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HOT WHEELS GOES FULL SEND WITH RLC EXCLUSIVE PORSCHE 959 IN ICONIC GULF LIVERY

Published: 2025-04-12 17:05:33 Last Updated: 2025-04-12 17:17:42

If you’re into Porsche lore, motorsport history, or just appreciate miniature slices of rolling perfection, brace yourself - Hot Wheels has just unleashed an RLC Exclusive that ticks every single collector box. Meet the 1986 Porsche 959, clad in none other than the legendary Gulf Racing livery. It’s rare, it’s righteous, and it’s retro done right. This 1:64 scale stunner is the fourth RLC (Red Line Club) model to get the Gulf treatment, and it’s a proper homage to one of the most revered road-legal weapons to ever wear the Porsche crest. Cast in a pristine Gulf Blue over a ZAMAC body, the 959 features Real Riders 6-spoke mag wheels, a light smoke-tinted window setup, and an interior that screams motorsport with molded black plastics and contrasting orange seats. Flip it over, and you’ll find a full-metal, matte black chassis, and for those who like to geek out over details, there’s a rear-opening hood with visible engine bits peeking through. This thing is more than just a collectible - it’s a tribute to innovation, performance, and an unmistakable motorsport legacy. But to really appreciate what Hot Wheels has pulled off here, we need to rewind the tape and revisit the double-barreled history this model represents: the tech-slaying, rule-breaking legacy of the Porsche 959 and the blue-and-orange mythos of Gulf Racing.
Born from Porsche’s obsession with engineering domination, the 959 wasn’t just a product of its time - it defined its time. Initially developed for Group B rallying, the 959 was engineered to win races on Sundays and blow minds on Mondays. Porsche took the 911 silhouette and threw the rulebook in the shredder, creating a car that would later be known as the world’s first true hypercar. Under the skin, it was a sci-fi spec sheet brought to life: a 2.85-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six derived from the 956/962 race car, a 6-speed manual transmission, and Porsche’s first-ever use of an intelligent all-wheel-drive system. This thing had electronically adjustable suspension, tyre pressure monitors, and bodywork made from a blend of Kevlar, aluminium, and Nomex. In the mid-'80s, that was alien tech. Performance was measured as 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 317 km/h - figures that wouldn’t look out of place in a modern hypercar press kit. Only 337 road-legal units were built, making the 959 one of the rarest and most collectible Porsches ever. It was Porsche’s answer to a question no one else dared ask yet - and it’s never stopped being relevant.

There are liveries, and then there’s THIS livery. The light blue and orange combo of Gulf Racing isn’t just a paint job - it’s a motorsport institution. The Gulf Oil Corporation first dipped into racing sponsorship in the 1960s, but it was its partnership with John Wyer Automotive Engineering that cemented its legendary status. Wyer’s GT40s, draped in Gulf colours, stormed the World Sportscar Championship and Le Mans in the late ‘60s. When Porsche came knocking, the legend expanded. The Gulf-liveried Porsche 917s are the stuff of cinematic and motorsport legend—immortalised in Steve McQueen’s Le Mans and feared across the pit lanes of Europe. The 917K in Gulf trim? It’s arguably the most recognisable race car in history. That bright, bold livery has since graced everything from McLarens to Aston Martins, but when it’s worn by a Porsche, it just hits different. And that’s why this Hot Wheels 959 is so special. It brings together two titans of automotive culture - the tech-savvy madness of the 959 and the timeless swagger of Gulf Racing. The last time Hot Wheels dropped a Gulf-themed members-only release was back in 2022, and those didn’t hang around long. This new RLC Exclusive Porsche 959 is already making noise in the collector scene, and for good reason. This little 1:64 scale beauty celebrates a machine that was too advanced for its own good, dressed in colours that have been chasing podiums for more than half a century. It’s a desktop reminder of how racing shapes road cars, how design can become legend, and how Hot Wheels keeps proving they’re more than just toys. If you're lucky enough to snag one, this isn’t going into the kids’ toy bin - it’s going into a glass case, front and centre. It's the kind of model that feels less like a product and more like a celebration - of Porsche’s engineering audacity, of Gulf’s unbeatable racing legacy, and of Hot Wheels’ ability to pack decades of history into a car that fits in the palm of your hand. It’s rare. It’s rad. And it absolutely rips.

Take a look at the YouTube video that doesn't do anything to expand on the awesomeness of this new Porsche 959, instead it helps y'all understand why it was given the iconic Gulf livery that suits so many cars: UNSTOPPABLE SERIES - EPISODE 2: GULF MOTORSPORT LEGACY | Gulf Oil International

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Article Tags: News Not a toy SXdrv 1:64 Scale Model Porsche Porsche 959 Hot Wheels RLC Exclusive