8 Most Expensive Hot Wheels (2023)

As many investors begin to realize the power alternative investments have for portfolio diversification and risk management, the collectibles market is expected to display steady growth. One popular category of collectibles currently is Hot Wheels toy cars, with some rare models selling for tens of thousands of dollars. Keep reading to find out about the 8 most expensive Hot Wheels right now.

What Are Hot Wheels?

Hot Wheels is a brand of scale model cars produced by American toymaker Mattel. The first Hot Wheels model came onto the market in 1968. Since then, they have become incredibly popular. Mattel has produced over three billion toys and has sold approximately eight hot wheels every second.

Mattel partners with many different car manufacturers to create scale model die-cast replicas of their cars, as well as different lines of their own custom models.

Why Are Some Hot Wheels So Expensive?

As millennials enter their prime spending years, many are buying toys or rare collectible items that were popular when they were younger. Some rare toy collectibles can sell for tens of thousands of dollars and, as the collectibles market increases, are maybe a good investment for the future.

The most expensive Hot Wheels cost so much because of their rarity. Many of the most expensive models are from the early production runs in the 60s and 70s or were created through manufacturing errors. The rarest Hot Wheels models often only have a couple of units that were ever created.

But how can you tell which Hot Wheels are expensive? A quick way to see whether your Hot Wheels car may be an older, more valuable model is to see whether it has a red circle on each of the tires. These “Redline” Hot Wheels models were made in the first 10 years of Hot Wheels production and can often be more valuable. However, just because your Hot Wheels car has these red circles does not mean it is an original Redline. Consider taking your model car to an expert for evaluation.

When determining the value of a toy collectible, the condition of the item and whether it is still in its original packaging heavily contributes to its value. A vintage Hot Wheels car in prime condition could be more valuable than a model with visible damage such as scuffs or scratches.

Which Hot Wheels Are Worth the Most Money?

Here are the top eight rarest and most expensive Hot Wheels models out there. If you find one of these out in the wild, you may be in luck. Always remember to consult with an expert who can verify authenticity before spending money on an expensive collectible.

8. Ed Shaver Custom AMX — $4,000

Ira Gilford, who worked for Mattel in the late 60s, designed the Custom AMX Hot Wheels car. Its initial debut was in the “Mainline” Hot Wheels series in 1969. There are many colors available, but the most valuable one is the blue version made to promote the drag racer, Ed Shaver. At an auction, this Hot Wheels collectible can be sold for $4,000 or more.

7. Blue Rodger Dodger — $6,000

The blue version of the Rodger Dodger, based on the 1973 Dodge Charger, was made in 1974 in a limited batch of only seven cars. Other colors of the model were mass-produced for the “Flying Colors” Hot Wheels series and are therefore much less rare. The cars were sold to various American model collectors by a British collector named Bob Parker. At an auction, they can be worth $6,000 or more.

6. “Berry” Red Line Classic Cord — $6,600

The Hot Wheels version of the classic Cord 812 car was produced from 1971 to 1972 and came in many colors, including magenta, purple, gold and light blue. The hot pink color, named “berry,” is the rarest and most valuable, with one selling for $6,600 in an eBay auction.

5. Chrome Ferrari Enzo — $10,000

In 2010, Ferrari opened a new store in New York City and to commemorate the occasion one hundred of these Hot Wheels cars, tiny versions of a chrome Ferrari Enzo, were handed out to Ferrari employees. These 100 cars were the only ones ever produced and one of them recently sold after being listed on eBay for $10,000.

4. Python, “Cheetah Base” — $10,000

The Hot Wheels Python was based on the 1967 Ford Python. The original Ford cars had the word “Cheetah” embossed on the underside. However, during production, Mattel had not yet acquired the Cheetah license and could not print the word on the underside for most of the production. Because of this, the models with “Cheetah” on the bottom are often highly valued and can sell for as much as $7,000.

3. Redline Green Custom Charger Prototype — $20,000

A Redline Green Custom Charger Hot Wheels model was sold on eBay in October of 2021 after being listed for $20,000. This was a prototype model from the collection of Mattel designer Larry Wood and was therefore one-of-a-kind.

2. Tesla Cybertruck Signed by Elon Musk — $52,000

The Tesla Cybertruck was a limited Hot Wheels model released in 2022. During an appearance on SNL, Tesla CEO Elon Musk signed one of these models. The Hot Wheels car was later listed on eBay for $52,000 but has not sold yet. Whether it will find a buyer and cement itself as the second most expensive Hot Wheels car remains to be seen.

1. The Pink Rear-Loading Beach Bomb — $80,000 to $140,000

What is one of the rarest Hot Wheels cars? The Pink Rear-Loading Beach Bomb only has two models in existence, making it the rarest and most expensive. There were only two of these pink Hot Wheels collectibles produced because of a manufacturing error that caused them to be too skinny for Mattel’s latest racetrack accessory. There are a few prototype models in other colors but the two pink ones are the rarest and most expensive, both are appraised at $80,000 and $140,000.

Takeaways

Now that you know about the eight most expensive Hot Wheels and what makes them so expensive, consider whether investing in collectibles may be a good fit for you. The prices of alternative investments may move independently from other markets, making them a good way to diversify a portfolio.

Information is accurate as of Nov. 4, 2022.