Hot Wheels celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018 with one of its best years ever. We called our old friend and Hot Wheels-fanatic Bruce Pascal to check up on what’s changed since last year in terms of rare and valuable cars. His collection of more than 7000 items is valued at just over $1 million. So he knows his stuff.



What’s the difference between a 10-cent toy, and one worth more than a real Porsche Taycan? According to Bruce, low-volume models in original condition are the cream of the crop, even when their age is showing. The true diamonds are models with unreleased colors or wheel combinations. Pascal told us Hot Wheels can use as many as 30 different sets of wheels a year. It’s toward the end of the production run when the people who assembling the cars begin dipping into different parts buckets.

That doesn’t mean swapping parts on what you already own will turn you into a celebrity at the next Antiques Roadshow. Pascal said that just like with real cars, adding aftermarket parts or custom paint can actually devalue the original. The cheaper Hot Wheels, known as beaters, are worth a couple dollars, at most. Even if they’re cheap, some are still highly sought after by artists and customizers who wish to cut costs in their restoration efforts. With Pascal as a guide, here are the hottest Hot Wheels.

