HW 2017 Mystery Models Audacious, Brazilian Charger, Mustang Drift

I like the HW Mystery Models series for the occasional favorite fantasy model or random muscle car included in each wave. I don't purchase handfuls of them, but cherry pick whatever interests me, and sometimes go back later for one or two more. None of the gold Batmobiles from the last three waves interested me, but some of the other castings did. Check out the video:

Though the Brazilian Charger and mustang Drift are certainly cool, the purple Audacious was the main attraction for me in this wave of  Mystery Models- I'm a big fan of this HW original casting and collect them enthusiastically. Below, the 2017 Mystery Models Audacious with my 2003 1st Edition Audacious....

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HW 2017 Mystery Models Furiosity & Mazda Furai

I couldn't resist trying a couple more  of the HW 2017 Mystery Models, picking up the Furiosity & Mazda Furai this time. I favor the latter, but the Furiosity has a certain 'Tooned quality with it's exaggerated styling I think is fun. Check out the video:

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HW 2017 Mystery Models Muscle Tone

Everyone was hot to get the gold Batmobile/Tumbler in this wave of Hot Wheels Mystery Models, but I was more interested in the Muscle Tone, one of my favorite HW fantasy models! Check out the video:

Below, the 2017 Mystery Models Muscle Tone with my 2007 Code Cars Series Muscle Tone...

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HW 2015 Mystery Model Torque Twister

I don't typically go for Hot Wheels casting with plastic bodies, except the X-Raycers Series, and wasn't certain if the Series 3 Mystery Model Torque Twister was metal or not. I do like the color scheme/deco on this version however, even if there's some blur in the striping. But rather wallow in resignation, let's instead take a closer look at this otherwise fun fantasy model, and compare it with a few other plastic castings from Hot Wheels....

Torque Twister with other plastic-bodied castings, the Audacious and '07 Chevy Tahoe...

Torque Twister with my favorite plastic-bodied casting and Series 1 Mystery Model, the CCM Country Club Muscle...

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HW "Tooned" Toyota MR2

I've said before that I like Japanese sport cars, but am really lovin' the "Tooned" features of these exaggerated Toyota MR2. Fun! I can take or leave a spoiler from model to model, but appreciate the oversized fin on these. The green & white are 2004 1st. Edition, and the red a 2015 blind-bagged Mystery Model. I prefer the black hood on the former, but felt lucky to stumble onto the new red MR2 only days after scoring the 1st Editions on eBay. Fun! Check out the video:

Toyota MR2 getting a diagnostic at the Hot Wheels X-Pandables Garage...

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Hot Wheels Series 1 Mystery Models

Feeling slightly deflated by the first haul of these, I decided to try some more Mystery Models in hopes of finding more I liked. This group appears to be what was the first 2013 batch from Hot Wheels, and because I'm unsure of what all is out there, I was driving blindfolded somewhat. The red '06 Dodge Viper SRT-10 is the cherry in this group, with it's great color and modern, realistic proportions. The headlight tampos are kinda plain, but the tiny Dodge logo and racing stripe tampos are nicely applied...

I should say this '66 Chevy Nova is actually on par with the aforementioned Viper- it's an exceedingly cool, vintage sculpt. I like castings with the undercarriage extended through the grill & headlights, and carried through the rear- this one is vac metal plastic, but it still looks great...

While the graphics on the Nova are a little more salmon than pink, the overall color scheme of it makes a great pairing with the Mystery Model T-Bird I just picked up... sweet...

The CCM Country Club Muscle has a plastic body, which is unfortunately accentuated by this particular shade of green, but the blue windows and pop art star on the hood help give the color scheme some personality. It's my least favorite of this group for certain, but I do like the fantasy muscle car body styling and '70s vibe...

I was at first unsure if I liked the Slikt Back, but it grew on me. Like the Screamliner, it's retro-futurist body styling has a certain whimsical appeal that may not appeal to adult collectors. It's chrome interior through the clear yellow windows really pops against the flat gray body...

The Slikt Back's elongated, retro styling  reminds me of both the Screamliner and the Batmobile, the latter of which shares it's flat paint scheme.  For that matter, it's perhaps even more like the recent "Hardnoze" '89 Batmobile I picked up more recently...

Of course each Mystery Model comes with a decal, which I've started applying to my Hot Wheels car case. I this group of Mystery Models more overall that the Series 2 I reviewed, so I may try some more of these in the future...

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HW Series 2 Mystery Models

My sudden fascination with the Hot Wheels Asphalt Assault fantasy model led me to these Mystery Model blind bags, which promised the casting in a deco exclusive to the series. I was thrilled to pick one up, and thought I'd take a chance on a few more. The  Asphalt Assault did not disappoint, and while I know it may not be everyone's cup of tea, the casting's obvious homage to Mitsubishi race cars really appeals to me...

While on the subject, the yellow Mitsubishi Double Shotz from this series has a great deal going for it, but falls short due to the color in my opinion. I like the casting, and love the vac metal pipes in back, but would prefer it in almost anything but yellow- perhaps one of my least favorite colors for diecast cars...

The Lotus Sports Elise is a good casting, and much better color than the aforementioned Double Shotz, but the racing stripes complicate the body's topography. I'm not always a fan of tamped headlights, but these look pretty good...

 The Steel Flame pickup has some pretty rough surface aberrations in the diecast body, and the black bed cover is ugly, but I like the unusually shaped wheel wells and red rims, and even the "spaghetti" graphics. Ultimately this truck falls short for me, but it could be the rather plain top side... needs a sticker on the bed cover maybe...

 Now the '63 T-Bird from this series is a solid casting, with a diecast undercarriage and body. The plastic interior on mine has a mildly wonky spot near the passenger door, but it's minor. The paint is also a little rough across the body on that side, but it's still a cool car. One could beg a better color scheme, but it's not terrible. I like castings with the undercarriage extended through the grill & headlights, and repeated through the tail lights in the rear...

They each came with a sticker featuring the enclosed mystery model, which I'm unsure what to do with... back in the day I'd slap this on my Trapper Keeper. Do kids still take those to school or am I showing my age ...?

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