Model of the Month - June 2024
Ideation…
While thinking about starting my store, a bunch of ideas came to me on what I could offer here besides the model cars, this is one of them, and one I think could help you decide to get some of these models (ideally here =D).
What I want to do is give you a brief but accurate description of what surprised me about these little babies and why I’m super happy to have them in my collection, but before we start, let’s set the ground rules:
- This will be a monthly post (model on the month… dah!!)
- I will talk only about cars that are physically in the store. With this I mean, there could be one POP Race model that is open for Pre-Order this month, and I could believe is the best thing I saw in a while (Hello Mercedes-Benz CLK AMG GTR D2 1997 FIA GT), but until it doesn’t physically arrive to the store, it doesn’t qualify for this.
- I will try to stick to one model, however, there can be exceptions.
- In some months I could give 2nd or 3rd places as well.
So, if the rules are clear, let’s do this!!
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The build up
There are few automakers that have Audi’s success in the Motor Sport in general, if you are a car culture nutjob, you probably know that the famous Audi Sport program started in the World Championship Rally in 1980, there are several wins and world championships for the team, but I believe that the San Remo Rally victory in the fall of 1981 is one of their most iconic. With Michèle Mouton at the wheel, Audi set in stone the first win of a female driver in the WRC.
After several years of resounding success, it was time for Audi to leave the rally world behind and move to the circuit.
Audi 200 Quattro. Picture by MARSHALL PRUETT, taken from https://www.roadandtrack.com
In 1988, with the Audi 200 Quattro, they smashed the competition and won the Trans-Am series championship and the very next year, they developed a beast called the Audi 90 Quattro, and this is the car that has our attention today.
Audi 90 Quattro. Picture taken from https://www.topgear.com/
If you want to know more about this story, go to THIS great article from audiworld.com.
Now, that you know who the protagonist is, we can move to the scale model.
The chosen one!
I won't build any suspense here, because you already saw the picture of the model and I want to tell you how excited I got when I saw in person the 2024 Hot Wheels Audi 90 Quattro.
We know this is not a new model. Last year (2023) Hot Wheels released the Audi 90 with the fully licensed livery of the Audi Sport. Exactly the same livery the car used in their debut in the IMSA races in 1989. The car is amazing, and I was so happy with this first edition that I didn’t have in my “hunt list” the 2024 release. BIG MISTAKE!
Hot Wheels - Audi 90 Quattro. Release year: 2023
The 2024 released is not a licensed livery, but it is clearly inspired by the Rothmans one that Audi used in the South African Championship in the early 90s.
402 Audi IMSA S4 GTO (1992) Hans Joachin Stuck. Picture taken from https://www.flickr.com/
When I started opening the Hot Wheels boxes to do my inventory, I encountered this… let’s call it, “dismissed” version of the casting, but my jaw dropped when I took it and saw the combination of white and blue livery with gold and red accents.
Hot Wheels - Audi 90 Quattro. Release year: 2024
The Rothmans branding was changed for the Audi Sport name in the sides, and for a fictional sponsor called "HWGRFX" (that I assume stands for something like "Hot Wheels Garage something...") in the hood. The casting lacks headlights and taillights, keep in mind this is still just a basic model and also consider that the real car didn't have any actual headlights, they were just painted.
I'm missing the Audi logo in the grill that the 2023 version has, but I believe that the glossy dark blue paint job makes for it. The quality control (at least in the pieces I physically saw) is decent, the graphics are not crooked and all of the small letters are legible. There seems to be a little lack of paint in the sidesteps of the door, but those are part of the complications you'll have with painting a simple basic model. Don't crucify me just yet, in some cases, there will be “factory” errors which will prove me wrong in my previous comments, but then again, for me, that’s the beauty of it, to find such a jewel on a simple basic model, without all the noise and fanfare of a premium release, it’s like Hot Wheels is saying, I have an easter egg for you, if you find it, enjoy it. This makes me remember when I started doing this, you know, no internet, no checklist, not knowing what where the upcoming releases, just go to the store and get surprised by what is hanged in the pegs. BLISSFUL!
To finished with the whole look, hot wheels added the AeroDisc wheels that resemble the ones that the real 90 Quattro was using, so, all in all, as I said, this is a treasure boys, one that you 'd love to have at home.
I case you don't know, there is a Super Treasure Hunt version that I do not have, but my assumption as that it should look at least, just as awesome as the basic release.
And to be clear, the first edition is still really beautiful and for sure a classic, but the combination of colors and details that I described above just made me fall in love with this little blue monster immediately. Needless to say, I took one for my personal collection (the advantages of the store owner I guess). But worry not, we still have a few left in the store in case you are interested.
BUY HERE
The near misses…
This is the first time we’re doing model of the month, and it is also the first month that I have the store, so I have hundreds of castings, and sure, I have some “Ultra Premium” ones that will easily make it to the top spot, but from these incredible models, you are already expecting perfection, or… near perfection, I still get excited of course, but the feeling I described above, open a box and find something completely unexpected, this is what we’re here for right?
Even so... I have 2 near misses that gave a good fight to the Audi 90, here they are.
Hot Wheels 2024 - Mazda 787B
Not a licensed livery but based on the famous “Renown” livery the Mazda team used in their legendary victory in Le Mans in 1991.
Hot Wheels - Mazda 787B. Release year: 2024
Why didn’t it make it?
It’s beautiful and historical, but at the end, I liked more the Audi, simple as that.
Another negative point (positive for me), they are sold out in the store, maybe we’ll get more in the next mixes.
IXO models x Tarmac Works – Ferrari 488 GT3 DTM 2021 Monza Race 1 Winner
Super long name, but a super amazing model, as usual, this collaboration between IXO & Tarmac Works is spotless, I will make a full review of this casting in the YouTube channel, I promise, because there are so many details on it. To mention a few, the amazing side mirrors, the antena on the top, the open window in the driver’s seat, Michelin logos on the rubber wheels, a super detailed engine in the back… guys I could go for a while. This baby is also on fire.
IXO models x Tarmac Works – Ferrari 488 GT3 DTM 2021 Monza Race 1 Winner
Pictures taken from tarmacworks.com
Why didn’t it make it?
I hinted above, we are already expecting this level of excellence from this type of releases in the Hobby64 line, so the model is stunning, breathtaking but not a surprise.
Also, the price tag is high, which makes it hard to get. But I'm also leaving the link below in case you are interested:
So guys, this is my selection for the month, I hope to see you on the next one; and hey!.. happy hunting!