The Story of Hot Wheels: Casting a Legend

[@dirtyd2316]

I loved my hot wheels cars as a kid. My son became completely obsessed with collecting them as well and he probably had over 1500 cars by the time he outgrew playing with them. He had all the big garage sets as well as miles of tracks and remember how much fun him and me had playing with them. Truth be told,I probably had more fun as it was an excuse to play with hot wheels again. Lol.My favorite part about it all was us going to stores and looking for certain cars we didn’t have or a color we didn’t have, and how it made the bond between my son and me stronger by all the time we spent hunting cars together . It was just so much fun and hope to see fathers and their children playing with them for years to come.

[@-oiiio-3993]

I was born in 1960 and was an avid Matchbox fan when Hot Wheels arrived on the scene. They were astounding. It's hard to convey just what a big deal the introduction of Hot Wheels was.

[@kl0wnkiller912]

Same for me...

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@kl0wnkiller912 Remember the Wham-O _Superball_ and the TV ad that showed a kid bouncing one over a house? Everyone I knew had to buy one, bounce it over their house, then pester their mom to buy another one when they couldn't find it.

[@J.C...]

I could only imagine. Had to have been the same sort of thing as when rock n roll hit the mainstream. To have been there for that would have been incredible. I'm just a little to young, being born 10 yrs after the death of Duane Allman, who passed in October of 71.

[@crowe668]

Everything used to be way cooler...

[@07imprezadude]

As an amateur HW collector and a roller coaster enthusiast, I had wished for something that could meld both into a single experience. My wish has been granted as the Mattel Adventure Park is set to open this summer in Glendale, AZ, a few hours north of me. I also read that a sister park has been planned for Bonner Springs, KS, which so happens to be a 45 minute drive from my native Independence, MO.. I guess, it was just meant to be! BTW, it's nice to read stories from fellow collectors/HW enthusiasts who are a bit older than myself (!966.) as I do get a few confused looks as I sort through bins of HW cars at local Walmart and Target stores😁

[@tarstarkusz]

Those hotwheels tracks make great whipping instruments. Ask me or my mother how I know....

[@markcraven8386]

Same experience. LOL

[@craftit9715]

😂

[@gregorystiller975]

This is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive HW documentary I have ever watched. To cover 50+ years is impressive. Hopefully you will continue with this content.

[@Bort1965]

As a 6 year old in the early 70s, I am very happy to this day that I owned a Sizzlers Laguna Oval Set, with a Sizzlers car, the Juice Machine & the distinctive orange track sections! Then in 1975, I won a Mongoose & Snake Drag race set, a a local hardware store opening. I'm happy that I owned this set, also, as it was featured in the movie "Snake and Mongoose" from a few years ago. These were a couple of my favorite toys I owned way back when. Another one was the Mattel Talking Football game, which featured a mini record player with several small records with real football plays. Another thing about when I won the Mongoose & Snake Drag race set, was when I got home and my older sister helped me get it set up, the Apollo/Soyuz space mission was on TV that afternoon!

[@20JK10]

This is the best and most comprehensive documentary on Hot Wheels I've ever seen. Excellent work.

[@labajadaman]

I was fortunate to have known Ed “Big Daddy” Roth (12:25) when I was a kid and would hang out at his house to check out his current projects. I was always impressed that his Beatnik Bandit was among the first batch of Hot Wheels. They even had his name on the bottom of the car. As a Cub Scout in 1971 I toured Mattel in Hawthorne and was given a free Hot Wheel as a gift. Growing up in Southern California had its perks!

[@lucasrem]

@@SPotter1973 “When It Rains It Pours" In 1914 they first policed this epic design, credited by Advertising agency N.W. Ayer & Company, they made it at home. Cool to hear he was a real artist, was he ?

[@SRGIProductions]

The Beatnik Bandit is currently parked at the National Automotive Museum in Reno, NV. It occasionally it gets taken out to go to car shows across the country.

