Product Description
1998 Hot Wheels '40 Ford Powder Blue First Editions 20/40 #654 18674
Add a true late-1990s Hot Wheels First Edition to your collection with this 1998 Hot Wheels ’40 Ford, released as part of the 1998 First Editions Series.
 
This customized 1940 Ford pickup features a striking blue metallic finish with distinctive yellow and orange scallop-style graphics, giving the truck a classic hot-rod and drag-racing appearance.
The ’40 Ford casting was designed by Phil Riehlman and made its Hot Wheels debut in 1998. With its exposed performance styling, rear wing, aggressive stance, chrome components, and classic Ford pickup body, it became a long-running Hot Wheels casting.
 
Released as #20 of 40 in the 1998 First Editions series, Collector #654, and Mattel product number 18674, this original first-year release is an appealing piece for Ford collectors, vintage Hot Wheels collectors, hot-rod enthusiasts, and collectors building complete First Editions sets.
 
The car is New in package: See pictures for quality and variations. The card may have some shelf wear on corner and edge.
 
Collector’s Notes
This is the debut release of the Hot Wheels ’40 Ford casting.
Two blue versions of product #18674 are documented from 1998:
Metalflake Powder Blue
Metalflake Dark Blue
 
Both versions feature yellow and orange scallop graphics, blue-tinted windows, gray interior, chrome plastic base, and 5-spoke wheels.
The casting represents a heavily modified 1940 Ford pickup designed as a drag/hot-rod truck, rather than a stock factory 1940 Ford.
 
Phil Riehlman’s initials were also incorporated into the original casting’s base. The casting remained in production for many years and was eventually retooled in 2022, making this original 1998 version especially interesting to longtime collectors.
 
BIN: 67