id 20-15 Batmobile

Batmobile – id

Batmobile! POW! Here is another Hot Wheels Batmobile that is done really well. Batman started in the movie theatres in the late 90s. This was the first Batmobile of the new era in Batman trilogies. This Batmobile is not only nostalgic at this point (30 years old!) but it also carries several similarities to the essence of the original Batmobile. Extreme styling and a rocket engine, yet this vehicle is believable as a real car. The original 66 Batmobile was derived from a GTO, this version maybe a corvette? Yeah you see it. The newer versions are more like spaceships than cars and don't resemble any cars at all.

As you might have expected from the id series at this point, this one is not short of details. The car in the movies was flat black but the spectraflame black on the id release looks cool, almost a gunmetal color that gives it some flash while still looking menacing. It features a Batman logo on the side (period correct logo as well) and carries the black and yellow scheme from the period as well. The base, windows and thrusters are yellow plastic so when light hits it just right, it almost glows. There is a lot of detail like trunk louvres and the side panels where the machine guns popped out of in the movie.

Michael Keaton was the Batman for this one and we can probably debate for hours about who was the best Batman, but if anyone was to ask my opinion of the “Bat Cars” in the new era, this one is the best and it was the first (in the new era). Add this one to your collection quick, they have sold out 2x on the web and I have never found one in the stores. This Batmobile is a fan favorite in the Hot Wheels world as well.

              

Thank you,

Collector Quentin

I own the actual diecast pictured in this post. However, all packaging artwork, Mattel or Hot Wheels logos, paint descriptions, wheel descriptions and id logos are copyrights of the Mattel toy company

id 20-11 Volkswagen T1 GTR

Volkswagen T1 GTR – id

Volkswagen T1 vans have been a hot item for Hot Wheels. It is no surprise considering that the most valuable Hot Wheels is a T1 van! (Pink Beach Bomb side loader) There are a lot of versions of the T1 in the Hot Wheels line up and I really like that they branched out with another version for the id series.

      The T1 GTR is not released in any other part of the Hot Wheels line up. I am confident that most collectors will like this version. Hot Wheels captures all the looks for this one, including a racing placard on the side, a carbon look to the roof and all the lights are highly detailed. The chrome smaller id wheels give the casting a lower center of gravity, but the lower stance and long wheel base are huge disadvantages on the orange track.

Interestingly, this model represents a recent fad in Europe where they actually put a high-end engine in the back of one of these – typically a Porsche engine – and race them. There are several videos on Youtube of vans similar to this one frustrating high-performance cars!

   

 

This casting is great in the app. I raced it a couple times. The T1 handles great for a bulky car and has great speed.

Thank you,

Collector Quentin

I own the actual diecast pictured in this post. However, all packaging artwork, Mattel logos, Hot Wheels logos, paint descriptions, wheel descriptions and id are all copyrights of the Mattel toy company.

id 20-03 Jeep DJ Express

Jeep DJ Express – id exclusive casting?

This one is coolest of the cool on my list and is my favorite casting so far in the id series. It is a modified wheelbase dragster with a Willys era Jeep body, big motor and a parachute. As stated in the opener, this casting is not a part of Hot Wheels anywhere but in the id series (the reason it reached #1 on my list so quick). There is a Custom Jeep CJ dragster scheduled in the mainline, but it is an open top version and looks different from this one.

Once again, the livery is just stunning. The body appears to be unpainted (Zamac) but with a clear coat to make it shiny. The blue and orange striping and tribal flames modernize the look and really pop. The car has a dragster name of “The Mailman” on the front fenders and the designer Paul Reihlmans name is printed on the doors. HW Mail is the “sponsor”. Hot Wheels stepped up the details several levels on this one. Looking close up reveals that the taillights are not only decals but have a very distinctly darker area, giving some impressive realism that is very rare (I was able to capture these in the pictures). The headlights also have very clear detailing.

 I really like that the side pipes are molded in a darker grey from the base, giving them a used look and not just the chrome extended from the engine cast. Another minor detail on this casting that I really like is the engine cutout. It has some depth and is hard to see what is below, giving an impression that there is more to be discovered under the hood!

This one is not listed as an exclusive, but being an id series only casting makes the Jeep DJ Express one that will become that special prize in any collection.

Thank you,

Collector Quentin

I own the actual diecast pictured in this post. However, all packaging artwork, Mattel or Hot Wheels logos, paint descriptions, wheel descriptions and the id series branding are all copyrights of the Mattel toy company.

For more information on Hot Wheels id series including casting line up see: https://hotwheels.mattel.com/shop/en-us/hw/Hot-Wheels-id-Overview