[@barryallenflash1]

As a collector myself, there are soooo many things I didn't know about Hot Wheels. I had them as a kid, but in the early 70's I didn't imagine they'd be worth anything (like comic books). I still have some of the ones from my childhood, but of course they are NOT in great condition. It's only been about 4 or 5 years that I've been collecting. The majority are in blister packs in "tracks" on my wall. I made them from plywood and tracks (for ceiling tile). I prob. have over 200 and yes, some celebrity cars. K.I.T.T., General Lee, Jetsons, BTTF Deloreon, Ecto-1, etc. Some Flash and WW thrown in for good measure. This was an excellent video and I know took quite some time making it, so THANK YOU!!!

[@tomcollins5531]

This video makes me want to be a kid again. It also makes me sad to think of all these cars that I destroyed when I was a kid. The red line Hot Wheels bring back a lot of memories.

[@privateinformation2960]

what pisses me off is the massive carpet bag i had full of hotwheels and matchbox cars, including some that belonged to my dad and were handed down to me, being randomly given away to a neighbours kids one day because mum decided i was too old. thats ok mother i didnt want to pass on mine and my dads toys to my sons anyway....

[@karlfonner7589]

Yep. You’re not the only one

[@donnysarian]

That makes two of us. I wish I still had all of mine too.

[@Scottocaster6668]

Exactly, you and me both ☹️

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@privateinformation2960 My parents never damaged or stole my property. That would be immoral.

[@fractaljack]

Well done and I greatly appreciate the restraint on using a headbanging soundtrack to distract from the documentary. I was 7 years old and living in Detroit when Hot Wheels were released and it most certainly was a thermonuclear bomb that was detonated amidst our childhood. I learned so much from this documentary and I respect how much research and time it took you to complete it. You definitely earned a sub from me.

[@-oiiio-3993]

Born in Southern California, 1968. The release of Hot Wheels was a 'thermonuclear bomb', indeed.

[@Mtlmshr]

At 63 years young (and not any type of collector) I must say this is a fantastic documentary of the Hot Wheels brand it brought back many memories for me because I drove past the Mattel building off the 405 freeway many times!

[@davelangford2439]

This is genuinely the best documentary ive seen on anything for ages. Absolutely fascinating and amazingly well put together.

[@vinsonfamilycollectibles8213]

Born in 62...me and my brothers loved our hot wheels ! I began collecting again in the late 90's, still going strong, making great nieces and nephews happy these days. Fantastic, informative video. Thanks!

[@rufctr3]

Your work on both your main channel and this one is just astonishing. I really hope you get more recognition in the upcoming future.

[@chrismeadows0199]

What’s his main channels name?

[@JackReynolds-w7g]

Matchbox were basically to model, display, and show, and I knew and loved Matchbox through my whole youth, - Hot Wheels were primarily for racing and competition. And slot-cars I must have had a thousand. Back in 1968, - I was a youth living in a boarding school in Germany. My grandmother was always sending me all kinds of such fun toys. Two I remember well. One was something I think many of you will probably remember, - it was a toy of sorts, - something you could draw and make wonderful designs with; I wonder if those are even around anymore, - it was called Spirograph. The other was probably one-of - if-not the first of Hot- Wheels creation. I remember all of Hot Wheels so well, everything. Those ~ 3 foot sections of orange plastic track, each joined together with those kinda red-purplish tongues, two ~ 10 ft. lengths would terminate with that yellow plastic gate that would drop a checkered flag for the winner, the top you'd secure at some height with that plastic screwed-clamp which was the very same color as the tongues that joined the pieces of track together. And those cars ! The biggest difference I guess, between the Matchbox car and the Hot Wheel, were the tires on each. Hot Wheel cars had semi-stiff wire-like axels, and this gave each wheel the best and fastest rotation, - and it also gave the little cars some pretty decent suspension. The wheels were not of a rubber-plastic kind, - they were a harder plastic, solid, and had painted rims and hub-caps. And the wired-axels would fit through into a small white plastic nub, that itself would rotate within the wheel itself. Of course, I had, played with, and cherished all three, - but I probably spent more time with those little Hot Wheel jewels than the other two by far. Owing to the fact that slot cars ran on controlled electricity rather than gravity, you could build up just about whatever you wanted. I remember that I would get 3 or 4 sets of the same scale, - and WOW, - the fabulous creations that I'd come up with ! My bedroom would look like an absolute city. But no doubt, - Hot Wheels would have to get the Trophy and Blue Ribbon. Anyone out-there remember these little demons, - that would swallow up all of mom's living room floor as soon as you'd get home from school ?

