50 Years Of Hot Wheels: A History, The Cars, And The Brand

This piece of news doesn't surprise Michael Warnock. A New Yorker with a huge collection of these wheels, he literally lives, eats, and breathes with this brand. So what made this car so famous? How did it manage to bag the throne of the best? Here's what you need to know.

Challenge has always been a friend to this car company. The players always have to think about, how fast can they go? Will it nail the jump? Will the car make it through the loops? These are some common thoughts that race through their heads. It is not just a mere toy. With time the brand has mushroomed into a successful franchise and came with another level of multi-channel play experience. It became the authentic lifestyle brand in gaming, digital platforms, and merchandise. Now in its 50th year, Hot Wheels cars are the number one best-selling toy car globally, with 17.5 Hot Wheels sold every second.

Birth of a new avatar

The first set of die-cast cars was the “sweet 16”. It included customized designs based on real-life rods. One of the most interesting facts about Hot Wheels reflected California's custom car culture. Earlier that time, every car used to share the same traits, but when it came to speed, power, and performance, Hot Wheels cars are one of a kind!

The fascinating brand strategy

So what is the secret behind building a brand that stays relevant and on the top of the list for over 50 years? Moreover, how does it become a cult brand? Most answers lie beneath the story of this brand's origin. When a husband-wife duo ran a parent company called Mattel, they entered into a business where they used to make photo frames in a garage. They used to make dollhouses by using scraps. But later, they put their energy into the right place.

The couple did what they do best, i.e. making toys. Soon the time came when they smelt the success, and the business flourished. And when the right time struck, the world came to know about some popular toys like Barbie dolls.

When Matt started to create Hot Wheels, little did they know that soon their names would be written with golden words for creating history! Elliott Handler challenged his designing team and later returned with this fantastic wheels-on-fire.

The Magic struck hard

The moment his team created the magic cars, he was pretty obvious with his reaction. His first words were, “That's some Hot Wheels.” And this is how the brand got the name. Next, they created the 16 original miniatures based on real-life cars. Each car was a detailed and engineered marvel, and the paint jobs were simply outstanding to say the least. It only showed that no one had ever put so much effort into creating toys before. 

Maintained the legacy and going on till now

Since the 1980s, Mattel kept the brand relevant by placing their miniature cars into Mc Donald's happy meals. They even conjoined with Kellogg's and became a special part of kids' lives for years. Later in the 1990s, they signed deals with five Formula 1 teams. Everything was going so smoothly, as if some divine force guided their marketing decisions. This notion infused fresh excitement into the brand.

Conclusion

Even now, the brand continues to be the best childhood memory for kids across the globe, which makes the brand live on. Some actual clubs host events for collectors and also customizers. Some of them are the Blue Real Riders Club and the Red Line Club. The best part is that the prices of Hot Wheels cars have never changed since the year 1968. So, if all of these factors do not make you love a brand like this, then what will?