Found It! The "Golden" Promo Lightning McQueen Hits France!

If you've been on the lookout for this beautiful metallic release, I have some good news for my fellow collectors here in France: it is finally starting to hit the shelves at King Jouet stores.

Before we get to the car itself, let's talk about how these are shipping. Mattel released a special assortment box dedicated specifically to this model, which contains exactly 8 pieces.

Here are the shipping boxes fresh off the pallet:

For the variant hunters and box-code enthusiasts out there, here is the official breakdown of the assortment details found on the carton:

• Reference: HW MT 1:64 GOLDEN PROMO (The "HW" stands for Hot Wheels, which makes sense given Mattel's die-cast distribution).

• Code: JJB12-9796

• Origin: Made in Thailand

• Barcode: 1 01 94735 33869 3

Next up, let's take a look at the packaging. The blister pack looks fantastic and prominently features the Cars 20th Anniversary logo (2006–2026) in the top left corner.

Here is a closer look at the back of the card:

And finally, the best part—the model freed from its packaging! The gold finish is super clean, complemented nicely by the classic red lightning bolt and the "Cars 20th Anniversary" lettering on the tires.

Pricing & Availability in France

For now, the Golden McQueen is readily available over the counter at King Jouet stores, though it comes with a slightly premium price tag of €9.99.

If you are looking to save a couple of bucks, Smyths Toys has actually listed this model on their website for €7.99. However, as of writing this, it is not yet in stock or available for purchase through them. You might want to keep an eye on their site if you're willing to wait!

Have you managed to find this one in the wild yet? Let me know in the comments.

Happy hunting!