[@davehancock930]

@daveh1557 I to have fond memories, playing with the spirograph, and the very first Hot wheels cars.

[@davehancock930]

@daveh1557 I to have fond memories, playing with the spirograph, and the very first Hot wheels cars.

[@ady-uk7150]

Congratulations and well done on this epic Hot Wheels Story. I can see, after watching it all, that you had your work cut out compiling all the facts and information. What an amazing story Hot Wheels is too. I had a Hot Wheels set for Christmas in the 1960's. The only survivor is my Beatnik Bandit. I had a lot of Matchbox cars as a child, no other Hot Wheels. In 2019, I suddenly had the urge to start buying new Hot Wheels and Matchbox as an adult.

[@ebayerr]

I was 11 years old when Hot Wheels debuted in 1968. We had no idea they would ever be more than play toys and would play with those things out in the yard and just demolish them.

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Excellent comprehensive video. I used to produce television content. No one will ever know the time and effort it takes to make this level of production. Thank you.

[@litewatch]

This video makes Me a proud collector of Hot Wheels as a kid growing up in the mid to late 70s I thought they were the best toys in the world Slip in Your pocket always ready to play with anywhere anytime Now as an adult knowing the history It just warms My Heart that I'm not a band wagon collector Its the essence of Play Style & Feel of these cars that hasn't changed. Hot Wheels 🔥 Ultimate in Auto play action for Me. Thanks For Making This video For Hot Wheels 🔥 Fans ❤

[@Xsiondu]

This was fantastic. I really had no idea about any of this and I genuinely enjoyed every minute of this film. You did an exceptional job and should be proud of what you accomplished. Thank you so very much for your work.

[@markcraven8386]

I was born in 53, I remember the first HW commercial from TV airing on a Saturday morning and how badly I wanted one. We lived in a small town and HW weren't sold anywhere there, and about a month or two later on one of our rare family shopping trips to the big city some 50 miles away I got to see my first HW up close. My brother and I could not be torn away from the HW display and though toys were not on the shopping list, we were fortunate enough to return home with a car each. Try as I might, I can not recall which models we picked out but I think the colors were the main factor in our decisions. The main thing is we came home with toys and it wasn't even Xmas. Come to think of it, I believe we acquired our GI Joes in a like situation.

[@kl0wnkiller912]

I was big on GI Joe's and Major Matt Mason in the early 70s. I had most of the original sweet 16s but of course I played with them and lost them... wish I had them today!

[@everetttauscher8377]

I was born in 1960 and loved Matchbox cars and trucks. Then Hot Wheels 🛞 came out and I never got another Matchbox. It was all about Hot Wheels! 🛞

[@SRGIProductions]

Man, GI Joe was AWESOME. This is coming from somebody who was born in 1997, And when I was around five or six years old I had a Snake Eyes vs. Storm Shadow action figure set that came with a CGI animated movie on DVD. I miss those action figures in retrospect.

[@SRGIProductions]

​@@everetttauscher8377 I was born in 1997, far after Hot Wheels launched. But MAN, what a time to be a HW fan. The 2000's were wild with playsets, track sets, and some castings and this is outside the obvious HW35 World Race and its sequel, AcceleRacers. I had the Roadbeasts team leader car Ballistik, some obscure sets, and an AcceleRacers set that came with Power Rage. There were some castings that were very new that I wish I had in my childhood collection looking back, like the MS-T Suzuka and Bone Shaker when it was new. I have 3 Bone Shakers and 2 MS-T Suzukas now, granted. But there's something special about having a first edition of a casting that's still being sold today.

[@claywilliams125]

That is so cool. I can totally envision this scenario in my head and can appreciate it for it's authenticity

[@RodgerDodger196]

