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

Ultra Hot or Ultra Not? Hot Wheels 2024 Ultra Hots Mix 2

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The latest release of Hot Wheels Ultra Hots should be hitting your local Target so we will do a quick review of the cars in the set. All cars feature Spectraflame paint and ultra hot wheels.

Ultra Hots Dodge 330

The first car in the Hot Wheels Ultra Hots series is the Dodge 330 which features a green paint scheme with a white and blue graphic on the sides and hood. It also features a Hot Wheels flame on the front quarter panel and silver rims.

Ultra Hots ’71 Datsun 510

The second car is the ’71 Datsun 510. This car features an olive paint and a similar white paint graphic on the sides and hood. Also included are Datsun and Hot Wheels Flame graphics This car also features silver rims.

Ultra Hots Nissan Skyline H/T 2000 GT-X

Next up is the Nissan Skyline H/T 2000 GT-X which comes in a beautiful purple paint. This car also features a similar white graphic on the sides and hood. The car also has what appears to be a number decal but without a number. This one also has silver rims.

Ultra Hots ’78 Porsche 935-78

The fourth car in the set is the ’78 Porsche 935-78. This car features a beautiful silver paint job and the same similar white graphic on the sides and hood. This car however comes with gold rims that give it a nice touch. A Porsche graphic can also be seen on the rear wing.

Ultra Hots Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno

The next car in the set is the Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno. It features a gold paint scheme and is the first car in the set to use a black graphic rather than a white one though it is still present on the sides and hood. It features a Hot Wheels flame on the rear quarter and a Trueno graphic on the sides. This one also features gold rims.

Ultra Hots ’85 Honda City Turbo II

The Sixth car in the set is the ’85 Honda City Turbo II. It features a red paint scheme and the same white graphic on the sides and hood. A Honda and Turbo graphic can both be seen on the side of the vehicle. The car also features silver rims.

Ultra Hots ’86 Ford Thunderbird Pro Stock

The next car in the set is the ’86 Ford Thunderbird Pro Stock. This car comes in a nice dark blue paint and gives some 90s vibes with a yellow, pink, and orange graphic on the sides and hood. It also features a pink interior. Ultra Hots, Hot Wheels flame, and Goodyear decals are present on the side. This car also features silver rims.

Ultra Hots Custom Volkswagen Beetle

Finally, the eighth car in the Hot Wheels Ultra Hots set is the Custom Volkswagen Beetle. It comes in a pink paint scheme and features the same white graphic on the sides and hood. It has a luggage rack on the roof and has silver rims.

Overall, this is a great set of Hot Wheels Ultra Hots cars but the ones to keep an eye out for will surely be the Skyline, Datsun, and Porsche! These cars have been sold for as much as $20 on the resale market but if you’re wanting to get your hands on them for a decent price, patience will be key. Expect restocks and don’t let FOMO get the best of you and your wallet. Happy Hunting for these awesome new cars!


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2024 Hot Wheels Stars and Stripes

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Mattel has started to release this years Stars and Stripes cars and we will be taking a look at them and also giving some possible investment advice on these cars. These cars typically come out around summertime each year and focus on American cars. In each previous iteration, the cards can be placed in order to make an image. This year we have the American Flag shown in a comic book art style. The first car in the set is the 2013 SRT Viper. It comes in a red paint with graphics similar to the comic book flag on the cards. SRT, Dodge, and Mopar logos can be seen throughout. There is also some head and tail light detailing. Expect to see this car around $6 on the resale market. The second car is the 2013 COPO Camaro. This car features blue paint and mismatched white and red rims. COPO and Camaro graphics can be seen on the side of the vehicle. The stars and stripes decals also give this card a similar feel to the card it is on. This car will perform similarly to the Viper or slightly better given the Camaros likeability. The third car in the series is the 2016 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. It comes in a grey paint scheme which deviates from the red, white, and blue aesthetic but still looks good. The car features red rims, Mopar, Dodge, and Demon logos. The red and blue stripes are also similar to those on the card. This car should perform like the Camaro and Viper however, we have seen Challengers become very popular so it could have a higher upside. The fourth car in the line up is the 2020 Ford Shelby GT500. This car features white paint with black stars, blue and red stripes, and black rims. Shelby, Ford, and Cobra logos can be seen on the side of the vehicle The stripes are also in line with the rest of the vehicles and the headlight detailing is a nice touch. We expect the Shelby to perform the best out of the group given its notoriety. The Shelby Cobra is a nice car and the name is enough to make people want to purchase it. We wouldn’t expect to see this car for more than $10 though. Finally, the last car in the set is the 2020 Corvette. It comes in a darker red paint and is the only car not to feature its own manufacturer branding on the side. Instead, we are treated to a white Hit Wheels flame across the side of the vehicle. This car does keep the overall stars and stripes aesthetic. The Corvette we expect to perform at the same level as the Viper. Although the C8 is a great car, it hasn’t had the same popularity as some of the other muscle cars more likely due to its supercar aesthetic. Overall the Stars and Stripes set is a great set for those who are fans of American Muscle. While there isn’t a car going for a massive amount over retail, these cars could be good to pick up and try to make a few bucks.

