HOT WHEELS IN HIGH GEAR

BUILT TO BELONG

Each year, the Garage of Legends contest lets fans compete to have their custom concept car inducted into Hot Wheels’ elite collection. Some started as 1:64-scale die-cast cars before becoming life-sized, while others were scaled down from real production models.

JEDI TRICKS & V8 KICKS

On display for 2025: The Force—and the horsepower—are strong with the high-performance Star Wars X-Wing Fighter Carship and the souped-up 2005 Ford Mustang GT, built for Mustang’s 50th anniversary.

NOT CHILD’S PLAY

Hot Wheels isn’t just for kids—adult collectors drive nearly a third of its revenue, drawn in by nostalgia and affordability, with each car still starting at barely over a buck. Doug Woods, one of Canada’s foremost collectors, has been hooked since childhood. Across decades, he has amassed around 25,000 Hot Wheels cars and accessories, many still factory-sealed. Childhood never parked.

RARE. REAL. COVETED.

The 1968 Custom Camaro launched Hot Wheels, Woods says, and saw countless casting variations. The 1968 Over Chrome Camaro, a 20-unit advertising exclusive, features a rare antifreezeover-chrome finish. The 1969 Ed Shaver Custom AMX, a U.K.-only release, is highly reproduced—authenticity depends on original stickers. The 1968 Beatnik Bandit, based on Ed Roth’s show car, is one of the rarest Sweet Sixteen models, with its pink variant commanding top value.

BIG TICKET FINDS

Woods calls the 1996 Volkswagen Drag Bus the “heaviest Hot Wheels casting produced to date” and a “favourite amongst collectors worldwide.” The 1969 Prototype Rear-Loading VW Beach Bomb is the “Holy Grail of all the Hot Wheels,” with fewer than 25 in existence—“this little VW bus commands a big price tag,” including a hot pink example valued at $150,000. The 1969 Twin Mill was a Hot Wheels original design, created by Ira Gilford. The ‘60’s show car inspired the life-sized drivable version in 1998 for Hot Wheels’ 30th Anniversary. “As one can imagine,” Woods adds, “this car definitely makes some noise!”

TOYBOX TO TITANS

Nostalgia is a major driver of Hot Wheels’ success. The toy industry calls it “kidulting.” Woods thinks it shows the progression of different genres of cars that have “sparked pop culture over the years.” The lineup now includes the Batmobile, and cars from Ghostbusters, The Simpsons, and several more. Hot Wheels is licensed across multiple product categories. Board games. Video games. Apparel. Furniture. It’s a golden goose—big revenue, minimal costs.

NO FINISH LINE

Hot Wheels reaches everyone—kids as young as three, collectors pushing 60. A universal play pattern crossing borders and cultures. While the toy industry shrinks and digital entertainment dominates, this 56-year-old brand keeps thriving. Engagement isn’t fading—it’s rising. “It’s not something you can get from a screen,” Woods says. “The thrill of racing your opponent or sibling on a track is (a) kind of fun you don’t get on a tablet.” All boost, no buffering.

LAP 1 HITS THE TRACK

The collection consists of eight 1:64 scale model cars released in four waves, called “Laps.” The first wave features the Rodger Dodger and the Porsche 930 Turbo. The Rodger Dodger, a modified 1973 Dodge Charger SE with a blown V8 engine designed by Hot Wheels original Larry Woods, reflects 1970s muscle car culture. The Porsche 930 Turbo, featuring Arsham’s deep personal connection to the brand, is inspired by his 1986 Porsche 930 restoration project, which incorporates distinctive Porsche racing heritage details like the Apple racing livery, RSR, and Kremer K3 elements.

RALLY READY

The collection also includes the eroded Super Rally Case, inspired by the original 1968 Hot Wheels Rally Case, which acts as the centrepiece. It holds one dedicated slot for each car in the series and extends Arsham’s artistic vision to an accessory that blends functionality with design, effortlessly.

PORCELAIN PRECISION

This collaboration marks the first time Silkstone, a material resembling porcelain, has been used in Hot Wheels models. Arsham praised Mattel’s bold and innovative approach to adapting this material, which enabled the intricate, partially eroded designs that define his aesthetic. The use of Silkstone is a historic first for the artist and Mattel.

ARSHAM’S ORIGIN STORY

Arsham’s artistic vision draws heavily from his childhood influences, including sketching sneakers, cameras, and Porsches. His “fictional archaeology” style has previously been applied to real-life Porsche 911 models and was featured in an exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum, which included an air-cooled Porsche 911, a Ferrari GT inspired by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and a Porsche 356 incorporating Japanese wabi-sabi design principles.

EVOLUTION OF EROSION

The collaboration took two years to develop, with Mattel’s team tackling the challenge of scaling Arsham’s signature aesthetic to Hot Wheels models. Arsham credited Mattel for its experimental approach and creative problem- solving. While the series caters to Hot Wheels collectors, it also has universal appeal due to its innovative design and storytelling. Part cultural commentary, the project imagines a future where toys like these are treasured relics.

FINAL LAPS, FULL SPEED

Lap 2 brought Arsham’s personal Porsche 356 Speedster and the Deora II into the collection. Lap 3 kept the momentum going with a race-ready Porsche 930A and the dual-engine Twin Mill. For Lap 4, Arsham teamed up with legendary Porsche customizer Leh Keen to reimagine a 1986 911 Turbo into an off-road rally beast dubbed “Safari.” Its companion piece, the Ford Mustang GT from Bullitt, pays homage to Steve McQueen and Detroit’s ever-rich automotive history.