Hot Wheels Speed Machines FEATURETTE – Are they worth to buy?
Where it all began:
40 years ago today, Hot Wheels Speed Machines were launched. Speed Machines were a line of vehicles released by Mattel in 1983 to compete with other lower cost diecast brands. They consisted of Hot Wheels castings with a few cost cutting features, such as plastic bases, no chrome apart from the wheels, and simple enamel paint. All were made in Malaysia and had standard basic wheels.
Extreme prices:
In 2010, the Speed Machines were taken up again, but adapted somewhat for the time. The models looked a lot more modern, were more or less printed all around and were from licensed car brands. Each of these vehicles was equipped with the same CM6 wheels. Only the colour of the rims varied depending on the model. Today, Speed Machines have become sought-after collector's items.
At that time, the vehicles cost around 6 euros, but today you can hardly find offers for less than 15 euros for a Speed Machines model. Some models are real outliers and are sold at astronomical prices, such as the Lamborghini Murcielago SV, Bugatti Veyron or the Ferrari 599XX. Prices starting at 90 euros are not uncommon in loose, unpacked condition; in original packaging, offers have been made for 200 euros.
Since the 2010 Speed Machines series was so popular, Hot Wheels created a lot of the same models. When stores refused to sell the latest batches of Speed Machines, Mattel was left with a lot of unsold models. Hot Wheels decided to release the models again, but with simple wheels (no Co-Molded wheels). They were mainly released in Asia with some making it to Europe.
The revival!
Another 10 years later in 2023, Hot Wheels decided to release another "wave" of Speed Machines for the public. This time in the form of a Car Culture Premium Set consisting of 5 vehicles numbered 1 to 5. In addition, a rarer Chaser variant in black of the same model of the Porsche 911 991 GT3. Chasers are rarer to get than the normal variants because they were mixed in smaller numbers. They also have the number 0 of 5.
This Chaser model is also priced high at around 45 euros, but there is no discernible trend towards higher prices for the remaining Speed Machines. This may also be due to the fact that the McLaren 720S, Lamborghini Veneno, Ford GT LM and Pagani Zonda R are not unique models. All vehicles have already been released in different liveries under other series.
All 6 models were also delivered with the CM6 rims known from the 2010. Without a doubt, this small series is a nice homage to the old Speed Machines series, but as already mentioned, around 6 euros per model was paid at the time. Today, you pay about twice as much for a typical Hot Wheels Car Culture Premium model. So, as always, it's up to you whether you want to get the new Speed Machines set for your home.
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You can find more articles from the same model car manufacturer below.
You can find more articles from the same model car manufacturer below.
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