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

Hot Wheels Pink Party Car: 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra R

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Will the upcoming release of the Hot Wheels RLC Exclusive Pink Edition 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra R be as hot as its color? This formally known “Pink Party Car” is set to release April 16, 2024 at 9am PT on the hot wheels website. The unique Hot Wheels casting has been catching the eye of every diecast collector with its vibrant pink color that Hot Wheels is calling Spectraflame Pink. You might recognize this color along with similar variations from earlier castings such as the famous pink Volkswagen ‘Beach Bomb’. Spectraflame pink made its debut as a part of the Hot Wheels Sweet Sixteen collection in 1969 on the Custom Mustang. Although the bright pink is what catches your attention, but don’t let it blind from its other intricate details such as the license plate and the Cobra logo. One over looked detail of many Hot Wheels cars is the license plate that adds a special touch to the car. In this case the plate reads “PNKSTNG”. Alongside the license plate are two white stripes and Cobra emblems that follow both sides of the car, key signature details that can’t be forgotten when replicating the legendary car.

One of the most loved details of the RLC collection line by many collectors is the engine bay. Although missing details from the life-sized car, it is still impressive. This 1:64 diecast might contain most of the details of the actual car including a 5.0 liter cobra engine but it definitely won’t push out 235 horsepower.

Moving from the engine bay to the interior comes complex details for a 1:64 scale model. The interior features two seats, a dashboard, a center console, and, of course, a shifter all in molded pearl white. From the body to the base is a fully metal chassis painted matte black. Finally you got to have wheels to roll, so this diecast sits on five spoke Real Rider wheels with a metal brush finish.

While we don’t have one on hand, Mattel provides numerous photos on their site for us to see each up-close detail. The Hot Wheels RLC Exclusive Pink Edition 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra R will be packaged on an illustrated card featuring the Hot Wheels logo at the top, the Red Line Club trademark, and a detailed life-like image of the car, just like most Red Line Club cars. It is said to be incased in a Kar Keepers clamshell case. Now the question remains, will you be going for this casting?

 

All images pulled from Mattel

Hot Wheels NFT Garage Series 8

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Mattel has released information on the upcoming NFT Garage release, and we will be giving you a quick rundown on how to participate and which cars you will be looking to grab in this exciting new drop.

The Mattel Hot Wheels NFT Garage Series 8 release will bring 60 new digital NFT collectibles to the program, but only six will give you a redeemable vehicle. We will take a look at each one individually later. There is still some confusion on how the NFT garage drops work so that we will go through a quick rundown. On the release day, you can purchase two different NFT packs just as you would any other item on the Mattel Creations site. The only requirement is having a Mattel Creations account (not an RLC membership). The basic pack will cost $25 per pack, giving you seven digital collectibles. In these packs, there is around a 30% chance of getting a redeemable Super Rare card and around a 4% chance of getting the Ultra Rare. The Premium Pack will cost $80 and is guaranteed to contain 1 Super Rare redeemable NFT while having around a 40% chance of containing the Premium Pack Exclusive ZAMAC NFT. Both packs should be limited to 8 per account. While the redeemable cars are amazing, the drop has one more important rarity type. The showroom rarity Lamborghini Countach LP 5000 QV looks great in all white, and while we’d love to see a real car released, however, that won’t be happening. The Showroom Exclusive will be needed to complete the Series 8 NFT set. The showroom car will only be available in Standard packs. Now that the formalities are out of the way let’s take a look at some redeemable vehicles.

The first Super Rare cars we will be looking at is the ’84 Audi Sport Quattro. The car looks to come in a Spectrflame Navy Blue and features white rims. The car also features Hot Wheels NFT Garage branding on the windshield, and Audi rings on the side. We expect this car to perform the best out of the Super Rare Cars. The next best car to look for is the black ’69 Chevy Camaro. The black-on-black aesthetic of this car is an easy sell, and we could see this also doing very well. The car also features Hot Wheels Radial Tire white lettering on the tires which give a bit of a classic look.

