Hot Wheels 2015 D and E Case Selection

Over the past week and a bit, reports have come in around New Zealand, that D and then E case cars were being found. In this hobby, I have had to accept that my location in New Zealand (at the South of the South Island) means that North Island sightings do not mean that any stores in my local area will actually be stocking the same things.

The week started with a call from the local Toyworld that they had received a new case of mainline Hot Wheels in, and excitement turned to disappointment when I finally got down there to see 2015 C case cars on the pegs. As the week dragged on, reports from the North Island indicated that "The Warehouse" had once again started filling dump bins with 2014 Hot Wheels cars, specifically more of the D, E and F case cars that had been parallel imported and known as cut cards because, well, the top right hand corner of the card has been cut.

Before heading into work today (Friday) I headed to the large branch of "The Warehouse" to see if anything new had been put out and too my horror saw that the dump bin was FULL of these parallel imported cut cards, as was the overstock. Disappointed that no D or E case cars were to be found, I went to work and posted a wish list on the Facebook group I belong to looking for some assistance with the 2015 D and E case cars I needed.

Heading out at lunch, I again headed to Kmart (no relation to Kmart USA) to see if they had restocked and "joy". In the aisle was a worker, holding a 2015 E case and filling the pegs one car at a time. As I got closer and confirmed the E case, I took a look at the pegs, quickly grabbed one car and then stood back to let the worker complete her task. 10 minutes later I headed to the checkout, paid and went back to work. Along the way I let a few people know what I found and then at work cancelled my earlier wish list post on Facebook since I had found the majority of the wish list. "YAY!"

My Finds

Eagle eyed spotters will notice a car with a small "TH" on the rear fender, this was the car I first saw when I was closer to the pegs and the first car I grabbed. Very happy to find this Super Treasure Hunt as it was one I was really wanting to find and have over the last few months passed up opportunities to purchase one at a premium price. 

The Ferrari 599XX is a stealer casting and with the end of the Mattel/Hot Wheels partnership, will surely be hoarded by many and is part of the reason I got two. Part of me wishes I had the skills to customise the rear of the car to add in the missed rear details so I could add an opener to the collection.

In real live, my car is a 1996 Honda Civic and I just can't pass up the opportunity to purchase a "1/64" scale model of a Honda Civic (even if this casting is of an earlier generation). The 2014 new models came in two great colours but I think this one can't be beaten with the perfect combination of black paint and red racing tampographs. 

The regular Treasure Hunt is ... well, odd. Nice to get another real car as a Treasure Hunt, but is not one that really appeals to me. Some folks may ask why I got two then if I don't really like it and its because both of these are heading to others - one to the Facebook group and one in a Treasure Hunt parcel to a fellow YouTube Collector.