This $11 toy car is now selling for over $2,000! Here's why...
2026-02-01 18:00:00
Back in December 2023, OZ Wheels quietly released their very first 1:64 scale model cars. Nothing flashy. No big marketing push. Just an officially licensed run of six Holden Sandman panel vans, released alongside six Holden HQ sedans.
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At the time, they seemed like just another diecast on the shelf. Grab one, crack the blister and stick it on the desk. $11.95 well spent.
Then something unexpected happened. They sold out fast. Really fast. Demand went through the roof, and stores couldn’t keep them on the pegs.
This was Series One, the very first production run OZ Wheels would ever make. In the collecting world, first releases matter because the ones that sell out hard early… are usually the ones everyone’s chasing later.
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Enter Sandman
Every panel van in Series One represents a Sandman, an Aussie icon that still hits a nerve with anyone who grew up in the 70s and 80s. The lineup included:
- 2 x HQ Sandman panel vans (1971–1974)
- 2 x HJ Sandman panel vans (1974–1976)
- 2 x HX Sandman panel vans (1976–1977)
Each model was released in standard and custom versions, mirroring the way these vans were built, driven, and modified back in the day.
But here’s where things get interesting.
The Chase
Hidden inside the production runs were ultra-limited chase variants the kind of thing serious collectors live for.
The Chase version is a raw steel Mad Max HJ panel van. Only 654 of these chase variants were made.
The Super Chase “Holy Grail”
Super Chase version is a Mad Max inspired Chrome HJ Sandman Panel. Only 96 were ever made. That’s it. No reruns. No extras.
This thing is pure collector bait:
- Super chrome metallic finish
- Painted surfboard bags
- Detailed tyres
- Custom side mural
It’s loud, nostalgic, and instantly recognisable.
Why Prices Are Still Climbing
This isn’t just hype. A few key factors are driving the value:
- It’s Series One the first OZ Wheels release ever
- Holden nostalgia is still incredibly strong
- OZ Wheels’ popularity continues to grow
- Ultra-low production numbers
- Strong crossover appeal with Mad Max fans
For collectors who missed out at retail, there’s only one way to get one now and that’s paying whatever the current owner is willing to let it go for.
And history tells us one thing: first releases + low numbers + strong nostalgia usually don’t get cheaper.
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Final Thoughts
What started as an $11.95 diecast has become a legitimate collector asset almost overnight.
If you were lucky enough to grab one early... well played!
If not, this might be one of those moments you’ll look back on and say, “I should’ve bought one when I had the chance.”
Because in the world of diecast collecting, the first ones always matter most.
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