The next Super to look for will be the ’64 Lincoln Continental. This car comes in a nice Bronze paint with what looks like a tan top, although it is hard to tell. The car also features white wall tires with black rims and some black flame graphics on the paint. This car has a great mix of old-school luxury and hot rod aesthetics. The last of the Super Rares, possibly the least of the bunch, is the ’72 Plymouth Cuda FC. This car has a nice green paint scheme with a black tail section. The car appears to have a drag aesthetic with large back wheels and smaller front tires. The side exhaust on this car is a nice touch, and the HWNFTG across the front splitter adds some uniqueness. However, we expect this car to perform slightly worse than its Super brothers.

The final two cars of the set will be the more exclusive cars. The ZAMAC McLaren 720 S features a paintless body with McLaren graphics. The car also features black rims with an orange/red line around them. We expect this car to do fairly well mostly because it’ll cost you a minimum of $80 to obtain. The final car and hardest redeemable will be the Nissan Fairlady Z. This car comes in a dark red paint scheme with white and black graphics. An NFTH logo can be seen on the side. The grey rims also look very nice. We expect this car to perform very well, much like previous Treasure Hunt NFTs before it. The production limits for the NFT series are as follows: ’84 Audi Quattro 4300pcs, ’69 Chevy Camaro 4300pcs, ’64 Lincoln Continental 4300pcs, ’72 Plymouth Cuda FC 4300pcs, ZAMAC McLaren 720 S 3600pcs, Nissan Fairlady Z 1800pcs, Showroom Lamborghini 320pcs. That’s a wrap on the redeemable NFTs releasing on April 18th. Will you be going for any of these exclusive cars? Let us know which is your favorite!

Hot Wheels Legends Tour: Where Diecast Come to Life

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Hot Wheels, the iconic brand that has fueled the imagination of car enthusiasts for over half a century, is hitting the road once again with its exhilarating Legends Tour. This annual event, now in its [specific number] year, brings together automotive aficionados, collectors, and fans of all ages to celebrate the passion and creativity of custom car culture.

The Hot Wheels Legends Tour is more than just a car show – it’s a vibrant celebration of automotive innovation and ingenuity. From classic muscle cars to futuristic concepts, the Legends Tour showcases a diverse array of vehicles that push the boundaries of design and performance. Whether you’re a die-hard gearhead or a casual enthusiast, there’s something for everyone to marvel at and admire.

But what sets the Legends Tour apart is its emphasis on community and inclusivity. Unlike traditional car shows, which often cater to a niche audience, the Legends Tour welcomes enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. From seasoned collectors to young fans experiencing their first car show, everyone is encouraged to participate and share in the excitement.

Central to the Legends Tour experience is the opportunity for attendees to witness the magic of Hot Wheels come to life. Throughout the event, participants have the chance to vote for their favorite custom car, with the winner earning the coveted title of “Hot Wheels Legend” and the chance to have their design immortalized as a 1:64 scale die-cast model.

But the Legends Tour isn’t just about showcasing cars – it’s also about inspiring the next generation of automotive enthusiasts. In addition to the main event, the tour often features interactive activities and workshops designed to engage young fans and ignite their passion for cars. Whether it’s building custom Hot Wheels cars, designing their dream car, or meeting real-life automotive legends, kids of all ages are sure to leave the Legends Tour with memories that will last a lifetime.

Moreover, the Legends Tour serves as a platform for aspiring car builders and designers to showcase their talent and creativity. For many participants, being selected to compete in the tour is a dream come true, offering them the opportunity to share their passion with a global audience and potentially see their design become a part of Hot Wheels history.

In conclusion, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour is a testament to the enduring appeal of cars and the power of imagination. From its diverse lineup of custom vehicles to its focus on community engagement and inspiration, the Legends Tour embodies everything that makes Hot Wheels such a beloved brand. So whether you’re a seasoned collector or a wide-eyed youngster with dreams of building your own custom car, the Legends Tour invites you to join in the celebration and experience the magic of Hot Wheels firsthand.

 

Hot Wheels Legends Tour Mazda Autozam Picture from HotWheelsOfficial Instagram page.

