Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary "Original Sweet 16" release

 

“Those are some hot wheels!” proclaimed Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler on seeing his first toy car roll across the floor. Handler had challenged his design team – which included a General Motors car designer and a rocket scientist – to create a toy car that was cooler and performed better than anything on the market. They answered with the first-ever trackable toy car, now known and loved by kids of all ages as Hot Wheels.

For more than five decades, Hot Wheels has provided adrenaline-fueled vehicle play that ignites the challenger spirit in every kid with the most outrageous and innovative cars and track systems. 

Hot Wheels’ first car, the Custom Camaro® hit shelves on May 18, 1968. It was quickly followed by 15 more. This first edition of cars became known as the “Original 16”—now among the most valuable and collectible toy vehicles ever made. 

In celebration of its 50th anniversary this month, Hot Wheels recently re-releasing five of the “Original 16” die-cast cars including the '67 Camero, '67 HEMI Barracuda, 1968 Cougar, Custom '67 Mustang, and the Volkswagen Beetle in commemorative 50th Anniversary packaging. These exclusive diecasts are available for purchase in store nationwide…if you can get your hands on them!

We recently had a chance to chat about the 50 year anniversary with Chris Down, SVP of Hot Wheels...

Hot Wheels is known globally. Any fun facts about the Original 16?

Hot Wheels was born when Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler challenged his design team, which included a General Motors car designer and a rocket scientist to create a toy car that was cooler and performed better than anything on the market.

The first Hot Wheels introduced were what we now call the “Original Sweet 16.”   These sixteen cars reflected what car culture looked like fifty years ago with California Customs and muscle cars, and these tiny die-cast vehicles ultimately revolutionized the toy car industry.  Because of their small scale, at the time, there were a number of details left out, and over the past 50 years our design team has perfected the process to create cars that look awesome and perform.  To date, over 25,000 vehicle designs have been created and today Hot Wheels are the number one selling toy in the world with 16.5 Hot Wheels sold every second.  

 

Speaking of collectibles, anything you think we should be hoarding now?

There are a number of cars the design team created to celebrate the 50^th anniversary that look awesome, and also perform outrageous stunts on Hot Wheels track.   We recently unveiled replicas of five cars from the “Original Sweet 16.”  These cars are designed to look just like the vehicles that were released in 1968 with spectra flame paint, redline tires, original packaging and a collectable Hot Wheels metal button that used to come with every Hot Wheels. 

The toy brand has expanded beyond toy cars - what have been some of the most successful?

Since its introduction in 1968, Hot Wheels is more than a toy, and has expanded into a global franchise with multi-channel play experience and segments in gaming, digital platforms, auto partnerships, licensed apparel and merchandise. 

Today, Hot Wheels designs are in some of the world’s hottest video games! We have our iconic cars in Psyonix’ Rocket League, EA’s Need for Speed: No Limits, and even have a Hot Wheels world complete with iconic orange track in Microsoft’s Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels, which was the number one XBOX exclusive in 2017.  Hot Wheels was one of the hottest toy brands in video game last year, and we have more to come!

What do you love most about your job?

I love toys and I have a passion for cars and automotive culture, so there’s A LOT that I love about working on Hot Wheels, but two things stand out.

First is the creativity that I see from the designers and marketers on my team. They are constantly designing, defining and innovating the future of this historic brand. Walking through the Hot Wheels design center you can see it and feel it, and it’s thrilling.

Second, because it’s our 50^th anniversary, I’ve had the opportunity to spend a lot more time talking to our fans, collectors, car enthusiasts, kids and families. So many people have amazing Hot Wheels stories, across multiple generations. The passion for the brand is remarkable, and I’m grateful to be involved with it, especially during this exciting time in its history.

Do you remember your first Hot Wheels car?

I remember my favorite Hot Wheels was called ‘Large Charge’, designed by Mr. Hot Wheels himself, Larry Wood. I thought this car was cool because the design was an aggressive, bright green sports car with lightning bolt graphics and a circuit board on the deck lid. I was absolutely fascinated by the circuit board. I got it when I was about five from one of my neighborhood friends, who had WAY more Hot Wheels than me.

What else can we look forward to this 50th year anniversary (in Canada)?  

To celebrate our 50^th anniversary, Hot Wheels had a large presence at the 2018 Canadian International Auto Show where we showcased our life-size vehicles, a 32-foot track set and our partnerships with the top auto manufacturers.  

In October of this year, fans can visit the Ontario Science Centre where there will be a Hot Wheels kids zone that will feature a larger than life Hot Wheels track set.