Hot Wheels RLC Volkswagen Drag Bus #1

The Hot Wheels Volkswagen Drag Bus, catalog number HWF24, is a collector's model released in the RLC sELECTIONs series, a program in which Red Line Club members decide which model goes into production. This 1:64 scale reproduction is aimed at adult collectors—fans of classic Volkswagens and American drag racing culture—and differs from a standard toy car with its metal chassis, rubber tires, and Spectraflame paint.

The Volkswagen Drag Bus casting was designed by Phil Riehlman and debuted in 1996 in the First Editions series under number 14912. The casting depicts a Volkswagen T1 heavily modified for drag racing, featuring a silhouette body, a mid-mounted engine, and a large stinger exhaust. The designer placed his initials "PR" on the underside of the rear axle. At the time of its release, it was the heaviest casting Mattel had ever produced—and also one of the most popular. The base of the casting is labeled "VW Bus."

The 2024 HWF24 version is finished in Spectraflame Teal, a translucent turquoise applied directly over polished metal that is reserved for the brand's most exclusive releases. The deco is exceptionally elaborate, featuring cyan, dark teal, red, orange, and yellow "ghost flames" graphics on the sides and roof, detailed headlights and taillights, and a replicated interior with a red nitro bottle. The base is chrome-plated metal, the windows have a light smoke tint, and the interior is grey. The model rolls on RLRR5SP wheels—Real Riders with rubber tires and a characteristic red stripe, paying homage to the classic Redlines from the brand's early days. It is made in China.

The prototype is the first-generation Volkswagen Type 2, the Transporter T1, produced from the early 1950s until 1967. It was originally powered by a low-power, rear-mounted, air-cooled boxer engine, and its characteristic split windshield and "smiling" front end made it one of the most recognizable silhouettes in automotive history. This very contrast—utility van versus quarter-mile machine—is at the heart of the entire Drag Bus casting concept, one of the most iconic designs in Hot Wheels history.

For the collector, the HWF24 has dual value: it is a model chosen for production by the Red Line Club community itself, finished in Spectraflame Teal, with red-striped wheels and a replicated interior nitro bottle. RLC models are not sold at retail and consistently maintain high value on the secondary market.

FAQ

Does the Hot Wheels Volkswagen Drag Bus HWF24 have rubber tires?
Yes. It rolls on RLRR5SP wheels—Real Riders with rubber tires and a red stripe—and has a chrome-plated metal chassis.

What is an interesting fact about this casting?
Designer Phil Riehlman placed his initials "PR" on the bottom of the rear axle. At the time of its 1996 debut, it was also the heaviest casting ever produced by Mattel.

What does the sELECTIONs series mean?
It is a Red Line Club program in which club members decide which model will be put into production.