Fun for a buck

2009 New Models '70 Buick GSX

As a Buick lover, it pains me to have to explain this, but here goes: Buicks have a bad rap for being the choice barge of “blue hairs,” but several times through the years, Buick has had the “baddest” beasts on the road, bar none. The baddest Buick of the bad has to be the 1970 Stage 1 GSX models. These cars visually leapt off dealership lots filled with green Electras and brown LeSabres, thanks to coats of Apollo White or Saturn Yellow paint and menacing black stripes. The GSX models were based on the Gran Sport (GS) models, but the “X” added exponential aggression with a GSX-only package that included chin and deck lid spoilers, the aforementioned stripes, a hood tach, GSX ornamentation and other details.

Now that those unannointed in the beauty of Buick have been brought up to speed, let me get down to business: The landmark Buick GSX muscle car has been scaled down from street-size to pocket-size, courtesy of Hot Wheels. For only a buck, GSX dreamers can pocket an authentic replica fo the 1970 Buick GSX, complete with correct Saturn Yellow paint on an all-metal body decked out in black stripes with a hood tach and rear spoiler. The chrome plastic chassis houses the chin spoiler and accurately replicated 1970-only front and rear bumpers and grille, which also carries a set of Hot Wheels five-spoke wheels to keep the car rolling down the sidewalk.

This isn’t the only 1970 Buick GSX to appear in scaled-down die-cast form, but it certainly has the best Buick bang for the buck (literally). Watch for it at your favorite Hot Wheels-carrying retailer or out on the swap field this summer.

Also, if you’re into Buick GSX models, check out the 2009 BPG Nationals at National Trails Raceway outside of Columbus Ohio Saturday August 1. Organizers are hoping to get 50 real GSX models from 1970 and up in one place, regardless of condition. Read more about it here.

Custom '53 Chevy Treasure Hunt

One of the coolest customs to come from the pen of Larry Wood and out of the Hot Wheels shop is the Custom ’53 Chevy. This cruiser sports a chopped Bel Air/Two-Ten Sport Coupe body dressed with frenched headlamps, ’55 Chevy tail lamps, a toothy first-gen ‘Vette grille and a cooler than cool clear louvered hood that goes the next step beyond those found on some early Rocket 88s and ’54 Fords.

As cool as this Hot Wheels casting is, it was only a matter of time before the Chevy made it to coveted Treasure Hunt duty, and it appears as car number 7 of the twelve annually produced for the line. Pictured here is the more common “regular” Treasure Hunt with metallic purple paint, white flames, chrome interior and five-spoke wheels. The “$uper” Treasure Hunt is identical, with the exception of whitewall Real Riders which add exponential coolness.

It’ll take lots of circling around your local toy department to find one of these hanging in the toy aisle for a dollar, but it’s worth it. If you’re a busy person, it’s also worth buying on the secondary market, even if you have to pay $10 or more.