| Hot Wheels is a brand of die-cast toy cars that was | | | | Volkswagen, which was one their first cars. Some of |
| launched in America by an American toy | | | | the other cars they released in the same year were: |
| manufacturer named Mattel in the year 1968. A | | | | Beatnik Bandit which was designed by Ed Roth, |
| Die-cast toy is any toy or collectible item manufactured | | | | Custom Barracuda, Custom Camaro, Custom |
| utilizing the die casting method. These toys are made | | | | Corvette, Custom Cougar, Custom Eldorado, Custom |
| using metal and plastic. The metal most commonly | | | | Firebird, Custom Fleetside, Custom Mustang, Custom |
| used is ZAMAK, which is an alloy of zinc and | | | | T-Bird, Custom Volkswagen which was designed by |
| aluminum. Initially, these cars were designed to on a | | | | Ira Gilford, Deora, Ford J-Car, Hot Heap, Python which |
| 1:64 scale and were used on Hot Wheels track sets. | | | | was designed by Dean Jefferies, and Silhouette. All |
| However, in 1970 a series of Hot Wheels cars were | | | | these cars had colourful paint work, bearings, redline |
| designed on a 1:43 scale. This new range of cars | | | | wheels, and working suspensions. |
| became adult collector series vehicles that were | | | | In 1969, Twin Mill was one of the most popular and |
| replicas of Formula One and NASCAR cars, which | | | | accepted Hot Wheel cars. In 1970, the famous Sizzler, |
| were extremely successful. The Hot Wheels logo was | | | | the rechargeable electronic car was made. In 1985, the |
| designed by Rick irons, a Californian Artist who | | | | Hot Wheels Torino Tornado was one of the most |
| worked with Mattel. | | | | renowned cars. In 1995, the Hot Wheel cars were |
| Elliot Hander, co-founder of Mattel, wanted to | | | | differentiated into specialized series i.e. the Model |
| manufacture a range of die-cast toys for boys. He | | | | Series which was later renamed First Edition, and the |
| wanted to dominate the toy cars industry which was | | | | Treasure Hunt Series. In 2000, a new range of Hot |
| once upon a time dominated by Lesney, a British | | | | Wheel Cars came into the market. These cars had |
| company with their Matchbox cars. Even though, | | | | exquisite paint jobs, and functioned like their original |
| Hander's executives thought it was an awful idea, the | | | | counterparts. |
| toy cars became a major success. In 1968, Mattel | | | | Over the years, Hot Wheel cars have not only been |
| released nearly sixteen castings. Eleven cars were | | | | collected by children, but it has become a collector's |
| designed by Marry Bentley Bradley. The first one | | | | item for many adults too. There have been estimates |
| manufactured was an elegant dark blue Custom | | | | that over 41 million children have collected Hot Wheels |
| Camaro. | | | | toys throughout their childhood years, and an average |
| In 1968, Hot Wheels introduced the custom-built | | | | collector has over 1,550 cars to his collection. |