The Story of Hot Wheels: Casting a Legend

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/alextgrf62537
Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=67242317
I'll be honest; this video caused me a lot of grief during a long development hell, so please watch it!
From humble beginnings as a loving father's dream to a dire downfall and a determined resurgence, the story of Hot Wheels is a long and twisty road, and one that has largely escaped thorough documentation until now.
Zero disrespect intended to Andy of Big/Little Car, who is very talented, nor the certain other KZreadr who I may appear to slate - like Top Gear, Hot Wheels (and diecast cars in general) are a subject I am very passionate about and I wish so many people wouldn't just boil it down to the Redlines and Acceleracers, as the story of Hot Wheels is much more three-dimensional than that, and I wanted to get that across.
This video is dedicated to the life and memory of Ryu Asada. One of the kindest and toughest souls I have ever known, whose and passion and love for cars remained with him to the very end.
Supposed to release in March, with patrons having seen the video a full week in advance, but as you may be able to tell from my tone of voice at the end of the video, once again some compounding circumstances put paid to that. I powered through this to make sure everything was 100% finished and polished this time around, even if I wasn't.
This is, to my knowledge, the first time anyone has told anything resembling the story of Hot Wheels in full. It took an awful lot of time to write the script and put this video together, since much of my source material was scattered across the internet. Wikipedia and even the semi-official Hot Wheels Wiki had a lot of blank/conflicting information. I hope no falsehoods have fallen through the cracks, but I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy given that a lot of Hot Wheels' official history has never been disclosed outside of the occasional production number.
Probably the craziest part is that of the 45 years Mattel spent at Hawthorne, 23 of those producing Hot Wheels, I could only find one grainy black and white photo from the late '70s across the whole internet. I also managed to find a similarly blurry satellite photo of the location dating back to 1994, but unfortunately the lot was bulldozed in 2002 to make way for a Ford dealership who relocated to the site the following year, and still stands to this day.
A special shout-out to Bruce Pascal, who along with helping me out at certain points through this video's production, unfortunately (but conclusively) debunked the urban legend that the C3 Corvette was "spoiled" by Hot Wheels, because if that were true, Harry Bradley would surely have talked about it at some point. Neither Bradley, nor any of his colleagues or successors, nor anyone else connected to Mattel has ever publicly spoken of this matter. Details between stories also conflict, in classic urban legend style, with some stating the design was smuggled out through a hollowed cane, and others suggesting the car was developed openly by Bradley and Mattel decided to "surprise" General Motors to gauge their reaction.
In truth, the C3 Corvette was already revealed to the public the previous November at the largest car show in the country. Only around 500,000 people saw the car and got up close with it, meaning that although the car may not have come out for many months thereafter, its design was hardly a secret. Add to this the fact the Mako Shark II had been out since 1965, and anyone with a remote interest in cars could have accurately predicted the appearance of the C3 without the need for corporate espionage. The trademark for Hot Wheels' Corvette was registered after this appearance.
I believe the rumours originated in the mid 1980s - 1990s, when Mattel did in fact spoil the design of the C4 Corvette due to GM expediting the full car's launch until late 1983 as a 1984 model, but after having already sent the toy company the car's design, meant tiny facsimiles of the car had already been built, packaged, and ready for sale from late 1982, when the C4 was supposed to be launched. I believe this story was corrupted, whether willingly or unwillingly, by a prominent Hot Wheels author (possibly in an early issue of the Hot Wheels Newsletter) to reflect the C3 being spoiled instead of the C4, as even now the Redlines have a mystique to them that modern Hot Wheels lack. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, evidence suggests lightning did not in fact strike twice.

Пікірлер: 479

  • @rwes61
    @rwes6129 күн бұрын

    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!

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39933 ай бұрын

    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

    @kl0wnkiller912

    2 ай бұрын

    Same for me...

  • @-oiiio-3993

    @-oiiio-3993

    2 ай бұрын

    @@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...

    @J.C...

    2 ай бұрын

    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

    @crowe668

    24 күн бұрын

    Everything used to be way cooler...

