UK car owners can once again compete for the chance to have their car reimagined in 1:64 scale as the Hot Wheels Legends Tour returns for 2024. In addition to seeing their modified vehicle immortalised and enjoyed by fans around the world, the winner’s ride will be inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends.
New for 2024 is a partnership with the Gravity Show on August 24 and 25. Held at the NEC, Birmingham, the UK’s largest modified and supercar show will host the three finalists, with the difficult task of judging falling to a team led by Hot Wheels’ designer Craig Callum. The UK winner will then compete against aspiring car builders from around the world at the Global Semi-Final on November 2 and the Global Grand Finale on November 11 to determine the car that will transform into a die-cast sold around the world.
Now in its seventh year, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour continues to thrive at the heart of the global car community. New countries including UAE and Columbia join the Tour in 2024 that last year saw Chimera, a modified Mazda MX-5 from New Zealand, be crowned and recreated as a toy car to be enjoyed by fans of all ages.
For the third consecutive year, the UK winner – in 2023 represented by Michael Wallhead’s MG-Beast – beat a record number of entries to reach the Global Finale. Coupled with Lee Johnstone’s 1969 Volvo P1800 gasser winning the competition overall in 2021 – the first time a non US car had succeeded – it underlines the UK’s place and standing in worldwide car culture.
Remaining true to its judging criteria, Hot Wheels will seek authenticity, creativity and ‘garage spirit’ from the UK entrants. Legends Tour judges are looking for extreme, on-trend, relevant vehicles while also considering the builder’s overall creativity and how the project stands out from the crowd. Evidence of early mornings, late nights and determination will also earn extra points. Following last year’s success, an online fan vote via the show’s website, will fast track one entrant to the UK final at SlammedUK’s Gravity event.
“The dedication and enthusiasm we see at Hot Wheels Legends Tour events around the world keep us motivated to build on the tour every year to find more ways to celebrate custom car builders and their drive to become legendary,” says Ted Wu, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Design for Vehicles at Mattel. “The UK always blows us away with unique cars that are worthy of being recreated as Hot Wheels. From sleeper classics from the 60s and 70s, wild one-off customs, iconic race cars to the latest dramatic modified supercars, the sheer diversity and quality make the UK final a tough judgement but always offer true legends.”
To achieve ‘Legendary’ status and see their unique car lined up on the shelves of toy stores around the world, entrants just need to upload a short video and brief description, highlighting its creativity, authenticity and ‘garage spirit’ at www.hotwheelsuklegendstour.co.uk before July 5. Vehicles can be either new or a classic, road or track, with the ultimate winner entering the hallowed Hot Wheels Garage of Legends and securing a lasting legacy in the global car community.
Partners for the 2024 Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK include Smyths Toys, Falken Tyres and Yuasa.
To learn more about the Hot Wheels Legends Tour in the UK visit www.hotwheelsuklegendstour.co.uk and follow #HotWheelsLegendsTour.
Hot Wheels Facts
- Hot Wheels is the leading die-cast brand in the UK, available at Smyths Toys, The Entertainer, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco and independent toy shops.
- Founded in 1968, Hot Wheels is the number one selling toy worldwide with over 16 cars sold every second.
- Hot Wheels continues to be a key influence on car culture, inspiring full-scale designers, car builders and tuners.
- Hot Wheels is all about the challenger spirit – its founder Elliot Handler embodied that spirit when he founded Hot Wheels.
- Hot Wheels’ original design team included a car designer and a rocket scientist. They had a brief to create a toy car that was cooler and performed better than the competition.
- The inaugural set was called ‘Sweet 16’ and today is highly coveted. It featured a mix of custom cars and ‘rods.
- To date, over eight billion have been sold.
- The most valuable Hot Wheels car is said to be the ‘Beach Bomb’ VW bus in pink. Never released to the public, its value has been estimated at $150,000.
- In 2022, Hot Wheels announced it is working on a new live-action movie.