Trenton

About Trenton

Trenton Hall - Founder and Diecast Enthusiast Trenton Hall is the founder and driving force behind Hallsguide. His journey into the world of diecast began as a childhood fascination, evolving into a lifelong passion. What started as a simple online price list for his personal Hot Wheels collection during his college years in 1998 has blossomed into one of the most trusted and comprehensive resources for diecast collectors worldwide. Trenton's vision for Hallsguide was to create more than just a price guide; he wanted to build a community where collectors could connect, share knowledge, and fuel their passion for diecast. His dedication to accuracy, insightful analysis, and engaging content has made Hallsguide a go-to destination for diecast enthusiasts of all levels. When he's not immersed in the world of diecast, Trenton enjoys spending time with family and working full-time as a computer science teacher and cross country & track coach. He believes that the joy of collecting lies not just in acquiring rare treasures but also in the connections forged within a passionate community. Fun Fact: Trenton also founded Diecast Republic in 2021 as a retail diecast store in Texas and found online at www.diecastrepublic.com

2023 Hot Wheels M Case Report

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The 2023 Hot Wheels M case has arrived and we have a review for you! First up straight off the big screen is the 2024 Hummer EV featured in the Barbie movie. Like most fans of the film, we can’t get ‘Kenough’ of this casting so expect it to be difficult to find. Next up is an awesome new casting of a 73 Jeep J10. The car features a ton of chrome, but the addition of the chrome hubs on the back of this car make it stand out! The next car, and the one everyone will be searching for is the Mighty K. This car is your potential Super this time around and our case happened to have one. The Spectraflame Red on this car looks great and finding one on the pegs is sure to be a great surprise for some. Prices on this car have been steady at around $60-$70. Up next we have a Volvo XC40 that has an awesome forest tampo that makes the car stand out!

 

While the M case may lack new models the recolor of some old models help it out. The Remac Nevera looks outstanding and clean in white. The ’20 Toyota Tacoma also maintains this clean look in white but the pop of blue from the rims adds a bit of flavor that we enjoy. A very popular casting before, the ’89 Mercedes-Benz 560 AMG looks incredible in its new silver colorway. Another popular casting, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon looks mean in all black. Finally, who could be upset with a Black BMW ,and the new color of the i8 Roadster looks very good.

From the investment side the Mighty K is going to give you your best return if you can find it hanging on the pegs in its super variant. Other popular castings to hold on to will be the Mercedes 560, Challenger SRT Demon, which are very popular castings. Also, the Toyota Tacoma could fetch a few dollars from someone looking for a mini version of their daily driver.

2023 Hot Wheels L Case Report

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The 2023 Hot Wheels L Case is here and we break it down for you.  We’ll start with the New Models and New to Mainlines for this case.  Being from the Fast & Furious franchise, the Tooned version of Brian O’Conner’s ’94 Toyota Supra from the original movie may be the most popular release of this mix.  The Trouble Decker is a Fraser Campbell design and is a hot-rodded version of a London Double Decker bus.  The ’65 Mercury Comet Cyclone is not entirely a New Model but it is appearing in the Mainlines for the first time and it’s also used as the Super Treasure Hunt for this mix.  Volkswagen fans are going to be excited to get their hands on the Volkswagen ID. Buzz.  Another collector favorite is the Alfa Romeo GTV6 3.0 from the Retro Racers series which is also debuting the 4SP wheel variation.  

Rounding out the rest of the case are some vehicles making their first 2023 Mainline appearance and others showing up again as recolors.  The Madfast is the regular Treasure Hunt for this case.  Other highlights include the ’07 Ford Mustang featuring a Falken livery, the Toyota Land Cruiser 80, an orange recolor of the ’73 Honda Civic Custom, and a blue recolor of the DMC Delorean.  The white version of the 1989 Batman Batmobile from the recent The Flash movie is another favorite and one of the best-looking Batmobiles, in my opinion.  

From an investment perspective, that Supra is one to hang on to.  Right now it’s been going for $20 or more on Ebay.  That will surely drop as they become more plentiful on the pegs, but don’t expect them to stay on the pegs for long.  As they dry up on the pegs, expect to see their secondary value start to rise again.  The Mercury Comet Cyclone Super Treasure Hunt will be another one that will command a premium on the secondary market.  It has recently been trading for $100-$150 on the secondary market.  I expect this one, too, will drop some as it becomes more plentiful but it will be popular with both gasser and muscle car collectors.

