zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Culture
/
This $120 Gucci Cadillac Seville Hot Wheels Is The Standard Of The Diecast World
This $120 Gucci Cadillac Seville Hot Wheels Is The Standard Of The Diecast World-July 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:12:14

Image for article titled This $120 Gucci Cadillac Seville Hot Wheels Is The Standard Of The Diecast World

In news I never expected to read, Hot Wheels and Gucci have announced their first ever collaboration — a 1:64-scale , customized with a gold-toned roof to celebrate the Italian fashion brand’s centennial. It comes in its own acrylic display case with a green embossed paper slip cover. As you’d expect of anything emblazoned with those interlocking Gs, it costs a little more than the typical Hot Wheels diecast you’d find at Target. Ten times more, as a matter of fact.

Yes, this limited-edition Seville is $120. For that price, you’d presume a few crystals and some gold leaf thrown in, as my colleague Owen put it. But no — this Seville is pretty much at the level of quality of one of Hot Wheels’ slightly more premium Car Culture products. The paint is misaligned in places, just like on the toy cars us commoners buy. Even the Gucci name isn’t centered quite right on the front license plate there.

Image for article titled This $120 Gucci Cadillac Seville Hot Wheels Is The Standard Of The Diecast World

At least you’re getting Hot Wheels’ “Real Riders” rubber tires, which come appropriately pinstriped. The attempt to approximate the Seville’s wire wheels looks decent, too. But I can’t shake the fact that this toy would cost $10 if it lost the Gucci logos.

Image for article titled This $120 Gucci Cadillac Seville Hot Wheels Is The Standard Of The Diecast World

On one hand, paying for the name is quite literally the crux of high fashion, so it makes sense. On the other, I’m not used to seeing brands like Gucci fraternize with toys and media from my childhood. It was weird , and it’s weird now.

Image for article titled This $120 Gucci Cadillac Seville Hot Wheels Is The Standard Of The Diecast World

Nevertheless, there is a historical reason for Gucci and Mattel to partner like this. In the late 1970s and early ’80s, General Motors indeed sold a Cadillac Seville “designed by Gucci.” The Gucci responsible was Dr. Aldo Gucci, one of the sons of the brand’s founder, Guccio Gucci. (I didn’t know that was the name of the dude who started Gucci until three minutes before writing this; if you didn’t either, .)

Anyway, Aldo Gucci took pride in the opportunity to design a Cadillac, as it was the kind of association a world-renowned fashion institution could still be proud of back in the ’70s. Gucci said of the Seville, per :

“I have strong feelings for this car, because it is fundamentally different from anything I’ve designed in my life,” the designer said over a glass of champagne in the driveway of his estate in Palm Beach. “This Cadillac is another stone in the necklace of our international success.”

The Gucci Seville had the brand’s logo strewn inside and out, and prominently displayed as a hood ornament. It featured special patterned pillows and a red-and-green striping motif, as well as a custom luggage set. For all this, you paid at least $19,900 — $7,000 more than a standard Seville. In 2021 money, that translates to a shade under $75,000. The $7,000 premium represents about $26,000 today.

These days, Mattel releases a seemingly every other week, so I can’t begrudge them for the Gucci cash grab too much. My local big-box stores are perpetually sold out of the good ones, which frustrates me to no end. Somehow, though, I don’t envision that happening with this Seville. If you’re tempted, you can order yours on October 18.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Culture
House Committee Investigating Massive Oshkosh Stock Purchase Just Before USPS Fleet Award Announcement
House Committee Investigating Massive Oshkosh Stock Purchase Just Before USPS Fleet Award Announcement
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently awarded Oshkosh Corp. a contract to supply the United States Postal Service with its next generation of vehicles—but some members of the House of Representatives are questioning that award after it was revealed that someone purchased a large share of stock in the company...
Jul 10, 2025
Around 450 Workers Got COVID-19 In The Bay Area Tesla Plant That Opened Against Rules
Around 450 Workers Got COVID-19 In The Bay Area Tesla Plant That Opened Against Rules
Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California remained opened for work in May of 2020 despite an Alameda County public health order that required non-essential businesses to close during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company eventually sued the county, which allowed the company to open. But it turns out...
Jul 10, 2025
The Honda City Nearly Suffered The Same Fate As The Honda Civic
The Honda City Nearly Suffered The Same Fate As The Honda Civic
I recently lamented the of the newest Civic because as the little Honda matured, it changed. Now, a similar thing has happened to the with its in Mexico. Unlike the Civic, though, the City has managed to hold on to some of its small car charm. Somehow even today,...
Jul 10, 2025
Alleged Dirtbag Andrew Cuomo Is Also Just The Blandest Boomer Car Guy
Alleged Dirtbag Andrew Cuomo Is Also Just The Blandest Boomer Car Guy
Rebecca Traister at New York magazine of the “toxic workplace” that is the office of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. I urge you to read it in full! For our purposes here, however, I will highlight one passage in particular. The passage comes about a quarter of the way...
Jul 10, 2025
Have You Had Ridiculously Long-Lasting Effects After Whiplash?
Have You Had Ridiculously Long-Lasting Effects After Whiplash?
So, here’s a slightly off-the-wall question of the day for you fine folks at Jalopnik. If you’ve suffered whiplash as a result of a motor vehicle accident, did those effects last way longer than they were supposed to? I’m finishing up my graduate degree this year, and my research...
Jul 10, 2025
What's Your Worst Driving Habit?
What's Your Worst Driving Habit?
It’s time for some self-reflection my good friends. It’s time to talk about your worst driving habits. I don’t know if I’d say this is a bad driving habit so much as it is a bad habit I do while I’m driving, but if I’m on a longer road...
Jul 10, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved