After taking a tour of the Mattel Hot Wheels Design Center and learning about the brand’s Treasure Hunt hidden treasure cars, specially marked and valued at 10x their retail value, the first thing I had to do was run to my nearest superstore and start hunting for cars.
Not Treasure Hunt-branded models; that would make sense, but it’s not what drove me to shop. It was the dream cars. Sexy cars. A 3D wish list to manifest. A delight to distract from the stress of the day. Decor for my office. If there’s a “TH”-marked model in the bunch, all the better.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
My Ultimate Hot Wheels Collection
Hot Wheels are by definition performance cars, typically adorned by spoilers, oversized wheels and racing details such as numbers and stickers and they often represent special editions. Many of these details make them a favorite of car enthusiasts and collectors, but they inspire dreamers like me, too. Here’s what is on my wish list for real cars and that delight me on the daily (and no, I haven’t decided if I should remove the packaging or not).
Read: Hot Wheels Legends Tour: Little Cars, Big Dreams
The Newest Hot Wheels: Mercedes-Benz CLA
The newly redesigned sedan from Mercedes is also the newest Hot Wheels model. It was revealed at a big event in Los Angeles recently and I was lucky to be on hand to get a close-up look at it. The Hot Wheels creative team took their hand at modifying the real thing to represent how they’ll see it in miniature and it’s pretty spectacular, from the orange front wheels to the hot pink wheels to the spoiler.
I haven’t yet driving the new electric Mercedes-Benz CLA—it’s not out yet—but Mercedes delivers an excellent EV and the CLA is a solid and accessible model from the company.
Watch: The Newest Hot Wheels Model Makes its Debut
Don’t Let It’s Beauty Fool You: Audi RS e-tron GT
This is one of my favorite test drives of all time. The Audi RS e-Tron GT is elegant, beautiful and head-spinningly fast and agile. I spent an evening with it on a track and they practically had to kick me out, I enjoyed it that much.
Read: Audi RS e-tron GT Performance: The Fastest Audi Ever Is Also The Most Beautiful
When Power is Luxury: Bentley Continental
Another top favorite of mine is the Bentley Continental. It’s classic, it’s gorgeous and it’s superbly luxurious (it should be for $250K+). But it’s also one of the fastest cars on the road thanks to an ever-increasing commitment to delivering the luxury of speed.
Read: 2025 Bentley Continental GT First Drive: Why This Jeweled Hybrid Will Make You Smile
The OG Driver’s Car: Porsche 911
This is the OG Porsche, the first of the 911 line that Porsche developed so customers could have a race-trace experience every day. More importantly, though, it’s the model that has inspired nearly every Porsche built since and legions of other sports cars to try to compete.
Read: Should I Own My Dad’s Cherished Car, a Porsche 911? The Vintage Car Conundrum
The Legacy of Lamborghini
Get this: I saw an original Miura, fully restored and looking pristine, at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and was immediately smitten. And for good reason. These two models represent the original Lamborghini sports car and its current hybrid-powered era. Back in the day it was fast; today, though, boosted by electric power it’s among the fastest cars on the road.
Read: Lamborghini Revuelto: A Hybrid-Powered Supercar Full of Delightful Surprises
Every Car Collection Needs a Convertible: Corvette and Mazda Miata
These two roadsters are more alike than you might think: Both beg drivers to drop the top and let the sun shine in, but fun of the ragtop can hide just how fun these cars are. The Corvette has been on a journey of continual improvement over the years, becoming one of the most popular super cars on the road. And the Miata? The journey has been more evolutionary, more focused on maintaining its scale and charm and also continues to be one of the most popular raster’s on the road.
Read: The Mazda MX-5 Miata Is The Perfect Wet Weather Circuit Car
Jeep Off-Roaders Deliver the Ultimate Dream: Cherokee and Wrangler
Who doesn’t dream of getting out of the city and hitting the trail, the dunes, the ski slopes? These two Jeeps are what’ll take you there: The Cherokee, a 4-door hard topped 4-wheeler, and the Wrangler, an even more customizable 4-wheeler. Here it’s seen in its ultimate configuration, the Rubicon, of of the the most rugged and capable SUV on the road
Read: I Went Off-Roading in the New 2024 Jeep Wrangler, and It Blew My Mind
The Most Popular Model of The Most Popular Car Brand Ever: Toyota 4Runner
There’s something about the Toyota 4Runner that just says ‘freedom.’ For so many it’s the dream car for it’s interior comforts, easy on-road style and how it can shine on the off-load. And, it’s known for racking up 200,000, 250,000, even 300,000 miles over a lifetime. That’s a true partnership.
Read: 2025 Toyota 4Runner: This Bruiser Has Been Modernized, But Is It As Good As the OG?
Ford Is Passion-Driven and The Bronco and Mustang Dark Horse Show Why
Not all that long ago Ford made the shocking announcement they would stop selling sedans, and gone where some lovely but boring models from the lineup. But that was only half the story. Ford doubled down on its models that spark passion by brining back the Bronco and fortifying the Mustang lineup with more muscle, more power and collectors models—both in miniature and in full size.
Read: Ford Bronco Raptor Enables You to Get Over Anything
VW’s Most Lovable Characters: ID Buzz and the Original Bug
Volkswagen is another car maker than can be credited with marching to the ‘no boring cars’ beat, and it’s both a mission and a legacy. Realizing that its little people mover, the Bug, took on personification unlike any other and inspired movie characters and sporty rally editions, the brand leaned into reboots over the years. But buyers wanted more, so the company finally brought back the VW Bus, this then as an electric bus with tons and tons of charm.
Read: I Was Wrong All Along: The 2025 VW ID. Buzz Shows Minivans Can (And Should) Be Cool
Mattel Makes Building a Dream Car Collection Easy
Hot Wheels collections range from the basic models that sell for $1.25 to Brick Shop models like the vintage Mercedes-Benz model (pictured above) that retail for nearly $100. They might not always feature the trim or color I’d like but I don’t let that distract from the dream, or the collection.
Having them on a shelf to contemplate when I need a break or thinking about what I’d like to drive next is so often just the dream I need.
