Product Description
2012 Hot Wheels NASA Mars Rover Curiosity #014 New Model 14/50 Y4712 NIP
Celebrate one of the greatest achievements in modern space exploration with the 2012 Hot Wheels Mars Rover Curiosity Y4712, Collector #014/247 and #14/50 from the 2012 New Models series.
This is the debut Hot Wheels release of NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover, recreated in white with gold and black equipment details, the NASA insignia on the front, a clear plastic base and six Open Hole 5-Spoke wheels. The casting also features a fully rotating camera mast, adding an interactive detail to this unusual Hot Wheels vehicle.
 
The timing makes this release especially collectible. NASA's real Curiosity launched on November 26, 2011 and landed inside Mars' Gale Crater on August 6, 2012. Mattel announced its Hot Wheels version around the historic landing and released it as part of the 2012 lineup.
Brand new and unopened in original Hot Wheels packaging.
 
Collector's Notes
This is much more than a fantasy Hot Wheels vehicle. It represents an actual NASA/JPL-Caltech spacecraft and was introduced in direct connection with the real Curiosity mission. The card description identifies its birthplace as Pasadena, California and NASA/JPL-Caltech as the designer.
The Hot Wheels casting itself is credited to Jun Imai, and Y4712 was its first release. Curiosity later returned to the Hot Wheels line in 2014, while the related Perseverance rover appeared in 2021.
That gives you several collector audiences: Hot Wheels, NASA, space exploration, Mars mission and science/technology collectors.
 
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