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Hot Wheels
Mattel, Inc. - Enlarge image
Hot Wheels
- Object:
Toy car
- Place of origin:
Hong Kong, China (manufactured)
- Date:
1975 (manufactured)
- Artist/Maker:
Mattel, Inc. (manufacturer)
- Materials and Techniques:
Metal die cast and plastic
- Museum number:
B.115-2004
- Gallery location:
In Storage
Introduced in 1968, Hot Wheels were the US competitor to Matchbox. Although there are roughly 10,000 models to date, the brand is famous for its custom hot rods and muscle cars. Elliot and Ruth Handler, co-founders of Mattel, wanted to make a range of cool cars for children. One of the design team members was Harry Bradley from General Motors. When Elliot first saw Bradley's classic Southern California hot rod in the parking lot he said, "Man those are some hot wheels" and so the Hot Wheels brand name was born.
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