2024 Hot Wheels J Case Review

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The Hot Wheels 2024 J case is in and we have a quick review for you guys.

The first casting on our list for the J case is the 1966 Triumph Tiger 100. This bike comes in an all white paint scheme and features an older cafe style racer look. A Triumph logo can be seen on the back of the rider which is a nice touch. This is a new bike and we would love to see Hot Wheels experiment with adding more motorcycles to the mix. Speaking of, the next car is your potential Treasure Hunt for the J case, the Honda Super Cub Custom. This bike features a black and orange paint scheme. On the rear storage bag we can find a Treasure Hunt logo and checkered flag. The third car on our list is the potential super for the J case, the Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution. This car features a shiny orange paint with Hot Wheels and Ralliart graphics. The regular version comes with white rims. The Super Variant will feature a Spectraflame Orange paint as well as black and orange rims. The next car we will look at is the ’95 Mazda RX-7. This car comes with white paint and chrome rims. It also features some teal graphics, but the best addition is the full taillight and branding decals on the rear of the vehicle. The final car for the first half of the J case is the McLaren P1. This car features a nice baby blue paint with black rims. The front headlight details and McLaren badge are a nice touch.

The second half of the J case gives a look at some new recolors and castings. First up we have a recolor of the Custom ’68 Camaro. This car features a white and red paint scheme with smoke chrome accents. This car keeps the modded aesthetic we saw before and the white and red scheme with black rims and dark chrome look great. The Camaro also features some branding near the front quarter panel and a 68 graphic on the roof and doors. The next car is an interesting casting, the “Mailed It” mail delivery van. The van features an exposed engine and Hot Wheels Postal Service decals. A graffiti “y” is also visible on the roof as this car is part of the HW Art Car series. Overall a great new fantasy casting. The third car we will look at is a recolor from last year, the tooned 70 Dodge Charger. Nothing too special here with black paint and chrome rims, but the R/T and Red stripe decals are a great touch. The fourth car we will look at is the Birthday Burner. The car is made to look like a giant piece of birthday cake with an engine peaking out of the front. The grill is meant to be the fork and we can just see our drivers head peak out of the top. Finally, the fifth car we will look at is the Total Disposal garbage truck. The car is interesting and the front makes me think of Optimus Prime with a mustache. A Hot Wheels recycling decal is placed on the sides with a reminder to Recycle and Stay Green. The rear of the vehicle is slightly opened though it would’ve been nice to see some extra recyclable detailing.

Overall the J case is on the lower end of the cases we’ve seen this year. It features more fantasy cars than real ones and that plays a large factor. From an investment side, finding a Super is nice but we don’t expect the Pajero to be the most expensive super this year. The Dodge Charger and RX-7 will be decent pickups but there isn’t much here to make money on. A few gems to be found but that’s about it. Have a fun time hunting these cars when they start to hit your local stores!

2024 Hot Wheels H Case Review

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The 2024 Hot Wheels H case is here and we have a review for you guys. This has been our thoughts on the case so far!

