Variation Alert: Hot Wheels Zamac Morris Mini with MC5 wheels...

Here is a very interesting variation to look out for.

We got the heads up on this variation from Lamley Reader Edward Gilstrap (@hotwheels61 on Instagram), who obviously found it at Walmart:

#hotwheels #morrismini #hwartcars #hotwheelsvariation #zamac #hotwheelserror #hotwheelsofficial #thelamleygroup #error #variation #hotwheelscollectors #hotwheelscollection

A photo posted by Edward C Gilstrap (@hotwheels61) on May 14, 2016 at 2:25pm PDT

The Zamac Morris Mini typically comes with orange 5-spoke wheels, but a couple with orange MC5 wheels have been found as well.  Zamac variations are not a common thing, especially wheel variations, so this is significant.

If anyone has found this variation, tag us on Instagram or let us know on the Facebook page.  Hopefully there are few out there...

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Will the Matchbox Mazda Miata with trispoke wheels ever appear?

In the last month, Matchbox has released two cases, F and G.  The brand new Mazda MX-5 Miata has been in both of them.  The Miata is one of the more highly anticipated new models of 2016, so that is news enough.

But there is another reason to look for the Miata, a reason we have mentioned a couple of times here at Lamley.  When the Miata was first unveiled by Matchbox on Instagram, it sat on trispoke wheels:

Here's a look at the stellar #2015mazdamx5 #miata #mb1012 coming to a peg, (hopefully near you!) @matchboxworld designers Abe and @devilminer1 did a great job.

A photo posted by @matchboxworld on Jan 14, 2016 at 11:30am PST

Collectors in general loved the casting, but not so much the wheels.  The team took that to heart, and called for a running change:

Well, after some discussion and reevaluation, we thought we'd throw these wheels on as well. What do you think..... ?@devilminer1 @jasonliuid @thelamleygroup , now all you other guys that barked about the first wheel choice can run to the shelves to buy the limited run, as they'll now be changed to this version! Happy hunting! #matchboxgoodoldtime #wearelistening #miata #mazdamiata

A photo posted by @matchboxworld on Jan 27, 2016 at 11:03pm PST

So the wheel switch was made, and to me at least the model looks a ton better.  Matchbox sent both versions to me to preview at the time, and I took these photos:

But back to that running change.  A "running change" is exactly what it sounds like.  The model is already being produced at the factory, so mid-run the a change is made, in this case the wheels switched.  Unless there is a very specific reason Mattel or the licensor doesn't want the previous version released, it will be released.

The Miata was supposedly already in production at the time of the change, so the word was out that early cases would have the trispoke Miata.  But early cases have hit, and every Miata so far is sporting the 5-spoke wheel.

New matchbox F case singles now on sale in our eBay store! #Wheelcollectors #thelamleygroup #mxb #matchbox #miata #mazda

A photo posted by Wheelcollectors (@wheelcollectors) on Apr 26, 2016 at 5:21pm PDT

So where is the trispoke?  Different cases are sent to different areas of the world, so there is a good chance the trispoke will be a regional variation (think Chilean Mini).  Or it could show up anywhere randomly.  Maybe Walmart.  Maybe Target.  Maybe short cards in Europe.  Maybe at three gas stations in rural Texas.  No one knows.

Or it may not show up at all.  There is always a chance that the change was made right at production and the run started with the 5-spoke.  In that case we will never see it.  Only time will tell as this batch is released over the next few months.  That is the only way to know.

So keep your eyes open, and if you see it, grab it, because it will not be a common model...

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Hot Wheels Wheel Variation Alert: Charger SRT & Acura Integra...

Time for another variation alert.  I don't do a ton of these, frankly because there hasn't been that many that I feel are that interesting.  I will fully admit that wheel variations don't grab my attention like they used to, but there are always a few that catch my eye.

One is just hitting the pegs, and the other has been around awhile, but was just newly discovered.  We start with the new one.

The recolor of the Dodge Charger SRT "Hellcat" looks stunning white, and very Storm Trooper-ish with black PR5 wheels.  That look totally changes with this variation found by Eddie Hodges, who posted it on the HotWheels Variations and Errors Page on Facebook.

Eddie was lucky enough to find a transition error as well.  The MC5 vari has also been found elsewhere, so definitely keep your eyes open.

The other was also a bit of a surprise, and was found on the Acura Integra.  Many of you have reported finding the all-chrome OH5 wheel variation on the Integra, which typically comes with chrome-lipped OH5's.  Lamley friend and gtplanet.com member Jason Miller went one better and not only found an all-chrome OH5 vari, but an all-chrome MC5 variation in the same bin.  Look closely to see the difference:

Jason is a fellow DLM'er, so these are the photos I like better:

I do like the chrome rims on this model better, whether OH5 or MC5.  But you need a keen eye to find them.  Good luck...

