Final Run Series

Final Run was a annual commemorative series released by Hot Wheels as part of their annual assortments from 1999 to 2005, with the exception of 2000. The series featured a number of models which were slated to be retired by Mattel, never to be released again. As part of Mattel's vow to never release these castings again, their tools were cut in half and destroyed as a result, with these last releases receiving special paintjobs and logos commemorating their retirement from the series. Earlier iterations of castings featured in this series were given special wheels, either Real Riders or Pro Circuit multi-piece wheels, but this was dropped in 2003. A number of highly-popular castings ended up in this series, as well as other less-popular ones.

Category Final Run Series

1999[]

The castings in the series this year were packaged in an exterior ornamental sleeve packaging. The sleeves featured circular tape on the side reading "Not Returnable If Opened"; the cards themselves are held in a cardboard backing with cutouts for the J-hook. The back of each ornamental sleeve packaging had a few factoids about each retiring casting.

Toy #	Model Name	Series	Series #
21339	Range Rover	1999 Final Run	01/12
21340	Mercedes 380 SEL	1999 Final Run	02/12
21341	Kenworth T600A	1999 Final Run	03/12
21342	Street Beast	1999 Final Run	04/12
21343	Street Roader	1999 Final Run	05/12
21344	Stutz Blackhawk	1999 Final Run	06/12
21345	Pontiac Salsa	1999 Final Run	07/12
21346	'93 Camaro	1999 Final Run	08/12
21349	Mercedes 540K	1999 Final Run	09/12
21348	Custom Corvette	1999 Final Run	10/12
21347	Tank Truck	1999 Final Run	11/12
21350	Alien	1999 Final Run	12/12

2001[]

In 2001, the cardboard sleeve packaging was ditched in favor of a glued plastic protector; the protector needs to be cut in order to free the car from the packaging.

Toy #	Col. #	Model Name	Series
26992	001	Mercedes-Benz Unimog	2001 Final Run
26993	002	'55 Chevy	2001 Final Run
26994	003	Gulch Stepper	2001 Final Run
26995	004	Ramp Truck	2001 Final Run
26996	005	Ultralite	2001 Final Run
26997	006	Porsche 911	2001 Final Run
26998	007	Hot Wheels 500	2001 Final Run
26999	008	Garbage Truck	2001 Final Run
27000	009	Radar Ranger	2001 Final Run
27001	010	BMW 850i	2001 Final Run
27002	011	XT-3	2001 Final Run
27003	012	Skullrider	2001 Final Run

2002[]

For unknown reasons, only three 2002 Final Run vehicles were produced. The other nine intended to be released were the Ford Bronco, Ambulance, Bywayman, Rig Wrecker, Lamborghini Diablo, Duesenberg Model J 1931, Mustang GT 1996, Dodge Charger Daytona 1970 and Twang Thang. These were pushed back to 2003, with three additional models.

Toy #	Col. #	Model Name	Series
55811	001	Porsche 928	2002 Final Run
55815	005	Spin Out	2002 Final Run
55816	006	Firebird Funny Car	2002 Final Run

2003[]

The plastic protector was ditched, with the cars only being sold on normal cards. Any Real Rider or special Pro Circuit wheels were also ditched for simple plastic wheels, Some had 2002 Final Run Tampo Available

Toy #	Col. #	Model Name	Series	Series #
57122	195	Rig Wrecker	2003 Final Run	01/12
57131	196	Ambulance	2003 Final Run	02/12
57141	197	Mustang GT 1996	2003 Final Run	03/12
57144	198	Dodge Charger Daytona 1969	2003 Final Run	04/12
57152	199	Twang Thang	2003 Final Run	05/12
57159	200	Ford Bronco	2003 Final Run	06/12
57166	201	Bywayman	2003 Final Run	07/12
57173	202	Duesenberg Model J 1931	2003 Final Run	08/12
57180	203	Lamborghini Diablo	2003 Final Run	09/12
57187	204	Porsche 911 Carrera	2003 Final Run	10/12
57188	205	Auburn 852	2003 Final Run	11/12
57189	206	GM Lean Machine	2003 Final Run	12/12

2004[]

The series was reduced from twelve to five cars. No changes were made to packaging.

Toy #	Col. #	Model Name	Series	Series #
B3854	133	Hot Seat	2004 Final Run Series	1/5
B3855	134	Ferrari 308	2004 Final Run Series	2/5
B3856	135	Semi-Fast	2004 Final Run Series	3/5
B3857	136	Cat-A-Pult	2004 Final Run Series	4/5
B3858	137	Sonic Special	2004 Final Run Series	5/5

2005[]

This was the final year of the series before it went on hiatus. Tropicool was originally intended to be one of the five Final Run cars in this series; it was subsequently replaced by Treadator for unknown reasons.

Toy #	Col. #	Model Name	Series	Series #
G6798	071	Thomassima III	2005 Final Run	1/5
G6799	072	Treadator	2005 Final Run	2/5
G6800	073	Buick Wildcat	2005 Final Run	3/5
G6801	074	Hydrojet	2005 Final Run	4/5
G6802	075	Big Chill	2005 Final Run	5/5