Hot Wheels

Hot Wheels are die-cast model toy cars popular with children and adult collectors alike. The line was introduced in 1968 by the toy manufacturing giant Mattel, to compete with the leading Matchbox-brand cars. Hot Wheels' authentic styling, working suspensions, "fast" wheels and other features quickly made them a staple of the boy's toy market.

Fast Facts

1. Introduced in 1968
2. Designed by Rick Irons
3. Originally featured only "souped-up" custom hot rods, but later included stock models
4. Price of approximately $1 has remained relatively constant over 40 years
5. Date of each car's design copyright is etched into base
6. Models made in 1972 and 1973 very rare, sought by collectors

Race Tracks

Hotwheels have never included an electrical propulsion system, like the Tyco-brand cars of the late 1970s, but Mattel has long marketed flexible "race tracks" that the cars can be pushed along. Some of these sets have entered a realm of pure fantasy that contrasts with the authentic designs of the cars: 2005's Gorilla Attack set is a roller coaster themed track stalked by an angry gorilla figurine.

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