Volkswagen Drag Bus

Produced: 1996 – Present

Desginer: Phil Riehlman

Limited to 100.000
Year1996
SerieFirst Editions
Year1996
SerieEmployee Holiday Releases
Release: Coupon promo at All Tune & Lube oil Change stores
Limited to 25.000
Year1997
SerieJC Whitney Exclusive
Coupon promo at All Tune & Lube oil Change stores
First Volkswagen Drag Bus collaboration of Liberty Promotions working with Mattel.
Limited to 25.000
Year1997
SerieLiberty Promotions for
All Tune & Lube
The first Bus offering by Mattel via online exclusive
Limited to 10.000
Issued in a baggie, not a blister card.
Year1997
SerieInternet Promo #1
Former Mattel employee Luis Montes de Oca had a Cuban restaurant, Havana Mania, at Rendondo Beach.
Limited to 189
Year1997
SerieHavana Mania Bus
1st of a 4 bus set of military themed buses
Limited to 20.000
This issue was a tribute to the Navy flight team.
Year1998
SerieBlue Angels
2nd of a 4 bus set of military themed buses
Limited to 30.000
Tampos are based on the Air Force’s Thunderbirds flight team.
Year1998
SerieThunderbirds
Issued with no tampos
concept: use the software to print out your own decals.
Year1998
SerieCustom Car Designer
30TH Anniversary sticker on spoiler
Year1998
Serie30th Anniversary Set
The bus does not have the Jiffy Lube name on it, but there is a JL sticker on the blister card.
Limited to 25.000
This is a Liberty Promotions issue.
When you look at the black Hot Wheels emblem on the side of the bus, you will see “Hot Whee” and not Hot Wheels
Year1998
SerieJiffy Lube Exclusive
Special mail in promo for Van De kamps fish sticks
Limited to 50.000
Year1998
SerieVan de Kamp’s Promotion
The second VW Bus to be offered with Mattel software.
Issued in celebration of the 30th Anniversary.
This CD-ROM has collector resources and pictures.
Year1998
SerieInteractive Collectors Guide
3th of a 4 bus set of military themed buses
Limited to 30.000
Tampos are based on the Navy’s elite SEAL team.
Year1999
SerieNavy Seals
4th of a 4 bus set of military themed buses
Limited to 30.000
Year1999
SerieGolden Knights
The second online exclusive offered at Mattel’s website.
Limited to 7.000
Issued in a baggie, not on a card.
Year1999
SerieInternet Promo #2
The third Internet exclusive from Mattel.
Limited to 25.000
Issued in a baggie, not a card.
Year1999
SerieInternet Promo #3
Limited to 8.000
Year1999
SerieMalleco Tower
Cranes Promotion
Less than 100
Year2001
SerieLiberty Promotions
for Penske Auto Center
This was the 3rd and final issue in the Penske Bus Series.
Limited to 20.000
This is a Liberty Promotions issued-bus.
Year2001
SerieLiberty Promotions
for Penske Auto Center
Penske Bus Promotion.
Limited to 30.000
This is a Liberty Promotions issued-bus.
Year2001
SerieLiberty Promotions
for Penske Auto Center
Penske Bus Promotion.
Limited to 30.000
This is a Liberty Promotions issued-bus.
Year2001
SerieLiberty Promotions
for Penske Auto Center
Location: Irvine
1 of 4.000
Date: 11-14 October 2001
Year2001
Serie15th Convention
Location: Irvine
1 of 2.000
Date: 11-14 October 2001
Year2001
Serie15th Convention
Location: Reston, Virginia
1 of 10.000
Date: 11-14 April 2002
Year2002
SerieHot Wheels Nationals
1 of 10.000
Year2002
SerieHWC.com 1
Location: Reston, Virginia
Date: 11-14 April 2002
1 of 2.712
NO Convention Logo on roof + NO Dinner Sticker
Year2002
SerieHWC.com 1
Location: Reston, Virginia
Date: 11-14 April 2002
1 of 1.600
Convention Logo + NO Dinner Sticker
Year2002
SerieHWC.com 1
Location: Reston, Virginia
Date: 11-14 April 2002
1 of 400
Convention Logo + Dinner Sticker
Year2002
SerieHWC.com 1
Phillip Riehlman 10th Anniversary
1 of 10.000
This one was made available online.
Year2002
SerieHWC.com 1
Target exclusive in a 10-car set, with decorator tin.
Limited to 25.000
Year2002
SerieDecades
The Midwest Air Cooled Enthusiasts Club (Wisconsin) teamed up with Mattel to offer this VW Bus.
Limited to 25.000
Year2002
SerieThe Midwest Air Cooled
Enthusiasts Club
From the Preferred Series
These were originally meant for a retail release, but they were replaced by the microbus late in the planning and attainable only by mail-in offer.
Toys Я Us Mail-in Promo
Year2003
Serie100% Preferred
TRU Mail-in
From the Preferred Series
These were originally meant for a retail release, but they were replaced by the microbus late in the planning and attainable only by mail-in offer.
Toys Я Us Mail-in Promo
Year2003
Serie100% Preferred
TRU Mail-in
Sold at HotWheelsCollectors.com
1 of 12.500
Year2003
SerieHWC.com 2:
Flying Customs
Charity Bus
Location: Irvine Convention Charity Preview Party
1 of 1.000
Year2003
SerieFlying Customs
Sold after the Peterson Tour at the 17th Annual Collectors Convention on Sunday
