@DeanGbsn
IF you’re into cars, then diecast models are likely to have been a major inspiration in early life. Enthusiasts of a certain vintage will have collected Dinky Toys, and later came Matchbox and Corgi Toys, but in 1968 an American upstart arrived in the shape of Hot Wheels.
Founded by US toy giant Mattel, Hot Wheels drew inspiration from the late-sixties car scene that pervaded the brand’s home state of California. That meant a range of brightly coloured muscle cars and hot rods that weren’t necessarily accurate replicas, but served Hot Wheels’ mission to make them as fast as possible on the bright-orange track sets that the company also launched.
Fast forward to 2023, and Hot Wheels is celebrating 55 years of making diecast cars of every description. Compared with the original 1968 line-up, the current range is hugely eclectic, with modern production cars, classics, racers of all classes, novelty models, pop-culture tie-ins and even the occasional reappearance of an original casting. As well as the standard supermarket and toy-shop cars for kids, there are
