Iconic brands are one of those elements of toy memorabilia that always live on, and anyone who has wanted a muscle car at some point in their life has excitedly clutched a “Hot Wheels” toy. During their launch back in 1968, Hot Wheels appealed to those who liked their cars “tricked out”, and the dark blue Custom Camaro was the very first of these hand-held treasures produced. Other greats such as the Firebird convertible, Mustang fastback, Cougar, and Barracuda were some of the others you could get your hands on during that first milestone year of Hot Wheels release. Daring to dream was a treat then, when hours would be spent with makeshift tracks, backyards, and eventually sending them through loops and jumps while playing their very own video game version, such as Micro Racers and Stunt Track Challenge.
This coming year at the Las Vegas SEMA Show, the 2018 Hot Wheels Camaro will be released, including special “Crush” orange paint, which is inspired by the original orange flexible track, remaining virtually unchanged over the decades. Orange brake calipers, seat inserts, and interior upholstery stitching are thrown in as well, along with gray and silver stripes, as well as gray forged 20-inch wheels. The grille is very unique and has chrome inserts, a ground effects package, dark-lens tail-lamps positioned in a black panel with the Hot Wheels emblem, and a 50th anniversary Hot Wheels badge on the steering wheel.
Coupes will even get a unique spoiler, but convertibles will hold onto their current stock wing, since GPS, radio, and other antenna functions need it to be the same. There will also be 69 race-ready COPO Camaros that will be built for 2018, and will each specify the Hot Wheels edition upgrades. The show car that you can drool over at SEMA will be fitted with a new 302-cubic-inch racing engine, based on the LT1 V-8, but properly souped for drag racing. The age-old argument about whether the Camaro or Mustang is tougher is still burning strong, and all of us here on the lot at Jim Butler St Louis will pick the Camaro time and time again!
Beginning back in 1970, professional drag racers Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen were sponsored by Hot Wheels, and they created the super-awesome Snake and Mongoose Drag set later that year. During late 2005, a 1967 Camaro Convertible was among the much-loved Series 2 30-model arsenal, and Mattel estimates that 41 million children grew up playing with this legendary brand of toy. There are hundreds if not thousands of web pages that are dedicated to Hot Wheels collecting, and many have marveled at the extreme detail and cool diecast feel of the brand. An expression of just how awesome the Camaro car is and how much raw power is under the hood, “embracing the Orange Crush” will be one of the most fun things you can do to commemorate Chevy during the next calendar year!