Let's turn our attention to the other diecast brand, Hot Wheels. While Matchbox is regarded for creating the first mass produced 1/64 scale diecast cars, Hot Wheels pushed them to a new limit. Debuting in 1968, Hot Wheels became an instant hit. The cars were flashy, fast rolling, and often unique. The radical new brand captured the height of the muscle car and custom car scene from the late 1960s and early 1970s, bringing them into the homes of young car enthusiasts.
Flashing forward to the present day, the Hot Wheels car as we know it hasn't changed much from its early ancestors. The formula of taking a popular car model, adding some cool graphics on the side, and making it roll fast has stood the test of time and passed with flying colors. So of course, with the rise of 1980s and '90s classics becoming popular among young car enthusiasts, the Volvo 240 wagon would be the perfect edition to the line up.
Debuting in 2022, the Volvo 240 Drift Wagon was instantly received with excitement and praise from Hot Wheels collectors. So far, none of the major die cast car brands had produced a model of a 240 (except for Majorette), much less one in the price point of a Hot Wheels car.
The new 240 wagon was available in maroon with yellow accents. It had obscured decals reading "240" on the side, which I'm not sure was intentional or a factory error. This would be the only color option available for the new release. In 2023, Hot Wheels is currently releasing a green example of the 240 with blue accents and slightly different decals on the side.
Being the Swedish car enthusiast I am, I was ecstatic to learn that Hot Wheels was releasing the 240 in their main line of cars. As the title heading hints at, this car was responsible for rekindling my interest back into collecting die cast cars. So, when I learned the news of the release, I spent at least one day a week taking a trip to Walmart or Target searching for the 240. I knew I could've easily purchased one off Ebay, but there's more fun in searching for that one thing you really want in the store, especially when you eventually find it.
One fall day, my luck paid off at my local Walmart, and I now had my own Hot Wheels Volvo 240. The second wagon was purchased later that year, as I felt a duplicate was necessary. Currently, I'm waiting for the 2023 release in green to make its way to the shelves.
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