Originally, Mattel started selling Hot Wheels toys in 1968, and it was a major competitor of Matchbox until 1997. Today, Mattel is a major toy company, but they are not the only company to produce scale model cars.

Mattel

Originally launched by Mattel in 1968, Hot Wheels toys have become an iconic, booming franchise. Kids and collectors love the brand and the company has expanded to include more than just cars. Now licensed merchandise, apparel, and digital platforms can all be found under the Hot Wheels name.

Hot Wheels has had its ups and downs, but the company has managed to stay in business for more than half a century. Mattel co-founders Elliot and Ruth Handler challenged the company's design team to produce an iconic line of Hot Wheels.

The first Hot Wheels car rolled off the assembly line on May 18, 1968. The car features redline tires, Keystone-style wheels, a suspension rake, and side-exit headers. The car has red rubies for the taillights. It also comes with 2,700 diamonds.

Hot Wheels became popular with children in the 1970s, but it wasn't until 1995 that the craze for collecting them began. During the 1990s, the company began producing a series of NASCAR stock car sets, fat track sets, and race tracks.

Mattel's Hot Wheels line was considered to be a gamble. The company had to secure rights from Chevy, Ford, and Chrysler. The company's strategy was to re-create muscle cars from the Big Three car makers. It also re-released characters from the Sizzlers line as Charge Ups.

Step2

Considering that the Hot Wheels brand has long been synonymous with the best of the best in a toy race car, it is no surprise that Step2 has teamed up with the automotive behemoth to produce a slew of cool-looking toys that aficionados can spiff up their homes with. The aforementioned gizmo is just the start of the list, but as luck would have it, the company's high-tech department is also the proud holder of a whopping 10 patents. Several of the company's newest inventions are set to make their way to our doorsteps in the near future.

Step2 has been tasked with a challenge in ensuring the quality of their wares while simultaneously delighting their adoring fan base. For example, the company has introduced the aforementioned gizmo along with several new and improved incarnations of its previous incarnations, which are all set to hit the market in the coming months. The aforementioned gizmo, besides being a blast to play with, is also a breeze to clean. While the name brand is not for the faint of heart, the company has done its best to ensure that the company's products are as green and eco-friendly as possible. In addition, Step2's latest entrant is the only company to make the top spot on the toy tee, a feat that has been a source of ire in the past.

Strauss

Among Hot Wheels collectors, Mike Strauss is regarded as the "father of Hot Wheels collecting." Strauss is a traveling food salesman, and he started collecting Hot Wheels when the Shell stations in his area were giving them away for free. Strauss built a Hot Wheels collection of 30,000 cars, worth a million dollars or more. He is a licensed vendor with Mattel, and he has authored Tomart's Price Guide to Hot Wheels Collectibles.

Strauss has also been the driving force behind the creation of two annual Hot Wheels collectors' conventions, one for adults and one for children. These events are held in southern California, and rotate among other cities in the spring. The first one was held in 2001.

Strauss has also authored the Hot Wheels Newsletter, which was published for adults. The newsletter was the first to organize collectors' events. Strauss started Hot Wheels collecting 20 years ago when Shell stations were giving away Hot Wheels toys for free.

The first Hot Wheels set hit shelves for $0.59 each on May 18, 1968. Unlike Mattel's competitor Matchbox, Hot Wheels had big rear tires, flame paint jobs, hood blowers, and outlandish proportions.

Despite the original intention of Hot Wheels to be "hot rod" cars, the line became popular among children. In 1968, 41 million children raced Hot Wheels cars on their signature orange tracks. The company introduced three new models that year. They were called "Sweet 16," "Quick-Tyme," and "Heavyweights."

After the success of Hot Wheels, Mattel decided to create a line of action figure sets. They hired Howard Rees, a friend of theirs at Ford, to design the toys. He worked for Mattel until 1973. He designed many of the Hot Wheels cars, including the Double Header with two engines, the Evil Weevil, and the Six Shooter with six wheels.

