, it’s difficult to determine the value of these curiosities. Although there are some collectors who focus on these errors, there’s not much demand for them on the secondary market. This makes them less valuable than Super Treasure Hunts.
Riding my motorbike makes me feel free, fishing brings out my inner hunter, using my camera gets me creative. I make my money messing around with toys all day.
