Hot Wheels Volkswagen Kool Kombi Bus

The 2013 HW Showroom series brought us this fantastic vehicle.

The first Hot Wheels release was green. Note the clever flipped tailgate improvising as a wing. It's a bit cartoonish ala Dave Deel's finest right down to the surfboard tucked inside the tailgate.

 The real deal.

There's even a LEGO version.

What does the future hold for the Kombi?  VW has teased with concepts over the years.

Update: VW introduced the ID. Buzz in 2025. Beautiful design but sadly EV's were declining in popularity and the Buzz will not be back in 2026.

Hot Wheels Bread Box

Hot Wheels Bread Box a cool custom featuring panoramic sunroof.  This was introduced as a 2010 New Model.  Mattel dropped the New Model segment for 2013 preferring to simply blend new castings with old.

The first Bread Box release sported cool Post Office-like graphics.

In time a similar paint scheme was used on the "unmarked" Treasure Hunt.  The package no longer proclaimed "Treasure Hunt", instead a small circular branding identified it to the initiated.

Inspiration for the Bread Box came from the Jeep FJ-3 Fleetvan, a compact delivery van manufactured by Willys Motors and Kaiser-Jeep from 1961 to 1965.  The FJ-3 was produced first as the right-hand-drive postal delivery vehicle seen below. The FJ-3A had an additional 19 inches of rear overhang.

Tupac Maltese

One of my favorite CDs by Tupac Maltese. 

USPS Muscle Cars (Forever®) Stamps

With the newly issued Muscle Cars (Forever®) stamps the U.S. Postal Service celebrates five iconic automobiles from the muscle car era of the late 60s to early 70s.  Muscle cars are probably the most desirable cars to adult collectors. Not surprisingly, each of the Postal Service's choices has been issued by Hot Wheels over the years.

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

1966 Pontiac GTO

1967 Shelby GT-500

 1970 Chevelle SS 

1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda

According to the USPS website, "Muscle Cars is the third issuance in the America on the Move series. The stamps were designed by art director Carl T. Herrman. The first issuance in the series, 50s Sporty Cars (2005), was followed by 50s Fins and Chrome (2008). The Muscle Cars stamps are being issued as Forever® stamps in self-adhesive sheets of 20 (4 of each design)."

Hurry!  Get these great new stamps while they're still hot.

Hot Wheels Bump Around | HW Racing 2013

This could be my favorite Hot Wheels of all time.

Based on the scale of a small wheel this wild ride is way bigger than 1/64.  Perhaps 1/32 or even 1/24.

Not sure why Mattel went with dark chrome base when it would have been more accurate in black plastic.  Ironically in this time of cost-cutting wherein many Hot Wheels have plastic bodies because it is cheaper. And the base looks exactly like diecast though it's plastic.

Most cars in the HW Racing line have diecast bases and many have plastic bodies.  This produces a lower center of gravity which is excellent for track set racing.  The Bump Around seems like an odd choice for the racing line.

If you want a bigger bumper car that your kids to ride on you won't do better than the Radio Flyer 740 Classic Bumper Car (Google Affiliate Ad) seen below.