THAT WAS THE MOST THOROUGH HOT WHEELS CLOSE UP IVE EVER SEEN!! I saw a you tube video of that live action car jump world record recently, but MISSED the Hot wheels connection. When my nephew collected HW 12ish years ago they pretty much seemed boring as I grew up with the Very first incantations in the late 1960’s. We were on vacation on some lake in NY with a RR track on a Mtn side(longest train ever seen) & Mom came home with Two Hot Wheels! I GOT THE PURPLE BUBBLE TOP “SILOETTE” & because it remains my all time favorite, u can’t recall what Tommy got. I’ve still got my track-BUT WHAT IRKS ME THE MOST NOW THAT IVE GOT A PLACE TO DISPLAY MY 48 car carrying case(by Matchbox, filled with MOSTLY MY ENTIRE HW COLLECTION-IVE YET TO FIND MY COLLECTION AFTER MY MOVE! I HAD TO WORK LIKE A SPY TO KEEP MY COLLECTION FROM BEING TOSSED OUT!! I CANT BELIEVE ANYONE IN MY MOVING YEARS KNOWING JOW GAGGA I WAS GOR THEM WOULD TOSS THEM OUT!!-SO I REMAIN HOPEFULL ILL COME ACROSS THEM! I RECALL A SILVER SET CALLED HEAVY METAL-all the cars were Chrome-I had one! It was a Fast Back CUDA(1968? & later there were some other Heavy’s-a CAMPER “HEAVY METAL”the camper part was white plastic with inside setup & a Concept pickup in metallic yellow/green , Later still were some Fun characters -there were 4 total, I had 2?? How to explain🤔🤔Disney like character s in racing garb, KINDOF like a future WW wacky critter-they were holding onto the wheel axle with their feet & hands. Separately, they had a limited series of 3 wheel Motocycles(2 wheels in back in those days. Before retiring HW sold cars in the Grocery store-That Blue Field on cardboard you showed & I got some Batmobile’s from movie and comics /Mustang fastback /1968 Camaro, most in a realistic manner,…🤔flashback-j Did have One Purple Johnny Lighting car but they did not roll as ad good as HW-BUT STILL ROLLED WAY BETTER THAN MATCHBOXS . I had and have my favorite of some of them( mighty rough shape(grandfather would take me down to the local drug store & I would pick one out(I recall going at least five times-he drove an old classic Chrysler, a 1948??? Lastly I recently saw a short video of LOYD BRIDGES THE ACTOR( probably around his Sea Hunt show days(I watched that in B&W, only recall the underwater parts) LOYD WAS DRIVING! MY ALL TIME TILL THIS DAY!! SILOETTE!! My word! Zit was a real car!!! ( he was promoting something ! Oh & I saw pictures where a guy had made a moch up of the “TWIN MILL!! Painted Electric Blue! WOW! (Still would like to know if the SILOETTE still exist-love Domes!

[@superfanb5742]

I was sad when Ferrari dropped the license with mattel. The reason for that is because masito and other die cast car brands would pay more money than mattel. So when Ferrari found out. They would either call up mattel or write a letter saying... Your not paying us enough money so we're dropping our rights of you making our cars

[@khylerin70]

Ferrari is just a pretentious company,started by an arrogant pig.

[@AnthroGearhead]

Ferrari, a scum company

[@dotarsojat7725]

@@AnthroGearheadYeah, what a…capitalist!

[@2degucitas]

Maisto

[@dougl.6461]

It's called. Show me the money

[@r.e.o.9706]

Born in 62' I still my original Hot Wheels from 68' in the fold out grandstand case . Along with the litte booklet showing all the original cars . Some are the red Ford GT a lime green dune buggy a red Woody Wagon , a light blue Dodge Charger and others. I take them out and look at them now and then every Christmas. Fun memories.

[@Bahraini_Carguy]

Watching this video made me want to collect scale models and I don't know why. Honestly, you're probably one of my favourite "video essay" channels out there, especially with Top Gear

[@DetectivePhatWeedington]

This is a really good video talking about one of favorite toy series that I grew up with in the 2000s into the early 2010s that isn’t just a copy and paste from Wikipedia or just making a half assed footnotes for for sake of entertainment *Cough* FH5 Hot Wheels expansion map *Cough*. And while I don’t collect Hotwheels anymore or just don’t collect toys and focus on Video Games and trying to make money, I always have a high respect for those who put a smile on my face and remind me of where times were simple, such as Nerf, and legos. I really hope this video gets more views in the future.

