Hot Wheels® Debuts Life-Size Die-Cast of Legends Tour Winner in New York – Business Wire | Car Plazas
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) today introduced the official Hot Wheels® 1/64 scale diecast of the 2021 Hot Wheels Legends™ Tour winning Volvo P1800 Gasser, built by UK resident Lee Johnstone in 1969. The inaugural international tour winner, Johnstone, and his daughter, Victoria Upham, attended the global unveiling ceremony in New York City, where their family’s passion project was officially inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends™, a collection of the world’s most iconic and iconic cars Brand designs available both in 1:64th and life-size scale.
Johnstone, a 71-year-old auto mechanic, restored and modified his 1969 Volvo to turn it into a real track star, which he drives with his wife and three daughters. A winner on and off the track, the P1800 Gasser emerged victorious from a historic 25-stop international tour spanning 5 continents, joining previous champions including inaugural 2018 winner 2JetZ™, the 2019 winner THE NASH™ and the 2020 winner 1970 Pontiac® Firebird™ as the next fixture in Hot Wheels history.
The announcement was made by Ted Wu, Mattel’s vice president and global head of design for vehicles, at the legendary Classic Car Club Manhattan a week before the start of the historic fifth annual Hot Wheels Legends Tour presented by Mobil 1. The Epic Room has been redesigned to showcase dozens of examples of how Hot Wheels has impacted culture, from high fashion to NFTs. The 2022 tour begins with virtual live streams in New Zealand and Australia on April 14th and 21st, respectively, followed by the first North American live event in Miami, FL on April 30th.
“The Legends Tour started in 2018 to celebrate and engage the carmaker community around the world,” Wu said. “Lee Johnstone’s 1969 Volvo P1800 proved to be a truly awe-inspiring Gasser interpretation that captivated the entire Hot Wheels team. As the first international winner of the Legends Tour, we can’t wait to share his dream with Hot Wheels fans in more than 150 countries around the world.”
Hot Wheels is an automotive legend, and for generations, every car enthusiast’s love of cars began with Hot Wheels. Since casting the brand’s Original 16® vehicles in 1968, Hot Wheels has continued to define itself by creating some of the most iconic cars in the world that have both impacted and been influenced by car culture. Beyond the automotive world, Hot Wheels has expanded into pop culture through segments such as gaming, fashion, luxury and film, while always staying true to its car culture heritage. Established as an iconic brand for the automotive lifestyle, Hot Wheels is now also a key player in the global custom car manufacturing community.
More than 54 years after Hot Wheels launched its original vehicles, the process of transforming life-size cars into 1:64 scale has changed dramatically while the focus on design remains paramount. Beginning with Computer Aided Design (CAD) scanning, the Hot Wheels team is able to digitize every aspect of the 1969 Volvo P1800 before additional rounds of 3-D modeling and pattern printing help the designers achieve the final form of the vehicle on a scale of 1:64. Once approved, the final design must also undergo a rigorous series of Hot Wheels track tests to ensure it performs as well as it looks.
Anyone with a garage spirit can take part in the Hot Wheels Legends Tour. To enter, please visit www.HotWheels.com/Legends.
Upcoming North American tour dates include:
- April, 30th: Personal event at Walmart in Miami, Florida
- May 14: In person event at Walmart in Houston, Texas
- June 4: Personal event at Walmart in Atlanta, Georgia
- 18th of June: In person event at Walmart in Northwest Arkansas
- July 9: Personal event at Walmart in Detroit, Michigan
- 16th of July: Personal event at Walmart in Windsor, Canada
- 30th July: Personal event in El Segundo, California
- September 10: Personal event at Walmart in Indianapolis, Indiana
- September 24th: Personal event at Walmart in Dallas, Texas
- 8th October: Personal event at Walmart in Los Angeles, California
- Date still open: Virtual live stream
- Date still open: Global Semifinals (Live Stream Only)
- November: Global Grand Finale (Live Stream Only)
In partnership with Mobil 1, Walmart and Dickies, the Legends Tour 2022 will culminate in November with a live Global Grand Finale event to crown a historic fifth champion. As in the past, all fancar entries during the tour will be judged on the basis of creativity, authenticity and workshop spirit.
To learn more about the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, visit https://hotwheels.mattel.com/explore/en/legends-tour.
About Hot Wheels
A 54-year-old brand that’s more relevant today than ever, Hot Wheels is the world’s premier vehicle franchise, representing and unifying all segments of automotive culture. For decades, Hot Wheels has demonstrated its influence on automotive and pop culture with legendary design and epic performance. Through unprecedented collaborations with global leaders in streetwear, fashion, luxury, entertainment, action sports and motorsport, Hot Wheels is the world’s best-selling toy with over 8 billion vehicles sold*. The brand delights fans of every generation through immersive live events, global competitions, theme park attractions, premium digital games, consumer products, and film and television content.
About Mattel
Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO® and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual property rights we own or license in Partnering with global entertainment companies. We offer film and TV content, gaming, music and live events. We operate from 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in partnership with the world’s leading retailers and e-commerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel has prided itself on being a trusted partner in empowering children to discover the wonders of childhood and reach their full potential.
About mobile 1
Mobil 1™ motor oil is the world’s leading brand of synthetic motor oil. Our advanced technology enables Mobil 1 motor oils to meet or exceed some of the most stringent standards in the industry and provide exceptional protection even under extreme driving conditions. Mobil 1 engine oil is designed to protect critical engine parts, maximize engine performance and extend engine life. For more information, visit us online at www.mobil1.us or follow @Mobil1 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
*Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service