Culture

Hot Wheels hit the road for 40th anniversary

by JeffHuang | July 2, 2008 at 01:59 pm

1945 views | 0 Recommendations | 8 comments

Previous articles on the 40th birthday of Hot Wheels can be seen here.

I wish I could go to one of the road shows, but I don't think they are stopping in Vancouver. Seems more interesting than a regular car show since in this one you get to see the real life sized version of your favorite toy cars. All painted and bright coloured with crazy racing stripes and fires on the side!

If anyone has not seen the picture of the diamond encrusted car should take a look at it. It is pretty amazing.

Hope anyone who is going to be at the show can show us some pictures of the life-sized toy cars.

Hot Wheels cars are hitting the road for the brand's 40th anniversary.

A free event featuring life-size versions of the beloved toy cars will be held at locations around the country after a kickoff for employees at Mattel headquarters in El Segundo, Calif.

The road show will include the display of a one-of-a-kind diamond-encrusted Hot Wheels car created in honour of the anniversary and the production of the 4 billionth car. The event will also include historic Hot Wheels memorabilia, autograph sessions with Hot Wheels designers, and other offerings.

The road trip stops Aug. 21 during Speed Week at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. On Aug. 24, the travelling show hits the small town of Speed, Kan., and on Aug. 30, look for the life-size version of the toy cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

On Sept. 1, the Hot Wheels event comes to Detroit's Automotive Hall of Fame, and on Sept. 5, the road trip finale takes place at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival in New York's Finger Lakes region.

For more information on Hot Wheels and 40th anniversary activities, cruise over to http://www.hotwheels.com/40th.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | Digg | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Jarrett Martineau

at 14:31 on July 2nd, 2008

Nice, I loved Hot Wheels when I was a kid. I'd like to see one with a customized, Pimp My Ride-style treatment, complete with a fishtank in the trunk, a microwave in the glove compartment, and 1/16" spinners. Now that would be fresh.

madaise

at 19:13 on July 2nd, 2008

My husband was an avid hot wheel collector as a child. When we found out we where having a boy, he started re-collecting cars. Our 2 boys now how tons and tons of hot wheels (because you know, hot wheels are *the* best).

The day I took this picture, they'd all been out in the yard with dozens of hot wheels playing on a big plastic little tikes mountain for cars...

When the boys got bored, I noticed the pile of cars. And there you go... a fun picture.

madaise has contributed a photo to this story.

phillyhillbilly52

at 19:25 on July 2nd, 2008

I'm a 35 year old kid that still collects Hot Wheels. Since I go to real car shows all the time and take pictures I figured why not shoot some of my favorite miniture cars as well. When I buy new models I can't wait to get them home, take them out of the packaging, roll them around a bit and break out the camera.

phillyhillbilly52 has contributed a photo to this story.

joesdiecast

at 19:30 on July 2nd, 2008

We love cars big and small. Of course this show will probably not come to Yakima Washington.

joesdiecast has contributed a photo to this story.

woodsk8

at 21:10 on July 2nd, 2008

This photo was taken at the California State Fair in the HOT WHEELS Exhibition area. It brought back many memories for me. When I was a little girl I didn't like playing with the girls or dolls. I saved my allowance and each week bought a new Hot Wheels car. As I got older I continued my love for speed and cars.

Today I feed my "need for speed" another way (coaching inline speed skating), but my affection for HOT WHEELS will always be close to my heart!

I would have loved to have taken more photos of the exhibition but there were so many people inside and most of the smaller, older "cool" cars were in plexi-glass cases or behind glass and the photos did not come out. Linda

woodsk8 has contributed a photo to this story.