The first car on our list is the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS. The car features a silver paint scheme with hits of blue on the hood stripe and number decals. The car has cutouts in the windows and what appear to be smoked headlight covers. A raised windshield wiper can also be seen on the windshield. Porsche branding can be seem on the front fender and Carrera GTS branding makes its way to the rear corner of the back. This car features a lot of small details that make it a nice Porsche for many collectors. The next car to be featured out of the H case is the regular treasure hunt Purple Passion. This car features what appears to be a Spectrafrost Blue paint job with some plaid graphics all over the car. The car is part of the Hot Wheels Art Car series and features an “I” on the roof which will help spell a message once all the cars are together. The Purple Passion has a sweptback look to it and does not feature side windows. There is also a tail that is slightly separated from the rest of the car. There might be just enough room to slide this one onto a keychain for someone looking for an alternative to the coupe clip craze. The car also features dark blue wheels and a treasure hunt logo is visible towards the front of the fender. The third car on our list is our potential Super Treasure Hunt, the Volvo P1800 Gasser. While the paint on the regular version leaves something to be desired, this car still has a few neat details. The car features a matte blue paint but the Spectraflame teal on the Super variant lend itself to more of a Richard Petty aesthetic. The car features grey 5-spoke wheels, chrome engine bay, and orange windows. The number 43 and “Lickety Split” decals are featured on the side. The car also features small tires in the front and large in the back giving it a drag racing profile. The Super Treasure Hunt variant will feature a Spectraflame paint scheme, pink windows, pink rims, and a pink TH logo on the front fender. Our fourth car we will be taking a look at is the tooned Mazda RX-3. The car features an orange paint scheme with black 5-spoke wheels and black fender flares. The car also features some hard to see branding from Toyo tires, K&N, and Mazda. This car is another nice addition to the Hot Wheels Tooned series. The last car we will be looking at for the first half of the H case is the ’64 Chevy Chevelle SS. This car comes in a red paint scheme and features white stripes along the top of the vehicle and on the front fenders. The car features some nice small details like the door handle, key lock, and emblem on the front fender. The engine sticking out of the hood is also a nice touch.

The second half of the H case has few recolors and some interesting cars to look at. The ’63 Studebaker is sure to be a hit with some collectors. The dark red and gold paint scheme give this truck a classic look. The side exhaust is also a nice touch to give this car a slightly modified look. The extra detail to the headlights and grill also set this car apart. The next car we will look at is the King Kuda. This is another car from the Hot Wheels Art Car series and features a white and red scheme. The red wheels and windows go well with the red details on the car. The car features the Jack, King, Queen and Ace of Heart graphics around the vehicle. The Ace on the hood is a unique way of incorporating this car into the HW Art Car message. The third car on our list is the recolor of the McLaren Solus GT. The car now comes in an orange paint scheme with black and yellow splatters surrounding the vehicle. The car is reminiscent of the painting “Free Form” by Jackson Pollock and I think it would be interesting for Hot Wheels to incorporate actual art pieces into their cars. The car brings a unique new look to the Hot Wheels mainline selection. Our fourth car is the recolor of the ’15 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The new orange color is much brighter than the previous iteration. The car is still missing some of the headlight and tail light details that we like to see but the missing top and spoiler still give the car a nice silhouette. The final car on our list is the recolor of the ’57 Jeep FC. The car now comes in a matte red finish and features a few stripes on the doors. The car maintains the tire in the bed and still has the same overall aesthetic that many collectors enjoyed.

Overall, the H case brings some nice new cars to the mainline selection. This case will still be good to look for as it will contain the Olive Skyline and white Civic Si from the G case. From an investment perspective, cars to hold on to will be the regular treasure hunt and the Super treasure hunt. The white Civic will also be a nice car to stash for later.

 

Hirohata Merc

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The Hirohata Merc is a very famous custom car that we have seen brought into the diecast world by Hot Wheels. With the reintroduction of the diecast model in the 2024 Hot Wheels G Case, we thought it would be a good idea to dive into the history of this iconic vehicle. In the 1950’s having a custom car was the best way to show off your personality and get all the attention at the drive in. George and Sam Barris were among the first to start chopping and customizing cars and by 1951, they had become one of the premier shops for auto customization. The shop had more than it’s fair share of talent to help build the best vehicles on the road. Alongside the Barris brothers was Herschel “Junior” Conway, now known for his affinity of car painting. George Barris was the one running things at the shop, directing the customs in the direction he had in mind. Masato “Bob” Hirohata bought a brand new 1951 Mercury and brought it over to the Barris custom shop in hopes of having a completely custom car. Bob was hoping to have the car finished in time for the 1952 Motorama.

