How great is the latest batch of Hot Wheels Zamacs?

I don't know who came up with the concept of doing three zamacs every other Walmart batch, but it was a brililant idea.  Walmart wants its exclusives, and these really stand out.  And I have said it several times before, but this is the best exclusive basic line Hot Wheels has ever done, and I hope it continues.

I decided when the first batch of Zamacs appeared several years ago that I would collect them all.  I am glad I made that decision.  I obviously don't like all the castings, but pursuing all the Zamacs means several castings I would not normally collect make it into the collection.

And of all the 3-car batches released in Walmart stores, this latest batch may be the best.  Three great, licensed castings.  Cool deco.  And one of the best zamacs ever, the Gulf Ford GT.

There isn't much more to say about these.  We all know zamacs are unpainted, but finished Hot Wheels that really show off the castings they use.  But beside that there are some models that work better than others.  Putting the Gulf livery on a zamac may be the best idea yet, next to the Hurst deco on the zamac Chevelle Wagon a few years ago.  I wouldn't mind a few more.

At the end of the year I will do a full Zamac update, showing everyone released since they debuted as Walmart exclusives a few years ago.  I am guessing these will be some of the most popular...

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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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Hot Wheels 2015 Batch L, including the Zamacs, has been released...

A Sunday heads up for our Lamley Readers...

It looks like Hot Wheels 2015 Batch L has been released.  Our favorite Texas seller has listed all of them, including the Cadillac Elmiraj, Tesla Model S, Honda S2K, '65 Mustang Super TH, and a Regular TH that will get the masses talking.  We also get to see the Zamacs for Batch L.  You can see it all here:

Hot Wheels 2015 Batch L

Lots to like here, but we are sure the Regular TH will get the attention.  Some highlights for us:

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First Look: 2015 Hot Wheels 1990 Honda Civic EF Zamac Exclusive...

Lovely lovely Zamacs.

I have said it before, and now is a good time to say it again: I hope the Walmart Zamac exclusives never stop.  Walmart has done quite a few special mainline exclusives in the past, including redline wheels, windshield banners, and special colors, but the Zamacs are by far the best.

They are easily recognizable, and these castings chosen always look cool sans proper clothing.  Plus with 18 produced a year, it is a manageable line to collect.

And the other thing?  They are always a blast to photograph.

And with that all in mind, today we are featuring a very worthy choice for the Zamac line, the 1990 Honda Civic EF.  The little racing Civic looked good in its black, gold, and red duds from earlier this year, but as a Zamac its a star.  The dark and baby blue trim looks great next to the gold lettering, especially over the pointless body.

When you think about the heritage the EF Civic represents, you begin to want to stand out, and here it most certainly does.

Look for it next month...


Hot Wheels Honda Civic EF (2015 Zamac Exclusive):

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First Look: Hot Wheels Zamac Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X, '70 Chevy Chevelle, and '67 Custom Mustang...

Happy to have these.

The Walmart Zamacs are a little more exclusive than maybe we think.  Of course they are only exclusive to Walmart.  But even then, many Walmarts get the batch that is supposed to contain the Zamacs, but they aren't there.  We have already seen many people reporting N case Walmart finds, but with no Zamacs at all.

That has happened to us before.  The final batch of last year's Zamacs never hit stores around here, and only one store got the batch containing the AE86 Corolla and Special Edition Camaro.  We aren't complaining, because it is nice when the Zamacs are a little hard to get.

But it does make us nervous when we are anticipating a Zamac batch as much as Batch N.  Of course that is no secret.  There is a Skyline, and that is all that has to be said.  But the Chevelle is a casting I am VERY fond of, and the Mustang is also a real looker.

Well, we are good, as I found the batch today, and all three Zamacs were there, along with a handful of green Kenmeri's.  All is well here, and we hope all of you out there who hope to find them are successful as well.

Not much else to say about these, other than posting the pics.  We love the Zamacs, and hope they return to Walmart in 2015.  There is an enormous list of models we would love to see get the Zamac treatment, just like the Hako, a casting that gets to really show off its details in unpainted form.


Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X, '70 Chevy Chevelle, and '67 Custom Mustang (2014 Walmart Zamac Exclusives):

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