I started a Super Treasure Hunt Ebay Insanity Price Index with 2007 (the inaugural year of the Super). Since the index was limited to that first year I felt it didn’t quite pop as well as previous indexes. These can be a bit of work to assemble, so I’m just going to skip 2008-2010 (there were a couple notables, several that underwhelmed, and a few that might even be forgotten today if not for the dollar sign on the card.) If you’re curious, that 2007 Enzo Super is still the one selling for more than the others.
Regardless, let’s skip ahead. In the 2007 installment, it appeared that Hot Wheels was struggling to determine a formula that would produce a blockbuster Super Treasure Hunt. As often as not, they ending up slapping a TH logo on some less than desirable castings. Starting in 2011, however, virtually every selection would drive collectors into a frenzy. Unlikely, an automotive brand name that left the American market over 30 years ago would be the catalyst.
2011 (Click on the Year to be taken to the full list via hwtreasure.com)
High
Datsun 240Z $54.99 + $5.00 = $59.99
Likely many of you weren’t even born when new Datsuns roamed the American roads. Yet, as a whole, collectors have proven to be unable to control themselves around them today. The Z is a certainly an icon. But even despite that, it has never reached the status of a Mustang or Camaro. Frankly it wasn’t even a Datsun, as it was built by Nissan and sold as the Fairlady in most markets. Within 10 years this car had left the market, and the Datsun brand itself was absorbed by Nissan around the point Mt St Helens erupted. However the lines remain classic and the simplicity of design (some models came from the factory still equipped with a manual choke!) have kept it popular. 50-60x the initial purchase price popular, in fact.
Low
‘63 T-Bird $4.49 + $3.99 = $8.48
There’s nothing overtly wrong with this T-Bird. It’s mostly due to an insanely crowded field this year (remember in 2011 Treasure Hunts went from 12 to 15 models annually). As this was really the first year of the out-of-the-park selections for Hunts, it’s difficult to pick the ‘63 T-Bird as a better model than the others. (a ‘57 Chevy? A Tucker? An entire slew of iconic American muscle cars? Oh, and not a single Qombee or 16 Angels in sight.)
2012
High
Ferrari 599xx $89.88 + $5.04 = $94.92
Oh hey, remember that red Ferrari Enzo that was a Super in 2007? You know the one that people are still paying over $100 for? Let’s do that again. Awesome snap by Diecast Photography here, too.
Low
‘09 Ford Focus RS $9.00 Free Shipping
I guess they had some leftover red Spectraflame from the Ferrari. The Focus appears awfully dumpy in contrast.
2013
High
‘67 Camaro $69.99 + $4.54 = $74.53
Before there were Supers, there were just plain old regular treasure Hunts. And before there were hunts, there were Camaros (this casting dates all the way back to 1983). The regular TH from 1995 holds the all-time price record, continuing to average $300+ 20 years later. This version isn’t doing too bad for itself either.
Low
‘71 Dodge Demon $3.27 + $2.99 = $6.26
Personally I’m not a fan of flames, but I actually think these are done well enough on the Demon to be kind of neat. I’ll take 11 of these over the Camaro.
2014
‘71 Datsun 510 Bluebird Wagon $69.99 (Free Shipping)
The eBay alias who sold this one goes by HotWheelsFun. $70 for a Hot Wheel strikes me as the kind of fun you have when you buy a some candy at the gas station and accidentally overdraft your account. However, this is a very strong casting and won quite a few best of’s (including our coveted Wall-D). I wish they would have done a bit more detailing, especially to the mirrors and lights, but this was unquestionably the Super of 2014.
That outline looks strangely familiar, too...
$3.49 + $3.50 = $6.99
Poor Twin Mill. This 1969 design has the depressing honor of auctioning for less than its shipping cost. The first STH to achieve this since the ‘37 Ford Super of 2009. In keeping with my contrarian nature, I’m going to point out that I like it.
Despite the occasional underachiever, Hot Wheels has managed to pull off a remarkable run of successes since the launch of the Super. Certainly since 2011 they have nailed almost every Super. I suspect they can live with a misfire every 5 years now.
2015 has had some strong entries, but I don’t see it having the break-out that 2012 did. Then again, there is another Ferrari lurking amongst the crowd....
The complete list for ‘15
Kool Kombi
Rrrrroadster
Toyota AE-86
Ferrari 599xx (black)
‘69 Mustang Boss 302
Custom ‘77 Dodge Van
Pass ‘N Gasser
Mastretta MXR
8 Crate
2008 Lancer Evolution
Toyota Supra
‘65 Mustang 2+2 Fastback
DMC DeLorean
‘70 Plymouth Superbird
Toyota Off-Road Truck
We are only about a month away from the nominees for our 2015 awards! Which models are you rooting for?
(Sources: ebay.com; hwtreasure.com; lamleydlm.blogspot.com; diecastphotography.com; hotwheels.wikia.com/wiki/)