Phantasy Feature: Hot Wheels Easter 2014 Nash Metropolitan Metrorail

Pictured above is the latest Nash Metropolitan 'Metrorail'. We are lucky enough to have it released as part of the Hot Wheels Easter 2014 series! In my opinion, this year's Easter series is one of the best released in recent years, with eight fantastic cars that are all worthy of spotlight. I had a hard choice in selecting which casting I wanted to cover, but finally settled on this stylish Metrorail. Originally released in 2000, the Metrorail (or Nash Metropolitan, the names are used almost interchangeably) has seen many releases in multiple lines since then. It's a great little casting with a lot of character, to which you can thank designer Mike Nuttall for! Of note on this latest release is the highly detailed tampo on the car itself. Check out that bunny face that stretches from the front, all the way over the hood. How neat-o is that?! The Metrorail is one of those odd castings that blurs the boundary between fantasy and licensed castings. In all honesty, it is a little bit of both. Either way, it's right at home here at the Phantasy Fleet blog. Be on the lookout for this Metrorail at your local Wal-Mart during the Easter holiday season.

Phantasy Feature: Hot Wheels 2014 First Edition Screamliner

We've been waiting anxiously for the Screamliner to hit the pegs. And now... we finally have it. All I can say is WOW. What a magnificent casting the Screamliner is. Incorporating sleak, sexy curves and stance so low that you can barely see the wheels, the Screamliner is my favorite new release of the 2014 series (so far). Designed by the legendary Larry Wood, the Screamliner is a die-cast collector's dream. The top is metal, while the base and chrome trim are plastic. There's a million different custom paint schemes I can't wait to apply to the Screamliner -- I've bought a dozen of them in anticipation of my customization plans. The Screamliner is an obvious ode the 1925 Rolls Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Aerodynamic Coupe (seen below). If you haven't already added the Screamliner to your collection, what are you waiting for?! Hopefully, we'll see this released in a few variant colorways before the end of the 2014 series (and perhaps as an HWC premium if we're lucky).

1925 Rolls Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Aerodynamic Coupe

Phantasy Feature: Hot Wheels 2014 First Edition Ryura LX

The brand new Ryura LX is a marvelous vehicle. This is a completely original design by Ryu Asada (hence the name) made to mirror the modern luxury sedans of our time. With a metalflake red paint job and a sleek, curvy body, the Ryura LX looks almost like a real car! I'm quite impressed with this design. The low squattiness of the body gives the impression of speed and masterful handling. On both sides is a white pinstripe with the word LIMO in tiny letters - you'll almost miss it if you don't look close enough. This might imply that the Ryura LX is a high-end town car for the regal jet-setter elite. Either way, this is a fantastic new edition that deserves a home in your fantasy / unlicensed collection!

On The Horizon: 2014 Hot Wheels 'J' Case

We've just seen the release of the 2014 Hot Wheels 'H' Case. Now, here comes the 'J' Case! This case is chock full of some superb fantasy and unlicensed castings. Be sure to look for the following.

• Repo Duty
• Back Slider
• Ice Cream Truck
• Avant Garde
• Super Van
• So Plowed
• Turbo Turret
• Snoopy (this one will be HARD to find for sure)
• Fast 4WD
• Twinduction (regular Treasure Hunt)
• Nitro Doorslammer
• Rig Storm
• Nerve Hammer
• Bone Shaker

As stated above, the Snoopy casting is sure to be very popular and will likely be gobbled up entirely (just like the Homer from a few cases back). I'm personally excited for the new Back Slider (it's purple) and the ingenious So Plowed. The Rig Storm is also a potential gem, but I won't know until I can find it. Good luck!

Phantasy Feature: Hot Wheels 2006 First Edition Unobtanium I

From the 2006 Hot Wheels series, we have here the Unobtanium I. This is the First Edition of this casting, of which there were two colors (purple or black). The Unobtanium I is a very modern-looking sedan designed by Sei Cho. Combining styling elements of the then current Chrysler 300 and Cadillac CTS models, the Unobtanium I oozes that luxurious cool factor. To highlight the modern flair of the casting, it comes on large silver BLING wheels. The top is plastic and the bottom is metal. Surprisingly, the Unobtanium I has only seen two other releases -  2007 and 2010. This is a fantastic unlicensed casting that would do well to receive another release.

On The Horizon: 2014 Hot Wheels 'H' Case

It's time for another batch of fresh Hot Wheels to roll off the assembly line and into your local department store. Be on the lookout for the following fantasy/unlicensed vehicles in the 2014 'H' Case.

• Star Trek USS Vengeance
• Twin Mill (both standard and Super Treasure Hunt)
• Stockar (regular Treasure Hunt)
• Screamliner
• Sharkruiser
• Quick N' Sik
• Formul8r
• Fly-By
• Fig Rig
• Carbonator
• Bone Shaker
• Baja Truck

Personally, I'm excited for the Carbonator in the new purple and neon green deco, as well as the Twin Mill Super Treasure Hunt. It's also nice to see the Fig Rig (one of my favorite new 2013 castings) make an appearance in the Hot Wheels Race Team subset. Though, the real gem in this case assortment is certainly the Screamliner. This is a new design from the masterful Larry Wood and will definitely be featured here in an upcoming article.