After months of procrastination, the car was started and finished in around a two week timespan. Some of the custom details included changing the lines on the car to be more streamlined. Many of the emblems and chrome parts were also removed including the door handles. A hidden button along the side of the car would allow access to the car. A curved chrome trim piece separated the front and rear windows giving another unique look to this car. The roof was chopped more in the rear than in the front giving the car an iconic sweptback look.  The car featured parts from other car manufacturers that had to be bought new and attached to the car. Some highlights were the Buick side spear, grill from a 51 Ford, separated French headlights, Cadillac hubcaps, ’52 Lincoln taillights, Appleton spotlights, and a Cadillac motor. The dashboard featured pinstriping details done by Kenneth Robert Howard, who is now referred to as the father of modern pinstriping. The interior also feature custom dash knobs and an immense amount of upholstery details. The “Ice Green” paint job was a stark contrast to the metallic paints that most customs of the time were using.

After doing well at the 1952 Motorama, the car began being featured in magazines including Motortrend and Hot Rod. In 1953 Bob Hirohata drove the car cross country to Indianapolis for a car shop competition and took best in show. In 1955, the car went through a color change, replacing the Ice Green for a gold metallic paint. The car would display this new paint scheme for the movie Running Wild where it was featured. After the movie appearance, Bob sold his Merc. It moved to a few other owners until 1959 where Jim McNiel purchased it from a lot for $500. By this time the car had been neglected and needed some work. After some restoration, Jim fixed the car up, but after he met his soon to be wife, the car was forgotten once again, but left in a protected place. Jim kept his aspirations of maintaining the car and declined multiple offers on the car including one reportedly up to a million dollars. Some time later Jim received a call from Pat Ganahl, editor for Rod and Custom magazine. Pat had an aspiration to help Jim restore his Merc so the magazine would have a high-profile car to feature in the magazine. The car stayed in the garage for the restoration. Most of the work was done by Jim and his son with some outside help here and there.

As the car neared completion, a target date and location was set for the cars re-unveiling. The Hot Rods and Customs car show at the Oakland museum of Art. The last detail that needed to be added was the paint and a call came in from Junior who didn’t work on the car during its first rendition but wanted to give his hand a try at painting the newly restored body. The car was restored to the original two tone “Ice Green” paint scheme with help from PPG. After 10 years of work, Jim’s dream of restoring the Hirohata Merc was complete. The car went to a multitude of car shows and eventually made its way to the Pebble Beach car show where it won first in class helping cement the cars legacy. On April 12, 2017 the Hirohata Merc was made part of the National Historic Vehicle Registers now archived in the Library of Congress. The car now resided at The Peterson Automotive Museum following the death of Jim McNiel. “The real car is currently owned by Beau Boeckmann over from Galpin motors and it’s on display in his Galpin Speed Shop up in Van Nuys, California” says Brendon Vetuskey, one of the creative Hot Wheels designers. The car was sold at a Mecum auction in 2022 for $2,145,000 after all fees had been paid.

This isn’t the first release of the Hirohata Merc from Hot Wheels. “Well, it’s not the first time that hot wheels has made this car in 1/64 scale. It was done previously in the premium product lines. However, it’s back in 2024 as a mainline car so you can buy it for one dollar…” Vetuskey states. The Merc had its first debut in 1998 as part of the Legends: Barris Kustom 4-Car Set. Along with being part of the premium set meant with more detail came a higher price. Vetuskey explains how he managed to take the complex car from premium to mainline. “I borrowed the original sculpted pattern from Larry Wood for this car and had it scanned in our model shop. I made a few adjustments to it and that’s what we used to prepare the digital sculpting for this car…With a car in the mainline, we are typically limited to four parts to keep it at a one dollar price point and I incorporated part of the body into the chassis to provide a color break which represents the real car. It will also help our graphic designers when they do new color versions of this for future releases” Vetuskey explains. There is plenty of excitement surrounding the real and diecast version of this classic custom and we’d love to see more cars like this make their way to the pegs.