Phantasy Feature: Hot Wheels 2014 Fangster Treasure Hunt

As a fantasy die-cast collector, it's always an overjoyous feeling when the fine folks at Hot Wheels decide to employ a classic unlicensed casting as a modern Treasure Hunt. In 2014, we were lucky enough to receive the superbly menacing Fangster! As part of the 2014 Treasure Hunt series, it has the special 'flame circle' logo stamped right on the rear. If you're like me, then you've heard more times than you care to recall how horrible this casting supposedly is from the strictly muscle car collector segment. Boy... those collectors couldn't be more wrong. Dripping from the metal teeth of the Fangster is a rich past, filled with fond memories from '80s collectors (both young and old). The Fangster made its debut in the superstar-filled 1986 Speed Demons series. It's only seen a handful of releases since then, making the Fangster a rare appearance in a mainline series... much less as a Treasure Hunt. For this release, I'm quite fond of the blazing orange eyes on the dark silvery-blue body. It makes the reptilian face really pop! As a child, the original Fangster was one of the first Hot Wheels I can recall purchasing with my own money. I'm glad the casting is still alive and well. If you happen to know whom designed the Fangster, leave a comment below. Thanks!

Phantasy Feature: Hot Wheels 2014 Dragon Blaster

We've seen the Dragon Blaster released nearly a dozen times since its inception in the 2010 Color Shifters Creatures line. It's an interesting casting and certainly appealing to fantasy die-cast collectors, but I feel the Dragon Blaster just never got it right.

Until now...

This is the Dragon Blaster we've been waiting for. Jet black with neon green wings and highlights... WOW! This beauty screams forth with a venomous howl! I just can't get over how dangerous and menacing this version of the Dragon Blaster is. By far, this is my favorite version. It's also one of the fantasy standouts from the 2014 'G' case. Make sure you pick one up before they're all gone. Fantasy-geared collectors are definitely going to snap the new Dragon Blaster up!

If you happen to know whom at Mattel designed the Dragon Blaster, leave a comment below. Thanks!

Phantasy Feature: Custom Hot Wheels 2013 Skull Crusher

Created for the 2010 Color Shifters Creatures line, the Hot Wheels Skull Crusher is the epitome of COOL. It has seen approximately half a dozen releases since then. I purchased this piece last year when it first hit the shelves as part of the 2013 line. Impressed by its design, I knew for certain that this would be a custom project. Though - it wasn't that difficult really. The original release had the skull portion of the vehicle in chrome. Mighty fine to marvel at, but I wanted to see how it would look with a traditional bone-colored tone. And here we are - my custom Skull Crusher! This is certainly one of my favorite modern castings, as well as one of my favorite customs. I'd like to know whom designed this casting. If you know, leave me a message in the comments section. Thanks!

News Wire: 2014 Hot Wheels Red Line Club sELECTIONs

Those of you readers whom are members of the Hot Wheels Red Line Club should take note. The 2014 sELECTIONs polls are up and ready to go. If you're a member, you're allowed to vote! There are eight vehicles to choose from, divided into four different head-to-head ballots. Your vote is important!

• Custom AMC AMX vs. Classic Cord
• 1931 Ford Woody vs. Classic Nomad
• '67 Pontiac Firebird 400 vs. 1968 Cougar
• Continental Mark III vs. DeLorean DMC-12

While all of the selection choices are based on real-life or licensed vehicles, they're still great castings. Though fantasy and unlicensed castings are the focus of this blog, our love for all die-cast vehicles will surely shine through as well.

Click here to trek over to the Hot Wheels Red Line Club forum (members only, of course).

On The Horizon: 2014 Hot Wheels 'G' Case

It's about time for the latest batch of Hot Wheels 2014 cars to show up at retail. The following fantasy / unlicensed vehicles should be appearing within the next few weeks.

• 24 Ours
• Vanster
• Circle Tracker
• Super Blitzen
• Dragon Blaster
• Classic TV Series Batmobile
• Altered Ego
• F1 Racer
• Cloud Cutter
• Time Tracker
• Tomb Up
• Ryura LX
• Rescue Duty (Regular Treasure Hunt)
• Wattzup

Which vehicles are you most excited to find? For me, it has to be the Dragon Blaster (best version yet in black and green), Cloud Cutter (part of the awesome Night Storm subset) and the Tomb Up (mummies rule).

Phantasy Feature: Hot Wheels 2014 Covelight

What better way to kick off the Phantasy Fleet blog than with the Covelight? From Hot Wheels 2014 series, the Covelight epitomizes everything that we love about fantasy cars: the ingenious design, the sleek curves, the unique wishbone windshield, the bold color contrast of the purple and pink. And to top it off with a set of glow in the dark wheels? Wow... the Covelight is quite simply superb.

Designed by Jun Imai for the 2005 AcceleRacers series, the Covelight has seen only a handful of releases since then. With the 2014 release, I believe they've crafted the finest Covelight yet. 

The Covelight has a plastic body on a metal chassis. While many collectors like to complain about plastic body vehicles, it seems to do this particular Covelight some justice. It makes a great track car in due part to the plastic body, as well as being fairly light and long in presentation. Plus, the solid purple plastic really makes this vehicle stand out.

Speaking of those glow in the dark wheels, this Covelight is part of the 2014 Night Storm subset. I'm certain other cars from this subset will be covered on Phantasy Fleet (I'm looking at you Hypertruck).