Modifighters

Besides the aforementioned smarm, the hot wheels Modifighters boast a number of high-tech features. For instance, the big aft can be customised in a flash and is accompanied by an impressive array of gadgets akin to those on display at an arcade. The Modifighters are the most tech-savvy toys in the Hot Wheels stable and are a worthy addition to any Hot Wheels collection. Besides, they are a lot more fun to play with than their plastic cousins. They also owe their success to the company's savvy marketing team, led by VP of Merchandising and Marketing, Andy Barnett. To make their products stand out from the competition, they frequently release limited edition special editions. Besides, the company is well positioned to take advantage of the latest consumer trends in the mobile gaming and e-sports industries.

To be fair, the aforementioned Modifighters are only available as part of special edition packages. It is also difficult to find a complete set, as these toys are usually distributed as part of a bundled package. For example, a complete set of the Modifighters includes the aforementioned smarm, a slew of other toys, as well as two special edition vehicles, one of which is a semblable homage to the good ole boy eSports team.

Silver Cars

Whether you're a kid or an adult, there are plenty of great collector's Hot Wheels cars out there. They're worth thousands of dollars, and can even hit six figures at auction. The majority of the most valuable cars come from the "Redline" era of Hot Wheels.

When Hot Wheels first launched, it was designed as a line of "hot rod" cars. However, over the years, the company has changed its focus. Now, it's a company that focuses on targeting adults with the Supers and Car Culture lines. It's also a company that has partnered with Marvel and DC Comics.

During its first decade, Hot Wheels cars were used for hours of fun. They were used for makeshift drag races and used to compare cars in friends' Hot Wheel garages. They were also used for demolition derbies. The vehicles were designed with huge rear tires and Superchargers. The vehicles featured hood blowers and flame paint jobs.

In the early 1990s, Hot Wheels launched the California Customs line. These vehicles included hot rods, go-karts, and 1980s economy cars. This line helped revitalize sales. However, it wasn't as popular as the 1968 line. It was copied by competitors.

In the 1980s, Hot Wheels introduced the "crash panel" vehicle. These vehicles were designed to rotate, revealing the reverse side of the car. This included the front panel, side panels, and rear panel.

Criss Cross Crash Motorized Track Set

Whether you're shopping for a present for a kid, or you're in the market for a new toy, the Criss Cross Crash Motorized Track Set by Hot Wheels is sure to impress. The set is designed to stimulate the mind of a child with its challenging intersections, four-way loops, and a motorized booster. The track also comes with a parking space, a die-cast vehicle, and a feeder ramp.

The track itself measures 31 inches by 8 inches, making it the size of a medium car. The track is made up of 21 pieces. Some models feature hairpin turns and elevated figure-eight tracks, while others have straightaway tracks that are perfect for competition. In addition, loop tracks are a hit with Hot Wheels fans because they create an authentic car racing experience.

The track's car feeder ramp fuels continuous racing action and storytelling moments. The track's die-cast car and track can be attached to other Hot Wheels track sets, and it comes with snap connectors. It's also a good idea to buy a storage box for the track to keep it out of the way when not in use. The Hot Wheels car feeder ramp is a gimmick that is a tad over-the-top, but it's still a cool idea.

Rear-Loader Beach Bomb

Among the rarest Hot Wheels toys in the world is the 1969 Rear-Loading Volkswagen Beach Bomb. It is considered the ultimate pinnacle of a serious Hot Wheels collection. A private owner owns this bus and displays it in a personal museum in Maryland. He gives private tours of his collection to Hot Wheels enthusiasts.

The Rear-Loader Beach Bomb was originally known as the "Rear-Loader Beach Bomb" because it had surfboards placed on the rear window. The original version of the Beach Bomb was too top-heavy to handle high-speed corners on Hot Wheels tracks. But Mattel designers redesigned the Beach Bomb and moved the surfboards to the side of the van. They also changed the center of gravity and made the casting wider. This allowed them to pass the supercharger.

The Rear-Loader Beach Bomb was made in two prototypes. Each was made from a hybrid casting with a rear-loader chassis. These cars are made from die-cast metal and have Redline wheels. They are also available in 10 different colors.

The most valuable Hot Wheels toy is the 1969 Rear-Loading VW Beach Bomb in pink. It is a collector's item and is valued at around $150,000. But it's actually a failed experiment. The early version of the Beach Bomb was too top-heavy and too narrow to roll effectively on Hot Wheels tracks.