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Variation Alert: Hot Wheels Cadillac Elmiraj with grey interior...

We don't report all variations, but we do like to report significant finds, especially those that are hard to explain.

The last couple of weeks we started hearing about Cadillac Elmiraj models found with grey interior, instead of the standard tan interior.  The first inclination was that maybe folks were finding models with the brown slightly off-color, but after seeing pics, there was no doubt the interior was totally different.

Of course that meant the hunt was on.  And alas, a dump bin dive in a small town yielded not one, but four:

The interesting thing?  Of the four cases in the bin, each had one tan interior and one grey interior.  How that happens I have no idea, and whether or not the grey will be in small numbers I have no idea as well.

So why the grey interior?  No idea as well.  The two most likely answers are that either the factory created the grey erroneously and corrected the mistake, or grey was the planned interior and either the designer or licensor asked for it to be changed.

Either way, it is definitely different, and it is cool to have.  Keep your eyes open...

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Variation Alert: Hot Wheels '65 Mustang 2+2 Fastback Basic with TH tampo...

A few days ago, we got another report of a very cool error/variation that is being found with the latest Hot Wheels L Case.

After seeing reports on Instagram and Facebook, reader Jason Thien from Malaysia sent us pics of his in-store find:

All is normal.  The basic and Super TH Mustang share the same tampo, save the TH logo on the rear. The Super also has spectraflame blue paint.  This one?  Basic paint, basic wheels, Super TH deco and logo.  Cool, eh?

This has happened before.  Recently, the Toyota Tundra basic was found with real riders, and the Camaro Special Edition Super was found with basic wheels.  So there is precedent.

So those of you who happen across an L case, even one that has been picked over, start looking.  You might find something even better than that Super that was already snagged.

Let us know if others are found.  Good luck...

(Follow up: There are already a couple on eBay...)

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Break those piggy banks: A huge collection of super-rare Hot Wheels variations appears on eBay...

This is something I just had to pass on...

Rare Hot Wheels variations have always been an interest of mine, and I know I share that with quite a few of you.  I have had personal conversations with quite a few people about their favorites, those they were lucky to find, how much they paid for a specific vari, and what variations still elude them.

Well, if you are a variation collector, and still have quite a few variations on your want list, we HIGHLY suggest you check out the listings from this seller:

Hot Wheels rare variations from hotwheelchuck59

This is a goldmine of variations, from an era (2004-2012) when variation-collecting was serious business.  Looking through these listings, my jaw would continue to drop.  As soon as I would gather said chin back, the next listing would make it happen all over again.  It is an event just to see ONE of these variations on eBay, let alone all of these together.

There are 210 hard-to-find variation listings, and among them you will find (click on the title of each to go directly to the listing):

2009 Datsun Bluebird 510 with 5-spoke wheels:

The 5sp Datsun is becoming the grandaddy of JDM variations, and is easily one of the hardest variations to find for any vari collector.


2006 Toyota AE-86 Corolla in matte grey (5-spokes & FTE) and white with 3-spokes:

Another group of variations that every variation collector was after, and all still garner a lot of attention today.  The grey with 5-spokes is especially difficult to find.


2006 Datsun 240Z in white with FTE wheels and 10-spokes:

The white with 10sp is probably the rarer of the two, but the FTE is probably the more desired.  It was an official Mattel release that was for some reason released in very small numbers, and only on a short card.


2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution in grey with 10-spokes:

This one was hard to find, but not as difficult as others.  As the Evo has gained popularity over the years, this one has become highly desired.


2010 Cadillac CTS-V with PR5:

Not as rare as the black CTS with lace wheels, but still very hard to find.  And it looks really good too.


2006 Nissan 350Z with chrome-lipped co-mold wheels:

Standard was comold wheels without the chrome lip.  I got lucky and found one at TRU back in the day.  But as rare as that one was...


2006 Nissan 370Z with lace wheels:

Whoa.  I remember hearing about this one.  I had NEVER seen one until today.  Sigh...


2006 Aston Martin V6 Vantage in white with 10-spokes:

Only of 3 others.  This is on a lot of want lists.


COPO Corvette with white interior:

No one know how it happened, but some COPO's appeared with white interior.  I have always wanted one, but never found it.


2005 '69 Pontiac GTO in orange with yellow windows:

Transitional from the black version.  The orange was supposed to have clear windows.


2006 Nissan Titan in silver with PR5 wheels:

Another in very small numbers.  I got lucky and found one at Kdays packaged with a license plate holder.


2006 Dieselboy with red wheels:

You might see me bid on this one.  A model I once had, and have regretted selling it ever since.  The very first models off the line had red wheels, but it was quickly changed to chrome.  Very few made it to the pegs.  I have not seen it on eBay for years.

There are some of the models that caught our interest, but there are quite a few more, including Snap-On Skylines, no tampo R32's, and on and on.  We highly suggest to check them out.  These don't pop up often...

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