[@dukecraig2402]

Oh to have all the Hot Wheels cars I had as a kid, I was born in 65 so I had a bunch of the iconic one's from getting them as gifts starting on my 5th and 6th birthdays, Christmas etc etc, plus bugging mom whenever I'd see them in stores. Another one I'd like to have back is all my GI Joe toy's, about 11 or 12 years ago right before book stores started disappearing (You remember what book stores were don't you?) I was cutting through a Barnes&Nobel to get to the main hallway in a mall (You remember what mall's were don't you?) and happened to be going through an aisle that had books on collecting, out of the corner of my eye I noticed a book on collecting GI Joe's and stopped and picked it up, I almost collapsed when I saw what some of those things were going for even without the box, especially the space capsule which I had, by the time I got done looking through it and saw what some of that stuff was going for I was almost in tears thinking about the thousands of dollars I'd thrown away because all of the sudden one day it'd become "stupid kid's stuff".

[@edgarnoriega217]

Collecting means something different to everyone. For me, collecting Hot Wheels brings back cherished memories of the times I spent with my dad as a child. I'm 34 now, and thankfully, he's still by my side. Every now and then, we still find ourselves wandering down the toy aisle to pick one up together. Thanks for the documentary, never knew all the history behind these little cars.

[@danmike2305]

Best informative documentary on hotwheels. Long live hotwheels.

[@r56cooperslci]

Great video! Definitely the best documentary style videos I’ve seen released this year on KZbin. Good luck with this channel!

[@JeffH-s7i]

I have read or heard of the Hot Wheels story in several forms since the early 90's, this documentary is , in my opinion, the best. Great info, format and graphics makes this doc balls on accurate!!

[@daviddavidson7851]

I absolutely love these types of documentaries and seeing one on hotwheels brought back a huge ammount of nostalgia and it was cool to hear so much I did not know about a company that was very close to my heart....and my behind....as a child. I hope you keep making these types of documentaries and I think it's criminal that you have such a low sub count.

[@norsefalconer]

Absolutely incredible! As an original owner of a few Redlines, that's returning to the hobby after 50+ years, I really can't thank you enough for this thorough and thoughtful documentary. It is greatly appreciated.

[@WilliamHaisch]

58:26 May 25, 1998 “Apple: Is its comeback for real?”

[@VincentDeLuca2003]

What a fantastic documentary. Easily the most comprehensive Hot Wheels video on KZbin. Well done! As someone born in 2003, I missed a lot of the highlights of the brand’s first 35 years. Though I still hold a ton of nostalgia for the 2000s era of Hot Wheels, hearing the history of the brand is so interesting, and honestly, gives me an odd sense of nostalgia as well even though I wasn’t around for it. Hot Wheels will always be special to me. They provided me hours upon hours of entertainment as a kid, and even now, still remain a huge part of my life. I still collect them, still love them, and probably always will.

[@sped6954]

This was great! Thank you for refraining from using any soundtrack at all, never mind a loud and obnoxious one. Much of this I never knew, primarily the early years. Great job with the tons of research this mast have required.

[@mattjacomos2795]

What a MASSIVE effort, redefining the word "comprehensive"! Well done. The ONLY thing I could say is, your short pausing after full stops (periods) makes it feel dense and kinda rushed. I'm not that into HW, but it a fascinating story and I couldn't believe the volume manufactured...

[@LavaLahaie]

Incredibly well done sir. Interesting fact about the piano wire axles being phased out for cost cutting.

[@chrismeadows0199]

What a great and very detailed documentary about Hot Wheels. Thank you for uploading this awesome video.

[@Whytedebil]

Wow you’ve done a fantastic job on this documentary. Sans mention of the largely corporate created Snake and Mongoose rivalry I don’t think you’ve missed much else. Kudos to you good sir.

[@literacylabyrinth4018]

Just watched it all on a large TV. Entertaining and informative. Do more when you can.

[@tt-rs1457]

Heiße Räder.........excessively awesome and very very good Video ! Its due to all HW-Designer, and you put it togehter, I appreciate that much. RIP to Ryu......

[@DavesClassicGarageToursV2]

Brilliant research and archive use + great scripting = great engaging video.

[@bishoppurvis6363]

This is exactly what I've been looking for, learned so much that is not brought up in books about the history. Thank you.

[@195511SM]

I was heavily into MATCHBOX CARS & in fact had 2 of those cases shown at the 2;35 mark. I think I left them all to my younger brother, when I joined the Marine Corps in early 1974. He'd already begun collecting Hot Wheels by that point....& I had a few along the way myself.

