I take pride in owning my Premium Hot Wheels from The Fast and the Furious: Brian’s Mitsubishi Eclipse and Dom’s Mazda RX-7. However, many people are equally enthusiastic about my two Team Transport models: the Porsche 962 and the Mazda 787B. Of course, different collectors will brag about their own miniature cars. It is common knowledge that any Hot Wheels Porsche enthusiast would be thrilled to possess the yellow 993 GT2 from the 2013 Boulevard series.
If you ever need a great gift, the yellow 993 GT2 is a fantastic choice, although it does come with a hefty price tag of over $200. There has been a change in strategy at Mattel’s headquarters in El Segundo. The company has been focusing more on developing European and Japanese vehicles. This shift was expected due to the growing popularity of cars like the RX-7, Supra, Skyline, NSX, and others. This change can be observed by looking at the Super Treasure Hunt vehicles series over the years. The demand for Japanese cars increased, and the company took notice.
In 2011, the Super Treasure Hunt series only featured one Japanese car and no European cars. Fast forward to 2020, and the lineup has changed: four Japanese cars, four European cars, and seven American cars. Naturally, with such a diverse fan base worldwide, a solution was needed to meet the audience’s preferences. Adult collectors desired Real Riders wheels, metal bases reminiscent of the old days, and lifelike representations of real vehicles. The Car Culture series was the perfect answer to these demands.
In today’s story, I will focus on the “Japan Historics” mixes, as they were the starting point in 2016. Most Japanese car enthusiasts would love to have at least one of the 15 vehicles in their collection. However, some of them can be quite expensive. Recently, I came across two sellers on eBay offering the complete Japan Historics lineup. The more affordable option is priced at $390, while the other one is listed at $450. Let’s examine each set and discover why they have gained such popularity.
Japan Historics 1 marked the debut of Mattel’s Car Culture series nine years ago. The company’s decision to cater to adult collectors was a huge success. There is an opened factory case listed on eBay with two sets inside, priced at $800. Some sellers may try to convince you that these five cars alone are worth $460, but that is simply too steep for a single set.
The cheapest Japan Historics 1 set currently available on eBay costs $160. If you possess strong negotiation skills or find a seller who urgently needs to clear their inventory, you may be able to get it at a more affordable price. Let’s discuss the brand ratio: inside the set, you will find one Datsun, two Nissan, one Mazda, and one Toyota. Jun Imai designed all of the castings in this set, except for the Mazda, which was worked on by Mark Jones.
The two Skylines are the oldest models in the collection, having been around since 2011. However, when combined, these two have just slightly more variations than the ’71 Datsun Bluebird 510 Wagon (36 compared to 31). It is undoubtedly the most popular model in this collection. You will find four different Convention models, one NFT Garage version, five premium releases, and two Super Treasure Hunts!
Each of the five models included in this set has been part of the STH series at least once. However, the Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-R’s only appearance in the premium series was with Japan Historics 1. From that perspective, it is the least favored model in the collection. In comparison, you will find six GT-X variations with RR wheels and metal bases, two Toyotas, and five Mazdas.
The 2000GT does have an advantage with an exclusive release for the Red Line Club. Personally, I am particularly fond of the RX-3 as I have a fascination for rotary engines. It made its debut in Japan Historics 1, and some argue that it has not had a better color combination since its Metalflake Purple appearance. It is also one of the rarest models in the collection, with only ten variations over the years (the Toyota comes in a close second with 12).
Mattel did not bring back Japan Historics in 2017, but there was great excitement when it returned in 2018. The second set in the series was primarily focused on Nissan, with four representatives from the brand included, including the Datsun. The diecast manufacturer decided to reintroduce the RX-3, making it the only model to appear in both sets. This collection also marked the debut of the Nissan Laurel 2000 SGX and the Nissan Skyline C210.
To make the collection more appealing to the public, the designers upgraded the Nissan Fairlady Z to the premium class for the first time since its debut in 2016. Japan Historics 2 can now be quite pricey, with some listings reaching up to $300. However, there are more reasonable options available for under $100. The Datsun Bluebird 510 is the oldest model in this collection, debuting in 2009, and it shows. There are a whopping 47 variations to look out for (more than all the other four models combined); the details are quite extensive. You will find RLC versions, HWC Special Editions, Collectors Convention models, one Super Treasure Hunt, and ten Premium 510s available on the market.
There are several listings for this Hot Wheels item with asking prices over $1,000, going up to $5,000. The Japan Historics 2 model, however, is more affordable, ranging from $20 to $70. Personally, I find it to be the least thrilling model in this collection, perhaps partly due to its Silver paint job. Apart from the RX-3, both the Laurel and the Skyline are exceptional models.
And if you can overlook the significant gap between the wheels on the Fairlady Z, that one is also quite decent. While the cars themselves are the main attraction in any new Hot Wheels set, there is more to appreciate than just that. You will notice how the artwork on the packaging has evolved from JH1 to JH2.
In the initial collection, the beautiful cherry trees and the majestic Mount Fuji will capture some of your attention away from the attached vehicle. The car takes center stage in the subsequent assortment, and I appreciate the unique manga-inspired twist in its design. However, let us now proceed with the final five items on this list.
The Japan Historics 3 collection, presented by Mattel, made its debut in 2020, but it seemed to have lost its momentum by that time. Surprisingly, I have come across unsold items from this set still occupying store shelves in 2022. This truly astonished me, considering the immense hype surrounding the first installment of Japan Historics. At present, the most expensive listing for a Japan Historics 3 item on eBay has an asking price of $137. Nevertheless, with a little patience, there is a genuine chance of acquiring one for less than $40.
In this collection, Mattel placed a significant emphasis on two Nissans and one Datsun, adopting a similar strategy to its previous releases. Honda made its debut in the Japan Historics series with the inclusion of the adorable ’85 City Turbo II. I was delighted to see that Mazda remained a part of the game with the introduction of the ’68 Cosmo Sport. Additionally, the ’75 Datsun Sunny Truck (B120) and the Cosmo Sport were both newly casted models. The stakes were high, as two other cars in the set had just been elevated to the Premium level, namely the City Turbo and the Skyline RS (KDR30). Interestingly, for the first time in the series, neither of the cars featured Jun Imai’s signature. Instead, the designs were a collaboration between Mark Jones and Ryu Asada.
Among the vehicles in this collection, the Nissan Silvia (CSP311) stands out as one of the rarest castings, with only three different versions, all of which are premium models. The ’75 Datsun Sunny Truck (B120) is also considered rare, as it has four similarly ranked variations. However, the Cosmo Sport is the only vehicle in the list that has a Super Treasure Hunt appearance.
If I were to choose, I would personally select the Datsun as my favorite collectible from this set, with the rotary-powered classic coming in a close second. There have been discussions among enthusiasts about the possibility of a Japan Historics 4 set, but Mattel has not released any official information regarding this. If I were to curate such a collection, I would likely include the following five vehicles:
– A Toyota MR2 AW11 (although it may be on the edge of being considered a Japanese Historic vehicle).
– A first-generation Mazda RX-7 (surprisingly, this casting has never received a Premium variation from Mattel!).
– A Honda S800.
– A Nissan Silvia S12 (perhaps a Super Silhouette version?).
– A seventh-generation Skyline.
What would your ideal list consist of?
According to the Source autoevolution.com