Hot Wheels came up with an idea to make certain models more collectable by labelling them “Treasure Hunts” (sometimes T-Hunt) these were introduced by in 1995. It consisted of 12 cars every year; (15 beginning in 2011) one or two released per month. The original production run was 10,000 pieces worldwide; that number has since risen due to the increasing demand for and popularity of Hot Wheels as a collector’s item.

Treasure Hunt vehicles are identifiable by a label on the package. The blister card said “Treasure Hunt” or “T-Hunt” on a green bar.

Since 2013, treasure hunts did not have the green stripe anymore; instead the cars are recognizable with a “flame in a circle logo” on the vehicle and behind it on the card. The cars were decorated with flashy designs and special “rubber” wheels before 2007.

In 2007, Mattel introduced a two-tiered Treasure Hunt system. A regular Treasure Hunt will feature normal enamel paint and normal wheels like other Hot Wheels cars. The production of these is rumored to be greater than Treasure Hunts of the past. The Super Treasure Hunt is much harder to find . Like Treasure Hunts of the past, a Super Treasure Hunt features premium wheels, and Spectraflame paint. All 12 Treasure Hunt cars were released in both regular and super versions before 2013.

I have only found 4 different Regular Treasure Hunts and no Supers…here the cards are short and Supers, I hear are only found on long cards. The Lamley blog makes good arguments for scrapping the Super Treasure Hunts as they are prey to scalpers and rarely find their way onto the racks of the shops Lamley Blog

I am wondering my own wisdom of choosing the Rip Rod over some more interesting Hot Wheels vehicles, which weren’t Treasure Hunts like a red Aston Martin DB5 or a Hudson Hornet, which I had on my wants’ list. If it weren’t a Treasure Hunt, I’d not have chosen Rip Rod from the selection below. Hot Wheels have suckered me with their marketing.

Update 2017: I finally found a Super Treasure Hunt. Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine.

Here is more information about finding the super: I finally found a Super Treasure Hunt

Previous Treasure Hunts posts:

Regular Treasure Hunts

Tbilisi Collecting Hot Wheels

Thar be Treasure!