  • @07imprezadude

    @07imprezadude

    21 күн бұрын

    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😁

  • @superfanb5742
    @superfanb57423 ай бұрын

    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

    @khylerin70

    3 ай бұрын

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

  • @rep100Luxio

    @rep100Luxio

    3 ай бұрын

    Ferrari, a scum company

  • @dotarsojat7725

    @dotarsojat7725

    3 ай бұрын

    @@rep100LuxioYeah, what a…capitalist!

  • @2degucitas

    @2degucitas

    3 ай бұрын

    Maisto

  • @dougl.6461

    @dougl.6461

    3 ай бұрын

    It's called. Show me the money

  • @tomcollins5531
    @tomcollins55313 ай бұрын

    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

    @privateinformation2960

    2 ай бұрын

    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

    @karlfonner7589

    2 ай бұрын

    Yep. You’re not the only one

  • @donnysarian

    @donnysarian

    2 ай бұрын

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

  • @Scottocaster6668

    @Scottocaster6668

    Ай бұрын

    Exactly, you and me both ☹️

  • @EarthSurferUSA

    @EarthSurferUSA

    Ай бұрын

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

  • @gregorystiller975
    @gregorystiller9753 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @labajadaman
    @labajadaman2 ай бұрын

    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

    @lucasrem

    Ай бұрын

    @@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 ?

  • @fractaljack
    @fractaljack4 ай бұрын

    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

    @-oiiio-3993

    3 ай бұрын

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

  • @Bort1965
    @Bort1965Ай бұрын

    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!

  • @rufctr3
    @rufctr3 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @dirtyd2316
    @dirtyd23162 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @markcraven8386
    @markcraven83863 ай бұрын

    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

    @kl0wnkiller912

    2 ай бұрын

    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

    @everetttauscher8377

    25 күн бұрын

    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! 🛞

  • @davelangford2439
    @davelangford24393 ай бұрын

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

  • @ebayerr
    @ebayerr3 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @user-up8jx3mt6j
    @user-up8jx3mt6j3 ай бұрын

    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 ?

  • @Bahraini_Carguy
    @Bahraini_Carguy Жыл бұрын

    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

  • @20JK10
    @20JK10Ай бұрын

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

  • @jonpiotrowski3506
    @jonpiotrowski35062 ай бұрын

    The story I read about the time Elliot Handler set up a Hot Wheels track to demonstrate how the cars roll sounded so awesome... I wish I could’ve been there for that demo, and seen the actual cars, and the look on everybody’s face, then the announcement of the order size...wow..!!! Must’ve been something I...!!! Great work on this!!!

  • @CaptainCraigKWMRZ
    @CaptainCraigKWMRZ3 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @ShitterMcGavin
    @ShitterMcGavin3 ай бұрын

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

  • @ady-uk7150
    @ady-uk715025 күн бұрын

    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.

  • @Xsiondu
    @Xsiondu3 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @mattjacomos2795
    @mattjacomos27953 ай бұрын

    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
    @LavaLahaie3 ай бұрын

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

  • @DetectivePhatWeedington
    @DetectivePhatWeedington Жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @r56cooperslci19
    @r56cooperslci19 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @litewatch
    @litewatch4 ай бұрын

    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 ❤

  • @Perceptionisreal
    @Perceptionisreal3 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @oexplorador6840
    @oexplorador68403 ай бұрын

    This toys where my childhood, incredible story and video dude, keep it up with the quality.

  • @martinchristian7270
    @martinchristian72703 ай бұрын

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

  • @dukecraig2402
    @dukecraig24023 ай бұрын

    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".

  • @user-wr5jw1ki5x
    @user-wr5jw1ki5x2 ай бұрын

    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!!

  • @195511SM
    @195511SM3 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @RodgerDodger196
    @RodgerDodger1963 ай бұрын

    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!

  • @daviddavidson7851
    @daviddavidson7851Ай бұрын

    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.

  • @everetttauscher8377
    @everetttauscher837725 күн бұрын

    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.

  • @showbiz3848
    @showbiz38483 ай бұрын

    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

    @kevinkbbaltripsr5061

    Ай бұрын

    I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS COMMENT!! THANK YOU LOL

  • @Clonekiller66
    @Clonekiller663 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @WilliamHaisch
    @WilliamHaischАй бұрын

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

  • @fumedrummer
    @fumedrummer2 ай бұрын

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

  • @I-Libertine
    @I-Libertine3 ай бұрын

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

  • @edwardgensheimer6640
    @edwardgensheimer66402 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @literacylabyrinth4018
    @literacylabyrinth40183 ай бұрын

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

  • @sped6954
    @sped69543 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @christinecrawford
    @christinecrawfordАй бұрын

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

  • @bishoppurvis6363
    @bishoppurvis63633 ай бұрын

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

  • @hollywoodpaladin4021
    @hollywoodpaladin40212 ай бұрын

    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!