Featured image from Mattel Creations


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Hot Wheels 2024 Collector Nationals

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The 24th annual Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals kicked off on April 3rd and while we didn’t get the chance to go, there’s a lot to talk about admiring from afar. Outside of all the festivities associated with the convention, the most important thing to look at is the convention vehicles that are available at the event. The first car to take note of is the Pink Party RLC 1993 Mustang. This car has been made available early at the convention but will also get an RLC release later this month. Overdrive members currently have the car showing a purchase date of April 14th so we expect the actual release to take place on the 16th. The Mustang comes in a familiar Spectraflame pink paint scheme and features five spoke wheels. The car also appears to have the possibility of an opening hood but it will be hard to know until someone opens one up. Currently prices for this car are around $100 but we would expect that to go down once the RLC release has passed. The next car to pay close attention to is the first souvenir car for the event, the Mk IV Supra. The car is retailing for around $40 at the event but prices for this car are currently around $120. While the car is listed as having rhodamine red paint, it appears more pink from pictures. The car features smoked windows, black interior, and is rocking an awesome carbon fiber hood. The car also has some interesting chrome rims and we love the additions of TRD inspired stripes on the side of the vehicle. The headlight detailing and carbon fiber skirts are great touches as well. This car will be highly sought after for years to come as the Supra is a cult favorite amongst JDM lovers. Speaking of cult favorites, our next car is a big one. The 2nd souvenir car for the convention is the 55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser. Prices on this casting have seen insane amounts of profitability so expect this car to be the same. This version is sporting a yellow paint scheme with black top and Mooneyes branding. The pinstriping featured on the hood is a nice touch we’ve seen from other gassers. The varied tire width gives this car an awesome drag look that appeals to a wide audience. This is another car that will be retailing for around $40 but we can see prices currently upwards of $150. Another car to recently pop up from the convention is the dinner car, the Kawa-Bug-A. This is another casting that seems to be gaining some traction and becoming more popular. The convention Kawa-Bug-A comes in a cream paint and features a surfboard and luggage on the rack. The surfboard features an olive green paint and shark livery that we’ve seen displayed on fighter planes in the past. There is also some graffiti on the side that says “Vance Speed Shop”, a tip of the cap to the Kawa-Bug-A’s designer Dwayne Vance. This car currently has a value of around $200 on the secondary market. The last car that may or may not be confirmed is the finale car. There aren’t any pictures currently of this car but it appears to be a 2018 COPO Camaro SS as the finale car. The car will feature a spectraflame blue paint scheme. Overall, the event seems to be great.  Let us know what you think about these rare cars and we look forward to giving you more exciting diecast news!

Hot Wheels RLC Overdrive- A High Price to Get Over on Bots?

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Its been a few weeks since the release of Mattel’s new membership add on for RLC members, Overdrive. This new addition has not gone without criticism and backlash. Many in the collector community are upset that they have to pay an additional membership fee rather than Mattel fixing the problem of bots with bot protection that many other retailers use. For those that aren’t aware, the Overdrive addition is a $99 yearly charge that gives you access to future RLC drops before others. With the add on, you will be given an update on future RLC releases up to 10 days in advance and be given the option to skip the drop should you choose. This is a great way to secure any upcoming RLC drop without having to worry about checking out come release day. For some of the older collectors who may struggle with small bot protection checkpoints like captchas, this seems like a decent idea. For the small percentage of people that took advantage of the RLC Overdrive addition, RLCs should be smooth sailing for the year. However, regular RLC members will now have an even harder time. With some RLC releases having production as low as 30000, having a service that eliminates a possible 10000 units before the drop does nothing for your chances of securing product come release day. This is especially impactful to those collectors outside of the US where Overdrive was not an option. Up to this point, Overdrive has worked for two releases, the Kawa-Bug-A Membership car and McLaren F1 RLC release. While both are readily available on the Mattel Creations site right now, regular RLC members, including one of our employees, had difficulty trying to check out the latest McLaren F1 RLC. While we aren’t sure what is causing the issue, if Mattel can’t reliably perform checkouts on less desirable items, the question becomes; What will happen on a highly anticipated release? With the rise in resellers and bot usage, Overdrive, although a pricey option, is a good option to secure all RLCs worry free. For those that did not take advantage of the program, good luck on future releases. Hopefully Mattel will not have any issues.