Hot Wheels
Toy Car
1974 (manufactured)
1974 (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 plastic black toy van with flame design, made by Mattel, Hong Kong, 1974 |
| Physical description | Black toy van with red and yellow flames on both sides. Blacked out plastic windscreen. Four plastic wheels and a grey metal bottom. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Hot Wheels. mattel inc 1974. Hong Kong. U.S. patented. Foreign pats. pend.' |
| Object history | Purchased as part of a group of 6 Hot Wheels (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.117-2004 |
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| Record created | July 31, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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