  • @mkaleborn
    @mkaleborn3 ай бұрын

    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 KZreadrs race them down elaborate tracks doing ‘colour commentary’ has been a hoot.

  • @user-dl6nv9uv9q
    @user-dl6nv9uv9q3 ай бұрын

    Damn little half brother stole my Hot Wheels 1 at a time & sold them to his buddies . Turns out he was practicing to become a professional theif . If you see a kid stealing Hot Wheels don't be surprised if they end up becoming a carjacker .

  • @EarthSurferUSA

    @EarthSurferUSA

    Ай бұрын

    Give him a Hot Wheels car to keep him company in jail.

  • @MrMrJennings

    @MrMrJennings

    Ай бұрын

    lol😂😂😂

  • @MrThomaskirchner
    @MrThomaskirchner4 ай бұрын

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

  • @tt-rs1457
    @tt-rs14574 ай бұрын

    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......

  • @literacylabyrinth4018
    @literacylabyrinth40184 ай бұрын

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

  • @agostinodibella9939
    @agostinodibella993914 күн бұрын

    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!

  • @user-lp8uk6iu2z
    @user-lp8uk6iu2z3 ай бұрын

    What a trip down memory lane! Thanks brother!

  • @Banditheeler80s
    @Banditheeler80s3 ай бұрын

    I have one of those like Lowrider trucks I painted it red

  • @twistedaxles9126
    @twistedaxles91264 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @albertovasquez5152
    @albertovasquez51522 ай бұрын

    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 😊

  • @SRGIProductions
    @SRGIProductions24 күн бұрын

    There was technically a time before 1997 when Mattel made 1:64 scale motorcycles. In 1970-1971, Mattel released the Rrrumblers line, which were heavily customized/fantasy motorcycles with white bases and transparent wheels that were meant to run on the same track as their contemporary cars at the time. Due to a lack of interest and low sales, the Rrrumblers were quickly discontinued the following year and motorcycles wouldn't be a part of Hot Wheels until 1997.

  • @unclemarksdiyauto
    @unclemarksdiyauto3 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @banditta4life66
    @banditta4life6628 күн бұрын

    I owned an 88 Bill Blass that I basically swapped the interior and suspension from my 83 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. My power train was 5.8 Lighting motor backed with a 6 speed with the 8.8 out of the Turbo Coupe. Unfortunately before I could finish it, it was stolen.

  • @SlickDiecast
    @SlickDiecast3 ай бұрын

    Great research! Thanks for putting this together.

  • @AdaywithJoe
    @AdaywithJoe3 ай бұрын

    This was very informative. Thank you for making it!

  • @mercator79
    @mercator7918 күн бұрын

    Back to my childhood. I gave my old ones to a nephew years ago, including a couple of the sweet 16's albeit not in great condition. FYI 59c in 1970 is about $4.75 today (2024).

  • @MrModelworx
    @MrModelworx3 ай бұрын

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

  • @appraiser1717
    @appraiser17172 ай бұрын

    Great video!! Very interesting and graphic visuals

  • @blakedawson2129
    @blakedawson2129Ай бұрын

    born '65. grandparents ran the Montgomery wards store in town. I had every hot wheels thing made. ran tracks all over the house on rainy nw days. had a closet full of track sets and cars. at 16 I gave it all to my bosses kid who I knew would take care of it.

  • @Steven-em5if
    @Steven-em5ifАй бұрын

    I was born in 1956, so I grew up in the golden age of Hot Wheels. I had every ones, from the powerhouses to the electric motor ones. My mom threw them all out!🥲

  • @shawnmoghadam6346
    @shawnmoghadam6346Ай бұрын

    Wow what a great video! Thanks! Made my day!

  • @carchub
    @carchub2 ай бұрын

    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

  • @killer-bv7xx
    @killer-bv7xx4 ай бұрын

    A amazing video and Entertaining and I found this intuition and a great video actually I would recommend this actually to my friends actually and keep up the good work.