Check out the YouTube review I just did of the 2023 Hot Wheels L Case.

Unveiling the Mini GT x Kaido House 1983 Chevy Silverado 1

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Automotive enthusiasts and collectors are eagerly anticipating the release of the Mini GT x Kaido House 1983 Chevy Silverado miniature model. This collaboration brings forth a meticulously crafted 1:64 scale replica of the iconic 1983 Chevy Silverado, paying homage to its timeless design and endless customizability.  This new tooling from Kaido House is a must-have for all square-body collectors.

The 1983 Chevy Silverado holds a special place in the hearts of truck enthusiasts and classic car aficionados. Its bold, square-jawed design, chrome accents, and unmistakable grille embody power and authority. Kaido House, known for attention to detail, has faithfully recreated these iconic features in their 1:64 scale model, allowing collectors to relive the nostalgia of this beloved square-body truck.

The Mini GT x Kaido House 1983 Chevy Silverado will be released as a limited edition collectible, adding to its appeal and exclusivity. With limited units available, each model becomes a sought-after treasure for collectors worldwide. This limited release increases the desirability of the Mini GT x Kaido House collaboration for enthusiasts and investors alike.

Pre-order yours today from Diecast Republic.

Hot Wheels NFT Garage Series 1

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Hot Wheels has joined the world of blockchain/crypto with their Hot Wheels NFT Garage project.  Hot Wheels NFT Garage Series 1 hit the blockchain on November 16th of last year.  The set includes 40 digital collectibles divided into 4 themed subsets and 4 different rarities.  The the subsets are: Garage of Legends, Checkered Flag, Race Team, and Time Attack.  The 4 different rarities for Series 1 are Base, Rare, Premium, and NFTH.  

NFT stands for non-fungible token.  It is proof of ownership of a digital asset that is stored on the blockchain.  While digital collectibles don’t appeal to everyone, there is a market for them because they are somewhat rare and convenient.  What really separates Hot Wheels NFT Garage from other NFT projects is that they have physical Hot Wheels as a reward for acquiring the Premium or NFTH rarity levels.  The physical Hot Wheels for Series 1 were among the rarest Hot Wheels ever released to the public by Mattel.  Holders of the Premium or NFTH digital collectibles received a token that could be redeemed for a physical version of that particular Hot Wheels NFT.  There were 1200 redemptions available for the Premiums and 600 available for the NFTH Bone Shaker but not all tokens were redeemed.  The actual redemption numbers were 761 for the ’18 Camaro SS, 700 on the Twin Mill, 707 on the Rodger Dodger, 685 for the Mach Speeder, and only 394 for the NFTH Bone Shaker.  

'18 Camaro SS

Premium ’18 Camaro SS

Hot Wheels NFT Twin Mill

Premium Twin Mill

Hot Wheels NFT Rodger Dodger

Premium Rodger Dodger

Hot Wheels NFT Mach Speeder

Premium Mach Speeder

Hot Wheels NFTH Bone Shaker

NFTH Bone Shaker

The physicals are commanding a pretty high price on the secondary market right now.  They all feature Spectraflame paint and Real Rider wheels.  Full sets of all 5 vehicles have sold in the $2000 to $2500 range.  The Twin Mill and Mach Speeder are currently in the $150 to $250 range, the Rodger Dodger is going for around $200 to $400, and the ’18 Camaro SS is selling for $250 to $500.  The Holy Grail of the set, the NFTH Bone Shaker, is commanding prices of $1000 to $2000.  I believe the lack of awareness has kept secondary market prices lower than they might be otherwise.  As Hot Wheels continues to release more Series of Hot Wheels NFT Garage, we will see more collectors start to take notice and we can expect Series 1 to increase in value as it is the rarest of all planned series so far.  

Mattel has added even more intrigue to the NFT Garage Series with the announcement that their would be physical rewards for completing sets.  Members of the Mattel Discord channel voted on the set completion reward and chose the always popular ’83 Chevy Silverado.  Holders of a complete set of any series between Series 1 and Series 5 will receive a token redeemable for what will be one of the rarest ’83 Chevy Silverados ever released by Mattel.  

Here’s my video review of the Series 1 physicals

You can purchase the physicals while they last from Diecast Republic.