Having reviewed the Tomica Nissan Transport which came with a Fairlady Z 300 ZX, I happened to be at Target and saw a Hot Wheels Transport featuring the Nissan Silvia (S13) and Sakura Sprinter.
As I have said many times, guaranteed JDM must buys for me are Nissan Skyline, Nissan Silvia, Nissan 180SX/SilEighty, Isuzu Elf and Forward, Hino Motors trucks, AE86 Trueno, Toyota HiAce, Honda Civic, GT-R and NSX, Toyota Supra, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Fuso, Subaru WRX and BRZ and Mazda RX-7.
While I do focus on Tomica, I also like what Mattel has done for both Hot Wheels and Matchbox, so I will be spotlighting those on my website as well.
And for my first Hot Wheels spotlight on this website, I will take a look at the “Hot Wheels Premium: Car Culture – Team Transport – Nissan Silvia (S13) and Sakura Sprinter”.
The Nissan Silvia is of course one of the most popular small sports cars produced by Nissan. The car was made not long after Nissan worked with BMW consultant Albrecht Graf von Goertz on a special project and that collaboration, although canceled, would lead to the Nissan Silvia in 1964.
Fastforward to 1988, the Nissan Silvia S13 was introduced in mid-1998 and was so popular, it won the 1988 Car of the Year in Japan and would be produced from 1988 to 1994. The car would also gain popularity as people would take S13 Silvia front end parts that were compatible with Nissan 180SX rear end and the SilEighty was born.
But for diecast metal minicar collectors, the Nissan Silvia has been a popular vehicle to own.
And I was quite thrilled to see Hot Wheels release it with the Sakura Sprinter, which is not a real vehicle, but a Hot Wheels original design based on a Japanese vehicle that looks similar to a Hino vehicle.
Now, let’s take a look at the Nissan Silvia. I’m going to be perfectly honest, the dark metallic paint is a bit thick for me. In a way, it looks different from other Silvia’s Hot Wheels released and having done my own personal modifications of models, the paint looks like one took metallic paint from the store and spraypainted it on the surface.
While the purple and tannish color helps bring out the vehicle from its dark metallic/glittery exterior, this is not as cool as the regular Hot Wheels 2020 Nissan Silvia (S13) HW Speed Graphics vehicle which had better rims and a much better paint job and this is a Hot Wheels Premium release.
I would imagine the Hot Wheels Premium to be much better than the Hot Wheels regular mainline release, but this may be an exception.
And as for the Sakura Sprinter, while I love the trailer, the front end of the vehicle received that same glittery paint that really doesn’t make it look that great. It’s a shame because the molding looks great for the truck, but this is one of those examples where one tries to overdo things when it comes to paint. Mattel could have stuck with white, black, blue or red and even a metallic finish that Hot Wheels uses for its vehicles, unlike the one they chosen for this set.
For the most part, the Hot Wheels Premium: Car Culture – Team Transport – Nissan Silvia (S13) and Sakura Sprinter is a cool set that had the potential of being some much, much better than the final product. The molding for the overall vehicle and its details are so good, but yet the bad selection of the black, thick glittery paint used for this set really is quite disappointing. Especially when the year 2000 mainline Silvia (S13) is much better looking than this Premium version. That’s not good at all.
In fact, I wish they would have used the LB Super Silhouette Nissan Silvia (S15) paint scheme of all black with gold trimming, which would have given it a wow factor.
As a set for parents to give to their children or the JDM collector or even those who want to do their own mods, it’s still worth getting, it’s a cool transport which can fit the Silvia inside of it. Kids will love it!
If anything, for me, what saddens me the most it’s more about lost potential of something that could have been much, much better. This is unfortunately, one of rare occasions where I felt Mattel/Hot Wheels chose the wrong paint for the Silvia and the truck itself and preventing it from being a wonderful set.
Sure, diecast metal JDM sports cars are popular around the world for Hot Wheels collectors. They are going to purchase this set regardless. And yet again, I must say that this is a cool set in terms of a transport, its functionality and it comes with a very popular Japanese sports car which I love and collect. But Hot Wheels usually does better paint jobs than this!
If you like the set, definitely go for it! But just know that Hot Wheels has released much better looking Nissan Silvia’s on the regular mainline release versus this Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture release.