  • @robdude1969
    @robdude19693 ай бұрын

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

  • @rodsdmba1571
    @rodsdmba15712 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @tarstarkusz
    @tarstarkusz3 ай бұрын

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

  • @markcraven8386

    @markcraven8386

    3 ай бұрын

    Same experience. LOL

  • @rwes61
    @rwes6129 күн бұрын

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

  • @danwilson1040
    @danwilson10403 ай бұрын

    I also remember the matchbox factory in Hackney being pulled down in the early to mid 2000s,nostalgia

  • @GrampsD63
    @GrampsD632 ай бұрын

    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 🏁

  • @DavesClassicGarageToursV2
    @DavesClassicGarageToursV211 күн бұрын

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

  • @davenelson8187
    @davenelson81873 ай бұрын

    WOW! You nailed this, thank you for your diligence with this subject. Loved it ❤

  • @1MoreSonicRobot
    @1MoreSonicRobot3 ай бұрын

    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

    @richardtreanton8168

    2 ай бұрын

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

  • @cejannuzi
    @cejannuzi2 ай бұрын

    The Topper Johnny Lightning die-cast cars that came out in 1969 were even faster though.

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39933 ай бұрын

    There were chrome plated Hot Wheels Mustangs, Camaros, and Cougars available only to those who joined the Hot Wheels club in 1968. They came with a badge and membership card.

  • @905cavillac2
    @905cavillac22 ай бұрын

    1st I would like to say a HUGE thank-you to this channel for this very informative and knowledgeable video, well done!👏👏👏 I've had HWs in my hand since I was 3 years old I'm now 55, my son and I are avid collectors and yes we PLAY! personally I really enjoy the card art, some of them are spectacular we have a pretty fair size collection carded loose old new and everthing in between. Are lives have been enriched with diecast and I have made many friends over the years because of these wonderful little toys, so a big shout out to @Mattel for doing what you do and I've always said #hotwheelsforlife!

  • @CineSolutions
    @CineSolutions2 ай бұрын

    Incredible story detail! Plus it's a good lesson in free enterprise business. Great video! Thx for all ur hard work.

  • @johnm3152
    @johnm31522 ай бұрын

    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

  • @donmacquarrie9161
    @donmacquarrie91613 ай бұрын

    Very thorough documentary!!! really in depth....maybe you could do one devoted solely to their Ferrari era

  • @alancranford3398
    @alancranford33982 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @twalatka
    @twalatka2 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @Traph
    @Traph2 ай бұрын

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

  • @ryurc3033
    @ryurc30333 ай бұрын

    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....

  • @JamieAlso
    @JamieAlso3 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @YosimetySam
    @YosimetySam3 ай бұрын

    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👍

  • @matthartley7333
    @matthartley73335 ай бұрын

    Absolutely fantastic video mate, Well done 🍻

  • @greatbasingoldrush
    @greatbasingoldrush7 ай бұрын

    Excellent video the most information Conveyed on any hot wheels documentary

  • @fubarmodelyard1392
    @fubarmodelyard13922 ай бұрын

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

  • @yakacm
    @yakacmАй бұрын

    It's a pity the spectra flame paint, suspension and Delrin bushing were dropped so soon, because of how expensive those items were.

  • @maureencora1
    @maureencora1Ай бұрын

    I was 11 in 1968, I Love Hot Wheels.Then & Now.

  • @scotiajinker8392
    @scotiajinker83923 ай бұрын

    I also had the juice machine cars & track (20:53). The problem with the juice machine cars was that when they crashed into each other it somehow damaged the cell & the cars never went round the track as far.

  • @eggjoe122
    @eggjoe1223 ай бұрын

    Thank you for this amazing documentary.

  • @mikesawyer4707
    @mikesawyer47072 ай бұрын

    I began collecting hot wheels late in life but I had no idea how enjoyable it is to shop for and find collectibles. I currently have over five hundered many are stored in classic hot wheels cases which I also collect.

  • @canoaslan1011
    @canoaslan10113 ай бұрын

    Wow man, This would of taken ages to put together. great work.

  • @anibalbabilonia1867
    @anibalbabilonia18673 ай бұрын

    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!♥️

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