[@I-Libertine]

Excellent. Long overdue. Thank you for this priceless documentary. Well done and a must watch for any Hot Wheels fan. Thank you.

[@martinchristian7270]

Enjoyed this immensely. Thanks a ton. Will be subscribing.😊

[@mkaleborn]

Great documentary! I can’t imagine how much work goes in to assembling and editing every little clip. I can’t so much as trim a few seconds from a single video without throwing my hands up in frustration. Never played with toy cars as a kid but I can appreciate the nostalgia and collector culture that Hot Wheels created. And watching KZbinrs race them down elaborate tracks doing ‘colour commentary’ has been a hoot.

[@christinecrawford]

Great documentary! Thank you so much for making it. 😊

[@ShitterMcGavin]

As a kid who was crazy about matchbox and hot wheels in the 80s and 90s this really hits home. Thank you for this!!

[@edwardgensheimer6640]

This was a fantastic extremely detailed documentary. I commend you on your research and hard work you put into this icon toy that almost every kid can get some remembrance from, i certainly did great job.

[@hollywoodpaladin4021]

I appreciated the heck out of this documentary. You did exactly what you set out to do in the beginning of the video. Informative and entertaining, very nicely done. Thank you!

[@albertovasquez5152]

Yes! I love hot wheels great video my favorite part was when you mentioned the sho stopper from the earlier 2000s I had to MST Suzuka my favorite as a little kid 😊

[@Clonekiller66]

I am so happy this showed up on my feed. I absolutely adore Hot Wheels and am so happy to see such a well made documentary about one of my all time favorite toys.

[@showbiz3848]

58.32 into program ....in the back ground....LMFAO !!!! what is that..... So I look again and you put a note on the screen "IDK what this is either but I don't wish to know".....that is precious... It looks pretty freaky no doubt. But pretty cool chairin the end. Great great Hot wheels story. Thanks for that. Really well done. I was born in 1959., bought my first matchboxes in 64...early adopter don't ya know...lolol And though the countless miles of track are long gone I still have the dozens and dozens of hot wheels and matchboxes. Fun stuff....except maybe for the creepy naked chick...

[@kevinkbbaltripsr5061]

I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS COMMENT!! THANK YOU LOL

[@HomerDudley-z4z]

What a trip down memory lane! Thanks brother!

[@agostinodibella9939]

I had a couple Hot Wheels cars in the ‘60s and really enjoyed them. Later I picked up a 2003 Saturn Ion Quad Coupe when the local Saturn Dealer had an open house. This is an amazing video documentary!

[@eldo59]

Wow! Awesome history documentary. I remember growing up during the 1990 blue card era going into Toys R Us, Walmart and Kay-Bee toys etc. My mother did not have much money when I wanted a toy. So the only thing I could get was a Hot Wheels car. At 8 years old in 1995 I had nearly 100 cars stuffed in a Ked's bag. I had a lot of fun with them as the collection continued. In 2024, I still have most of those original cars along with Lord knows how many cars I have today which are in the thousands.

[@literacylabyrinth4018]

This is awesome. Love learning more about this great hobby.

[@dwaynecoy1871]

As an 8 year old growing up in Seattle in 1968, I spent countless hours playing with my Hot-wheels and track inside during the long, wet winter seasons. We built tracks all through out the house - basement, stairs, upstairs, hallways, etc.

[@yakacm]

This documentary isn't going to go over the same old tired story, it's going to be all new and different, then opens by showing that same old photo of Mattel Creations that we've all seen a million times, lol.

[@MrThomaskirchner]

First piece I’ve seen from you. Amazing work.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

I enjoyed this video very much! Lots of history I was not aware of. I have started a very small hot wheels collection again in recent years. I have been seeking of my 1:18 scale cars, due to room restraints. Thanks for all your work on this video.

[@misiek_pmt]

excellent video, you have a bright future as a youtube

[@CrystalMikuOfficial]

He will be the best youtube

[@misiek_pmt]

@TV-eb8lk R lmao

[@ebogar42]

@58:32 It's just a weird looking chair made to look like a naked person is sitting in it. At first I thought it was a real person. 😂😂

[@kevinkbbaltripsr5061]

I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS COMMENT LOL

[@1MoreSonicRobot]

Out of all the toy brands that "The Toys That Made Us" documentary could've spotlighted. They didn't choose Hot Wheels. I'm glad this video exists.

