Mattel Hot Wheels Track Fleet Transformers Optimus Prime Mattel, 2024
Day #2,799: December 25, 2024
Track Fleet Transformers Optimus Prime Track Fleet - The Trucks
Hot Wheels 2024 Track Fleet 9/10 Basic Cars
Item No.: No. JFF66 Manufacturer:Mattel Includes:n/a Action Feature:n/a Retail:$5.99-$7.99 Availability: ca. September 2024 Other: The one that doesn't transform
Too big for a basic Hot Wheels case, Optimus Prime is the kind of thing you expect and indeed hope Mattel keeps in circulation for a long time. This version takes the basic 1984 truck vehicle mode, and translates it to the ever-popular 1:64 scale-ish toy car format. In this pack you get a die-cast metal cab (basically, a typical $1.25 car) and a big container with more wheels hanging off the back - that probably doesn't make up the balance of the price, but it's cool, and I assume "you'll pay more" is some riff on the ever-popular "rule of cool."
The basic Hot Wheels car has been a cheap $1-$1.25 for decades, so sometimes a "deluxe" model comes out for a few bucks more and you have to ask if it's worth it. Jada put out similar toys - both bigger and smaller - at prices that are also bigger and smaller. I'd say toy fanatics or Optimus completists are going to be wanting this one for a very long time, especially if the secondary market is any indicator.
As the name implies, you can put this guy on track. That's nothing new, Hasbro made a line of die-cast vehicles over 10 years ago and 20 years ago we got a Kay-Bee exclusive Spy Changers Optimus Prime that's pretty dang cool - but it was G2, and the kids demand G1, because the graying middle-aged cranks demand G1. That's the circle of life.
Not based on any particular specific truck - or at least, not specific enough to require an additional license - Optimus Prime has a lot of the details of the original toy. The trailer has the textures on the sides (and more on top), the sides have a recreation of that sticker, and you can even see the door - but on this one, it won't open. The cab is made of metal with chrome pipes and features the tiny holes that would be where you put fists if it had any, and it doesn't here. The windows are clear, and both sides of the cab have the Autobot "stickers" that would have been on the toy's shoulders.
Mattel rarely let me down when it comes to the Wheels toys - there's an expected look and feel, and this toy nails it. The wheels don't quite match a typical Optimus Prime toy, and they look unusual even for a typical Hot Wheels toy, but they're cool. It's distinctive, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a version 1.5 or 2.0 with revised "toy" wheels or maybe a black G2 trailer. Licenses aren't free, so it would stand to reason Mattel will repaint this one a couple of times. It's also worth noting Mattel made a similarly sized fully-transforming Optimus cab with a real robot mode for around $80. I skipped it for this one, because price matters.
At this point I think I can say that there will probably never be an Optimus Prime toy to end all Optimus Prime toys - I assumed Missing Link Optimus Prime [FOTD #2,700] would be it, but while cool it isn't fun. For pure fun, Legacy United G1 Optimus Prime [FOTD #2,786] gets the job done - but it can't roll well. I assume I need to resign myself to probably having a few of these, and there are two more coming next year that looks pretty great - but one is a giant, and the other is small. We'll see how that goes - but at $6, a little metal truck for your desk ain't nothing. It's a great impulse purchase on your lunch break to keep on your desk, and I bet kids might have fun with it because it's a very lovely little toy truck. I hope to see more of these - we know Ultra Magnus is coming, after all. I can't wait for Hot Rod.
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