1 of 1.300
Location: Irvine
Date: Sunday, 5 October 2003
Year2003
SeriePeterson Tour Bus
Hall Of Fame
Mail-in offer from General Mills only
Year2003
SerieGeneral Mills
Wheaties Promotion
Mail-in offer from General Mills only
Year2003
SerieGeneral Mills
Lucky Charms Promotion
1 of 10.500
Year2003
SerieHWC.com 3:
Real Riders
Real Riders Series 4
1 of 11.000
Year2005
SerieHWC.com 4
Available by mail-in only
Year2005
SerieTreasure Hunts
1 of 14.472
Year2005
SerieRLC Thank You
Issued with the Mongoose & Snake Drag Set by HWC.com. Features a red body with white roof, “Mongoose” racing deco and Goodyear rear/5-Spoke front tires.
Year2005
SerieMongoose & Snake Drag
Race Set
Issued with the Mongoose & Snake Drag Set by HWC.com. Features a red body with white roof, “Mongoose” racing deco and Goodyear rear/5-Spoke front tires.
Year2005
SerieMongoose & Snake Drag
Race Set
Year2006
SerieHWC.com 5
RLC Exclusive
1 of 13.775
Year2006
SerieRLC Thank You
Issued in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the VW Bus
Mystery Car 5 of 5
“Ten Year Anniversary” is printed in red on the Real Rider tires.
Year2006
SerieMystery Car
1 of 11.000
Year2007
SerieHWC.com 6
Location: Osaka, Japan
1 of 4.000
Date: 27 May 2007
Year2007
SerieJapan Custom Car Show
Sold in commemoration of the 2007 Osaka, Japan HWC show on May 27th, 2007.
1 of 4.000
Year2007
SerieJapan Custom Car Show
2-car set
1 of 10.000
Year2008
SerieHWC.com 7
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: 1-5 October 2008
Limited to 3.000
Year2008
Serie22nd Collectors
Convention
Issued in the 40 years of Hot Wheels Set
Year2008
Serie40 Years of Hot Wheels Set
Issued in the Since ’68s set – Top 40
Year2008
SerieSince ’68: Top 40
Issued in athe Since ’68s set – Top 40
Year2008
SerieSince ’68: Top 40
2 Castings:
1: NO Gold Dinner Sticker – 1 of 3.000
2: Gold Dinner Sticker
Year2008
SerieMexico
Commemorative
Edition
Year2008
SerieRedline Poker Club
Issued as 1 of 4 RLC club cars.
Came with a black metal button with the bus.
1 of 4.000
Year2009
SerieRLC Membership Car
Year2009
SerieRLC Membership Car
Year2009
SerieRLC Membership Car
Year2009
SerieRLC Membership Car
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: 30 September – 4 October 2009
1 of 3.000
Year2009
Serie23rd Annual Collectors
Convention
1 of 3.000
Year2009
SerieEmployee Holiday Release
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: 13-17 October 2010
1 of 3.500
Year2010
Serie24th Nationals Convention
1 of 5.000
Year2010
Serie3rd Annual Brazil
Convention
Was supposed to be sold at the Japan show in 2010, but never made it overseas. Sets were later sold as an RLC special for $39.99 in November, 2011.
1 of 1.500
Year2010
SerieJapan Car Show
Was supposed to be sold at the Japan show in 2010, but never made it overseas. Sets were later sold online.
1 of 500
Year2010
SerieJapan Car Show
For supported of the “Children With Aids” foundation
Charity Event
Limited to 3.000
Year2010
SerieDream Halloween
Issued in the Garage 30-Car set
Year2011
SerieHot Wheels Garage
Volkswagen
Wallmart Exclusive
Location: Los Angeles, California
1 of 3.500
Date: 5-9 October 2011
Year2011
SerieLA Convention
Location: Los Angeles, California
1 of 1.500
Date: 5-9 October 2011
Year2011
Serie25th Convention
Year2012
SerieLight Speeders
1 of 4.000
2 variations: with and without Dinner sticker
Year2012
SerieMexico Convention
Date: 3-7 October 2012
2 variations:
1: No Dinner Sticker- 1 of 2.000
2: Dinner Sticker – 1 of 500
Year2012
Serie26th Convention
Location: Yokohama, Japan
1 of 1.200
Facing Left
Date: 2 December 2012
Year2012
SerieJapan Collectors Convention
Location: Yokohama, Japan
1 of 300
Facing Right
Date: 2 December 2012
Year2012
SerieJapan Collectors Convention
Location: Indianapolis
1 of 3.000
Date: 10-14 April 2013
Year2013
Serie13th Nationals
1 of 4.000
2 “Versions”: light and darker Aqua Blue
Year2013
SerieHWC Gulf Racing
Year2013
SerieCollector Edition
Kmart Mail In
Location: Garden Drove, California
1 of 4.000
Date: 25-29 September 2013
Year2013
Serie27th Collectors Convention
Year2014
SerieColor Shifters
Year2015
SeriePop Culture
M&M Mars
1 of 7.500
Year2016
SerieHWC.com 14
Neo Classics
Location: Los Angeles
1 of 2.800
Date: 4-8 October 2017
Year2017
Serie31st Annual Collectors Convention
1 of 300
Year2017
SerieMEA Dinner Dance
Location: Lombard, Illinois
1 of 5.000
Date: 3-7 April 2019
Year2019
Serie19th Annual
Hot Wheels
Nationals Convention
1 of 10.000
Year2019
SerieRLC Exclusive
Year2020
SeriePop Culture
Rick and Morty
1 of 20.000
Year2021
SerieRLC Exclusive
Mooneyes
Year2021
SerieHot Wheels Boulevard
1 of 4.000
25 Years of Phil Rhielmann
Year2021
Serie21st Annual
Hot Wheels
Collectors Nationals