When Hot Wheels Go Cold
Some Hot Wheels gracefully blaze down that iconic orange track like something out of a movie. And then there are the ones that make you squint, tilt your head, and ask, "Wait, what's that?" Based on collector reviews, fan forums, and community rankings, we've compiled a list of Hot Wheels cars that earned more groans than glory. Of course, ugly is subjective—so taste might differ. How many of these do you actually like?
Angry Birds Hatch & Race Surprise | The Angry Birds Movie 2 by Angry Birds
1. Hot Seat
Released in 2004, Hot Seat put the driver exactly where no one asked—on a full porcelain throne. With a toilet tank seatback and plunger steering wheel, it pushed novelty too far. Although catalogs called it "flush with fun," collectors quickly erased it from memory.
CGR Garage - HOT SEAT Hot Wheels toilet car review by Horrible Octopus
2. Eevil Weevil
Debuting in the 1970s Speed Demons line, Eevil Weevil took insect inspiration to bizarre extremes. Having antennae and a beetle-shaped shell, it looked ready to scurry off the track. Even its chrome couldn't distract from the creep factor. One-word description? Unsettling.
Hot Wheels Redline 1971 VW Beetle Evil Weevil Restoration #042 by PB’s Retro Restorations
3. Oscar Mayer Wienermobile
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile features a sausage-shaped body on awkward wheels, which turns a legendary promo ride into a die-cast. While undeniably iconic, it leans more gimmick than collectible. Often dismissed as a joke car, it fully embraces the label.
4. Mad Manga
Have you ever wondered what happens when anime styling meets extreme tuning? Mad Manga delivers the answer in spoilers and chaos. Based on Japanese Bosozoku culture, its 2012 debut was overwhelmed with angles and excess. Accurate inspiration, sure. But the sleek design got lost in translation.
UNBOXING HOTWHEELS MAD MANGA by Anes Tokusatsu
5. Jetsons Capsule Car
Aimed at capturing George Jetson's futuristic flair, this 2012 licensed casting fell flat. Instead of hovering, it rolled awkwardly on stubby plastic wheels. The sleek saucer-turned bumper car confused more than it charmed. What soared on TV crashed hard in the die-cast.
Hot Wheels : "The Jetsons" Capsule Car : Retro Entertainment "B" Case by WheelsNThangs
6. Unobtainium 1
Excess defined this futuristic concept, first issued in 2005. Cast in metallic chrome with sweeping panels and awkward proportions, Unobtainium 1 looked more like a melted art project than a car. It quickly became a peg-warmer, ignored by buyers and ridiculed in forum reviews.
Hot Wheels Unobtainium 1| 2007 Gold Rides Flipn Diecast - The Puffer Fish
7. Angry Birds Cars
Despite initial fan interest, these game-inspired models never took flight with collectors. Featuring angry-faced birds perched on bulky, rounded bases, they looked more like fast-food prizes than Hot Wheels vehicles. The 2013 release quickly landed in bargain bins, not nests, because it lacks detail and charm.
Angry Birds Hatch & Race Surprise | The Angry Birds Movie 2 by Angry Birds
8. 5 Alarm
What happens when a fire truck hits the gym and joins a drag race? You get 5 Alarm. Launched in 2010, it features exaggerated pipes and a non-functional ladder. The design mocks utility, prioritizing flair over form. Even kids questioned its logic on the track.
HW 5 Alarm Big Rig - Hot Wheels Monster Trucks! By xAZAZELx13
9. Prototype H-24
Often ranked among the "most forgettable fantasy cars" of the decade, Prototype H-24 did little to stand out. Released in 2013 as part of the HW Racing series, it featured a bubble canopy and generic design cues borrowed from faster, better-loved castings.
Hotwheels prototype h-24. Review by New Hampshire diecast cars
10. 16 Angels
Have you ever pulled a Super Treasure Hunt and felt disappointed? That was 16 Angels in 2008. Despite its elite status, the plastic build, weak detailing, and ho-hum paint job left many unimpressed. Among Super Treasure Hunts, it ranks low for flair and even lower for fanfare.
16 Angels Track Test & Review - Hot Wheels by Peak Time Racing
11. La Fasta
This 2014 release tries to blend futuristic flair with sports car aggression but stumbles in execution. La Fasta's stretched roofline and odd window placement throw off balance completely. Metallic purple editions only highlight the awkward curves. It's sleek in concept but clunky in reality.
Diecast Model Car 0595: Hot Wheels La Fasta. by One model car a day
12. Rigor Motor
Nothing says "let's race" like a coffin on wheels. First appearing in 1994, Rigor Motor features gothic detailing and a skeletal driver. Halloween-themed or not, it's hardly graceful. As a result, many collectors dismiss it entirely as more hearse than Hot Wheels.
DIB Frightening Custom Hot Wheels Rigor Motor by Jim Silva (Silva Diecast Customs)
13. Buzzerk
Debuting in 2004, Buzzerk brought insect energy to the die-cast world with wild results. Its compound-eye windshield and spindly chassis created a look more cartoon than a car. While the concept was bold, the execution left collectors bewildered. It's fast, flashy, and visually jarring.
Color Changing Hot Wheels Buzzerk 2011 by Hot Wheels Nation
14. Purrfect Speed
Shaped like a cat and styled like a cartoon, Purrfect Speed pounced onto shelves in 2015. Thanks to its molded whiskers and pointed ears, it leans hard into novelty. It’s fun for kids, but in serious collections, it's the odd feline out.
Hot Wheels Purrfect Speed (New for 2016! - Street Beasts) by Julian's HW
15. Rocket Oil Special
Although designed to echo vintage dragsters, its massive turbine engine and uneven stance made it feel more like a parody than a tribute. As a result, collectors dismissed the 2004 casting quickly. The name hinted at horsepower, but the styling never fired up.
Hotwheels Rocket Oil Special "HW Art Cars" New Casting 2021 by SK Customs
16. HW Pursuit
Police cars should command attention, but HW Pursuit, introduced in 2008, did the opposite. It lacked a presence on every level, with a flat black design, bland wheels, and no defining features. This made even bargain bins ignore it. Stealthy? It's more like forgettable by design.
HW Pursuit Treasure Hunt car from HW Rescue Series!! by The Hot Wheels Garage
17. Audacious
Released in 2002, Audacious aimed for tuner culture flair but fumbled the delivery. The hood scoop looks glued on, the body lines lack purpose, and the rear wing floats awkwardly. For a name that implies confidence, this casting ended up as background noise on collectors' shelves.
Audacious™ - Hot Wheels - HW Art Cars 2021 (GRY36 Red) by Tudu - Hot Wheels Cars
18. So Plowed Pushes
Combining a snow plow blade with a civilian sedan, So Plowed, launched in 2001, answers a question nobody needs to answer. However, it feels entirely incoherent as a mix of winter utility and tuner fantasy. With loud graphics and mismatched wheels, even snow-themed sets left it out in the cold.
388. So Plowed 1/64 - City - Hot Wheels by Carsberg
19. Torque Twister
The 2011 Fantasy Racer features twisted body panels and mismatched wheel sizing that throws off its balance. It was marketed as part of the HW Racing series and aimed for speed but lacked visual cohesion. On the track or the shelf, it never found its lane.
Hot Wheels Torque Twister 1:64 by Peak Time Racing
20. Fast FeLion
For collectors, this lion rarely earns pride of place. Released in 2010, Fast FeLion tried to blend feline features with racing flair but got tangled in the concept. It looks more mascot than muscle, with a snarling face and mismatched stripes.
