Of course, Hot Wheels also wants in on the Year of the Horse celebration. And it is doing so with a very special product for the Chinese market: the Hot Wheels Year of the Horse Limited Edition Gift Set, featuring Hot Wheels’ first limited-edition car designed specifically for the Chinese New Year. It is a Chinese zodiac-themed 1/64 scale Porsche 935 race car.
Frankly, we were surprised it wasn’t a Ferrari, because, you know, the Prancing Horse. But that is not to say the 935 has nothing to do with horses. This particular car, which has a modern version introduced in 2018 for track use and club sport events, is a Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race winner and is renowned for its exceptional speed and aerodynamic design, perfectly aligning with the Year of the Horse theme’s auspicious meaning of “leading the way.”
The miniature 935 is presented in a festive Chinese red paint job with black and gold wheels (oh, la la). On the sides of the car, you will find a gold-and-white galloping horse set against a thick-line pattern in a matching colorway. Meanwhile, the hood is decorated with Chinese characters for the Year of the Horse, along with additional liveries.
The highlight is not just the car; it is the entire package. The gift box features a custom display case with a printed backdrop, along with the blister-carded 1/64 Porsche 935. The printed backdrop, the packaging, and the blister card all feature iconic Chinese New Year elements such as lanterns, fireworks, and traditional Chinese architecture, giving the entire package a strong festive vibe.
This is reportedly the first limited-edition Chinese New Year car in the Hot Wheels Silver Label series, marking the beginning of the brand’s zodiac-themed models. The Hot Wheels Year of the Horse Limited Edition Gift Set is limited to 2,026 units worldwide. Each unit is numbered, with a XXXX of 2026 plaque prominently displayed on the exterior of the inner box.
This thing is elusive. We spent way too much time trying to learn more, but eventually found it being sold on the Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao for 598 yuan (about US$87). The Hot Wheels Year of the Horse Limited Edition Gift Set may be a China-exclusive, but not all hope is lost for collectors. A blister-card version is available in markets such as Malaysia for RM19.99 (about US$5.08).
Images: Hot Wheels [CH].
