Hot Wheels
Toy Car
1978 (manufactured)
1978 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Hot Wheels (series title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted die-cast metal, plastic |
| Brief description | Toy car, metal and yellow plastic, Hot Wheels, made by Mattel, Hong Kong, 1970s |
| Physical description | Yellow car with colourful graphics on both sides. It has silver coloured seats visible through the plastic windscreen, four black plastic wheels and a black plastic bottom. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Hot Wheels. Mattel inc. 1978. Hong Kong' |
| Object history | Purchased as part of a group of six Hot Wheels cars (B.112-2004 - B.117-2004), see purchase price. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | 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. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.113-2004 |
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| Record created | July 31, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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