[@richardtreanton8168]

Hot Wheels will be gotten into The Toys That Built America. Change My Mind.

[@kylekendall5772]

I don’t even collect Hotwheels… I’m a Masters of the Universe collector. But man, what an amazing documentary. Thank you for great content.

[@ctvtmo]

As a child in the 1970's I strongly favored MatchBox over Hot Wheels. I remember Hot Wheels' axles would bend very easy, unlike MatchBox. Also, I thought MatchBox had better designs.

[@Traph]

The best "History of Hotwheels" video I've ever watched.

[@ryurc3033]

I paint and customize all small scale cars. Hot wheels, 1/24 and 1/25 scale models, and 1/10 scale rc bodies. This had so many core memories unlocked from old advertisements you dug up. The hot wheels bigfoot with a shifter sticking out of the bed would crush cars made out of tin foil with a little mold that looked like a garage. I probably Played with that thing for 3 years until it stripped gears in the front. Man that thing was cool. But one of my first customizing experiences would make collectors cringe. I was 12(1997) and i had a antifreeze green original beatnik bandit, and a green 69 Camaro with redlines. Both were my dads he had given me at some point. I drilled the rivets with my Dremel, and put modern wheels on the Camaro. Also painted it. Same with the beatnik bandit. Cut it up and customized it. My uncle has been collecting since the mid 90s, and i very specifically remember getting chewed out for that one. Hundreds of hot wheels cars to paint, and i had to do it to that one....

[@deborahchesser7375]

A big part of my life, Hotwheels became a household name. I had Sizzlers had Johnny Lightning’s super cool stuff. Thanks for a great vid

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

Excellent comprehensive documentary. How I wish I still had those cars from 68.

[@Mace2.0]

Great video. I used to collect these cars as a kid, but stopped back in 2011... Until 7 years later I started collecting again, starting with the Skyline R30, and yeah I'm still collecting these cars to this day, even with a diverse set of brands that isn't HW. Kinda wish that we get some Johnny Lightnings in Canada again, that would be great.

[@rodsdmba1571]

My dad was an English machinist that was recruited to move to California to help fill the gap caused by the aerospace boom of the 1960's. We arrived in late April of 1968. Being English, Matchbox, Dinky, and Corgi were all familiar brands. As a kid the Matchbox cars held the least allure. They were pretty crap to be clear. The 1/43 scale Dinky stuff was more preferable but then Corgi surpassed what Dinky had to offer. The 007 Aston Martin DB5 being the iconic 'must have' Corgi model. My interest in die cast toys had waned by 1968 supplanted with that of Airfix models. Anyway, in adjusting to life in another land, in the local Sears circa May of 1968 there was a Hot Wheels display complete with the 360 degree loop track. It wasn't something that appealed directly to me (Monogram Red Baron did though) but it was clear that any kid in his right mind would vastly prefer what Hot wheels had to offer vs the Matchbox crap. No comparison! In August of 68 my dad took a job at Northrop in Hawthorne working the midnight to 6am 'graveyard' shift. Some months later he also took a daytime shift job at Mattel, moonlighting to accumulate savings in order to purchase a home. That home purchase occurred in July 1969 and as to the precise period in which he worked at Mattel is anyone's guess. Connections he made in the few months he worked at Mattel though would have lifelong legs however. My work career started in 1974 as a draftsman. In 1976 I moved to a company where my boss, who had also worked at Mattel in the heady days, became the mentor that I thank with providing the environment and guidance that set me, any many others, on a successful career trajectory. I've heard many a story regarding Elliot and Mattel. The windup spring powered bicycle that Elliot insisted on being the first test rider/crash test dummy . . . being amongst the best.

[@chrismccall2122]

Great video loved it! I was born in ‘63 in California and think Hot Wheels are the best toy ever, I still collect them!

[@alancranford3398]

All glory is fleeting. Thank you for this documentary. I learned more about marketing from this video than from a semester of marketing at business school. Matchbox was acquired by Mattel. As a child I had Matchbox cars as early as 1962 before I had Hot Wheels.

