MINICARS: 2016 Hot Wheels X JNC Track Day Datsun 510 Bluebird

Of the 26 Hot Wheels cars that have worn the JNC inkan, the latest is one of our favorites. That’s because the Track Day series Datsun Bluebird 510 isn’t just a wicked diecast race car, but one whose livery was inspired by a wicked real-life race car. 

Those familiar with 510 lore will recognize it instantly — the warpaint of the 1970 Bluebird 1600 SSS that won the East African Safari Rally outright, the first Japanese car to do so. Because while North Americans were busy cheering on 510s as they ripped around road courses, the Japanese were watching 510s tear through 3,300 miles of unpaved Kenyan wilderness. If anything, it shows just how adept the 510 platform was.

Of course, the livery isn’t an exact carbon copy. The red is darker, for one, and the “Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.” text has been moved from the fender to the door for easier printing. But the black hood, black door roundel, and “JAPAN” on the roof are all homages to a 510 legend.

Clearly, though, this casting is pure track machine, not a rally car (that’ll be left to Matchbox in 2017). In the US, though, BRE replicas are everywhere, yet the Safari Rally livery is basically unknown. Why not combine the two? Equipped with steelies, we think the result looks bad-ass.

The Track Day 510 is a premium casting, meaning it comes with a metal chassis and “Real Rider” wheels with a separate tire. The packaging is unique to the model too, part of a larger Car Culture line that included the Japan Historics and Trucks sub-series. Others models in the Track Day sub-series include a Porsche 964 in Magnus Walker colors, a 1978 Porsche 935, a 1970 Chevelle, and a drag-spec Karmann Ghia. Look for them in stores this October.

For a complete list of JNC inkan’d Hot Wheels, see the list below.

• Nissan Skyline GT-X hakosuka (2011, white/green with red JNC inkan)
• Mazda RX-7 (2012, black/gold/red with gold JNC inkan)
• Mazda RX-7 (2012, blue/white/orange with orange JNC inkan)
• Mazda RX-7 (2012, white/gold/red with red JNC inkan) — Kroger’s/Ralph’s exclusive
• Toyota AE86 Corolla (2013, black/white with black JNC inkan)
• Toyota AE86 Corolla (2013, white/black with black JNC inkan)
• Toyota Celica 1970 (2013, red/black with black JNC inkan)
• Mazda RX-7 (2013, silver/blue with blue JNC inkan) — Treasure Hunt
• Datsun 620 (2014, orange with black JNC inkan)
• Datsun 620 (2014, blue with black JNC inkan) — KDay exclusive
• Datsun 620 (2014, red with black JNC inkan)
• Datsun 510 wagon (2014, red/white with blue JNC inkan)
• Datsun 510 wagon (2014, dark red/white with blue JNC inkan) — Super Treasure Hunt
• Datsun 240Z (2015, black/blue/gold with blue JNC inkan)
• Datsun 510 wagon (2015, yellow with dark blue JNC inkan)
• Datsun 240Z (2015, white/blue/red with blue JNC inkan)
• Datsun 510 wagon (2015, black with black JNC inkan) — KDay exclusive
• Nissan Fairlady Z (2016, blue/black with white JNC inkan)
• Nissan Skyline GT-X hakosuka (2016, white/blue with red JNC inkan) — Japan Historics premium
• Mazda RX-3 (2016, purple with red JNC inkan) — Japan Historics premium
• Datsun 510 wagon (2016, black with red JNC inkan) — Japan Historics premium
• Toyota 2000GT (2016, yellow/green with red JNC inkan) — Japan Historics premium
• Nissan Skyline GT-R kenmeri (2016, white/black with red JNC inkan) — Japan Historics premium
• Datsun 620 (2016, turquoise with gold JNC inkan) — Car Culture Trucks premium
• Nissan Fairlady 2000 (2017, yellow with maroon JNC inkan)
• Datsun Bluebird 510 (2016, maroon/black with red JNC inkan) — Car Culture Track Day premium