Hot Wheels Minis/micros
Hot Wheels Mini and Micro cars are part of Mattel's attempts to try to market and sell smaller scale models, typically around 1:100. Usually they were packaged in multi pack formats of some sort. The first ones came out in the late 80's and they were current castings made to smaller scale. They also made color changer versions of most of the castings (this was happening in the mainline as well at the same time). They produced some with working headlights (watch batteries were in the bases) and made some that were digital watches. The concept of the smaller cars died off after about two years, but not before they came out in several different forms, including color racers and color changers, micro racers, micro chroma racers, and others.
A second attempt was made in the late 90's, with five packs and playsets. Labeled as Atomix and Planet Micro, most of these were new styles not represented in the mainline and were almost all hot wheels designs, with very few true to life cars. They were mostly plastic and did not catch on as they were seen by most folks as similar to micromachines.. These can be found all the time on Ebay, with very little interest in them.
More recently, in 2008, they created individually packaged 1:87 cars that came in clear display boxes. These again were castings from the mainline, but the quality was much higher than the Atomix attempts, with all being cars redone from the mainline, and all being licensed vehicles. They also did not catch on and only ran for 3 or 4 series before being dropped. They were found discounted everywhere at a dollar and still languished, except for certain popular castings such as the VW Bug or the 56 Panel Truck. These are a particular favorite here at Little City Toy Cars!
There have also been smaller cars made for keychains and for christmas ornaments (Hallmark). There is not a lot of collector interest in those to this point and they can be found easily on Ebay.
The Hoard focuses on the 80's and early 90's Minis, along with the more recent boxed 1:87 cars. Any duplicates below are just that, duplicates. We have not really sold or traded any in the past and sometimes doubles creep in as you buy packaged multi pack cars. MANY of the cars below are liberated from packaging, as that is an easy way to get good condition cars.
A second attempt was made in the late 90's, with five packs and playsets. Labeled as Atomix and Planet Micro, most of these were new styles not represented in the mainline and were almost all hot wheels designs, with very few true to life cars. They were mostly plastic and did not catch on as they were seen by most folks as similar to micromachines.. These can be found all the time on Ebay, with very little interest in them.
More recently, in 2008, they created individually packaged 1:87 cars that came in clear display boxes. These again were castings from the mainline, but the quality was much higher than the Atomix attempts, with all being cars redone from the mainline, and all being licensed vehicles. They also did not catch on and only ran for 3 or 4 series before being dropped. They were found discounted everywhere at a dollar and still languished, except for certain popular castings such as the VW Bug or the 56 Panel Truck. These are a particular favorite here at Little City Toy Cars!
There have also been smaller cars made for keychains and for christmas ornaments (Hallmark). There is not a lot of collector interest in those to this point and they can be found easily on Ebay.
The Hoard focuses on the 80's and early 90's Minis, along with the more recent boxed 1:87 cars. Any duplicates below are just that, duplicates. We have not really sold or traded any in the past and sometimes doubles creep in as you buy packaged multi pack cars. MANY of the cars below are liberated from packaging, as that is an easy way to get good condition cars.
Watch Cars
So, these Minis came packaged as watches. There are MANY more colors, this is just the beginning of what's out there...
working headlight cars
These came in two packs. They have working headlights that turned on and off via a switch on the roof. There is a cover for a replaceable battery installed on the bottom of the car...
micro chroma racers
These cars came in four packs. They are finished in chrome paint with different shades.
micro color changers
As in the mainline, the micro mini cars came in color changer form. Also like the mainline, there are some color variations in the castings, so we are continuing to find new color ways!