[@JamieAlso]

Great, thorough presentation. One aspect you didn't touch on, and perhaps because it isn't that important, are the cars packaged with the black blister pack preventing the purchaser from knowing exactly which car was inside. I often wonder if the die-hard collectors, who do not remove the cars from the blister packs, have some of these in unopened condition in their collections, and how those black blister packs rank in terms of value.

[@johnm3152]

Had to order my "Boss Hoss" silver mustang via the U.S. mail - I've never checked the mail w/anticipation since. Great vid ! thanks for the flashback

[@everetttauscher8377]

I was born in 1960 and I loved Matchbox cars and trucks. Then Hot Wheels came out and I never got another Matchbox. Hot Wheels were just so much more fun to play with.

[@animalyze7120]

Kandy is clear based paint over bright Chrome/Silver, Kandy Apple is the same but over Bright Gold. Red being the only true Kandy Apple color for the name, the process works for all Clear colors to a better or worse degree. Great video this was a treat to watch, thank you for the upload!

[@fumedrummer]

Thanks for this! Lots of new information. I'm wondering why you omitted the R-r-rumblers motorcycle line.

[@WilliamHaisch]

58:32 “Where would you like to shoot your impressive interview?” “Here in front of my melted naked self portrait in a camping chair.” “Um… ok…” 😂 Seriously, WTF? 😳

[@kevinkbbaltripsr5061]

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY

[@robdude1969]

Wow. Such a great in-depth dive in the time machine. I saw cars I had as a kid. cheers!

[@YosimetySam]

Hot wheels have been a part of my life since I can even remember(early 70's.)Never knew so much about them till now.good job👍

[@GrampsD63]

Wow. This is awesome. I had most of the early stuff. Hot Wheels, Sizzlers, ChopCycles, Hot Line and Hot Birds. Still have alot of it, Cars, track, SuperChargers. The whole nine. Just couldn't throw it away. Thanks for putting this together. It brings back so many memories 🏁

[@ITALJUTE]

Very, very well down. Easily the best Hotwheels documentary I've seen. I was blissfully unaware of any of the struggles of Mattel. This was a real education.

[@steeliewheelies]

I know 2004 wasn’t great for the company but 2004 is THE year of hotwheels for me. The 2003-2004 school year and the summer of 2004 was peak childhood for me, and my greatest memories/favorite hotwheels are from that year. I was all about it, that and Planet Hot Wheels. I was devastated when Planet Hot Wheels went “Under Construction” in the summer of 2004

[@Traph]

Here in the PH, Hotwheels have become so hard to collect lately, now its lucky if you actually find some good cars, and JDM cars are being scalped to hell.

[@SlickDiecast]

Great research! Thanks for putting this together.

[@appraiser1717]

Great video!! Very interesting and graphic visuals

[@samace22]

That was a great history lesson from hot wheels over the years.👍

[@hippiedad]

I turned six in 1968 and got Hot Wheels when they first came out. Loved and collected them ever since.

[@clonecommando-cn6bo]

Long live hot wheels. You are never too old to play with them. One of the best video games on the Nintendo64 and one of my favorite video games

[@MrModelworx]

Thoroughly enjoyed that, very well researched. Fantastic thank you.

[@twalatka]

I had the racetrack and soo many of the cars. I wish I still had those cars. Now I own one in full size. But my love of cars began as a child.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

I’m a 60 year old collector and I still have my “sweet sixteen” set, plus some from 69 and the 70s!👌😎👍the best little die cast toys ever created!♥️

[@AdaywithJoe]

This was very informative. Thank you for making it!

[@twistedaxles9126]

Awesome video! Definetly worth the 1 hour watch! Although, i cant help but to notice you never talked about the Monster Jam diecasts that appeared in 2000 and ran through until 2018.

[@AHLUser]

I had a nice collection of Hot Wheels from my 70's childhood, and my mom threw them all away while I was at College. She had a great idea to turn my BR into a 'Sewing Room' even though she didn't sew.! Also ditched my awesomely painted Revell models, all my posters including Farrah, Linda, Cowboys Cheerleaders, etc.. and GI Joe's, board games, pot pipes... my childhood trashed.😭😭

[@Mtlmshr]

I still remember driving down the 405 freeway and seeing the big “Mattel” sign off the freeway!