HOT WHEELS - THE MOST COLLECTED MODELS IN THE WORLD - THIS IS HOW THEY'RE MADE.
Would you believe that Hot Wheels produces a staggering 519 million cars a week? That’s just madness, but we’re not complaining. For over half a century, Hot Wheels has been the gateway for petrolheads, often sparking a lifelong addiction to cars. These die-cast marvels often preceded more advanced hobbies like Scalextric, Tamiya model kits, and even video games like the hugely popular Gran Turismo. They’ve taught generations about cars and brands. In 1966, Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler envisioned a way to bring the excitement of the hot-rod culture to kids. This was just five years after his wife, Ruth Handler, had created another iconic toy: Barbie. Inspired by the post-war American fascination with custom cars, Handler wanted children to experience the thrill of ‘vehicle play.’ Legend has it that when he saw the prototypes speeding across the floor, he exclaimed, “Those are some hot wheels!” And just like that, the brand was born. The first Hot Wheels line, the Original Sweet 16, debuted in 1968. Eleven cars were designed by Harry Bentley Bradley, a former General Motors designer known for his custom work with Detroit’s Alexander Brothers. The lineup included icons like the Custom Camaro, modelled after the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, and Bradley’s most famous creation, the Dodge Deora, a futuristic pickup with forward-control styling. These cars weren’t just toys - they were miniature reflections of the era’s car culture. They became instant classics and featured shimmering Spectraflame paint, staggered wheel setups, and side-exit exhausts. Hot Wheels quickly expanded its lineup, producing now-legendary designs like the Twin Mill, powered by two supercharged 8.2-litre big-block Chevy V8s, and the Beach Bomb, a VW camper van complete with surfboards. Today, rare prototypes like the pink Beach Bomb fetch astronomical sums; one collector, Bruce Pascal, purchased a prototype for $72,000, and its value has since climbed to $150,000 - or a mere R2,816,000. Since 1968, Hot Wheels has produced over 20,000 unique models. Each year, Mattel introduces more than 130 new designs, ranging from licensed replicas of real-world cars to original creations inspired by pop culture, like Star Wars and Toy Story.
Hot Wheels’ success owes much to its passionate design team. Designers like Jun Imai and the late Ryu Asada brought their love for cars into their work. Imai, a fan of Japanese classics and Porsches, infused his designs with personal touches, like the custom Datsun 510s and 240Zs in the lineup. Asada, a Honda enthusiast, was responsible for models like the S2000 and NSX. Collaborations with car culture icons like Magnus Walker and Sung Kang have also resulted in some standout models. Walker’s Urban Outlaw series and Kang’s Fugu Z Datsun 240Z showcase how Hot Wheels blends real-world automotive passion with toy design. Hot Wheels cars aren’t just static models; they’re engineered for action. Their design accommodates the brand’s famous orange tracks, requiring consistent dimensions, ground clearance, and wheel sizes to handle high-speed loops and jumps. The brand’s innovation extends to full-scale replicas, such as the functioning Twin Mill built for the 2001 SEMA show. Modern manufacturing techniques have allowed for increasingly detailed and realistic models, incorporating ideas from the brand’s massive customizer fan base. As the automotive world shifts toward electrification, Hot Wheels is evolving too. Jun Imai sees exciting opportunities in the rise of electric vehicles, which are reshaping car design and materials technology. The brand is also exploring motorsports collaborations, with Formula E being a particular area of interest right now. At the same time, nostalgia remains a powerful driver. Imai has expressed interest in revisiting the Original Sweet 16, reimagining them with today’s advanced manufacturing techniques. Many of you likely know a lot of this information, but at the same time, many haven’t seen just how these awesome little collectables are manufactured. Well, now’s your chance.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows how one of the world's most popular collectable are made in this cool 9-minute video from the chaps at Industrial Craft: How Millions of Hot Wheels Toys are made! | Industrial Craft
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