"Hot Wheels" Creator Dies

[Jimbeaux]

I am not sure if "Hot Wheels" was as big over there as here, but it certainly was a big part of my childhood:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obitu...

[MX7]

The funeral has some real possibilities.

RIP.

[Police State]

Jim, this was where it was at for many this side of the pond.

http://www.matchbox1-75.co.uk/

The 'Hot Wheels' stuff always felt slightly 'cheaper' and less durable than the 'Made in Britain' product.

[jas xjr]

Hotwheels outsell matchbox by twenty to one in our shop. They are both now made by the same company.
I prefer matchbox

[Uhura fighter]

MX7 said:

The funeral has some real possibilities.

RIP.

Loop the loop?

I had Hot Wheels cars as a kid. RIP

[mattviatura]

Police State said:

Jim, this was where it was at for many this side of the pond.

http://www.matchbox1-75.co.uk/

WHY did you do that? I'm gonna be hours on there.

[Kwai Chang Caine]

I remember fondly the day I got my first HotWheels in the 80s.

A red corvette.

Simple times.

[Pints]

Kwai Chang Caine said:

I remember fondly the day I got my first HotWheels in the 80s.

A red corvette.

Simple times.

I've still got a box of Matchbox/Hot Wheels in the garage. each car is individually wrapped in tissue paper, just as I kept them when I was a child.

[thehawk]

jas xjr said:

Hotwheels outsell matchbox by twenty to one in our shop. They are both now made by the same company.
I prefer matchbox

When I was a kid I had Matchbox and thought Hotwheels looked cheap/gaudy - however these days it is the opposite way around, I think Matchbox have gone downhill a lot. My son has dozens of hot wheels, maybe one or two Matchbox cars.

[Jimbeaux]

Police State said:

Jim, this was where it was at for many this side of the pond.

http://www.matchbox1-75.co.uk/

The 'Hot Wheels' stuff always felt slightly 'cheaper' and less durable than the 'Made in Britain' product.

I am referring to Hotwheels from the late 60s early 70s. They were metal affairs with an actual suspension of some sort. Not sure what came later.

Edited by Jimbeaux on Monday 25th July 20:12

[Jimbeaux]

Pints said:

Kwai Chang Caine said:

I remember fondly the day I got my first HotWheels in the 80s.

A red corvette.

Simple times.

I've still got a box of Matchbox/Hot Wheels in the garage. each car is individually wrapped in tissue paper, just as I kept them when I was a child.

Could be money in that, like unwrapped original Star Wars gear.

[Eric Mc]

In the 70s, Mattel Hotwheels were heavilly advertised here in the UK - much more than Matchbox were. But Matchbox had a headstart since they had been around in one form or other since the 1950s.

Hotwheels spurred Matchbox on to "jazz up" their range.

[Kwai Chang Caine]

Pints said:

I've still got a box of Matchbox/Hot Wheels in the garage. each car is individually wrapped in tissue paper, just as I kept them when I was a child.

That's nothing to be ashamed of!

I wish mine were still both around and in cherished condition. I have boxes full of old, half destroyed cars, tranformers, he-men etc etc etc.

One day I will rebuild a perfect, pristine collection of them all in a purpose built games room. My Mrs thinks I'm mad!

[BigBen]

Hotwheels cars were always a bit cheaper than the Matchbox equivalent but were also never quite as well made. I think I had about 2 Hotwheels cars in my collection, 50+ Matchbox and maybe 5 Majorette. The Hotwheels example was a 'funny car' dragster based on a Corvette.

[Police State]

Jimbeaux said:

Police State said:

Jim, this was where it was at for many this side of the pond.

http://www.matchbox1-75.co.uk/

The 'Hot Wheels' stuff always felt slightly 'cheaper' and less durable than the 'Made in Britain' product.

I am referring to Hotwheels from the late 60s early 70s. They were metal affairs with an actual suspension of some sort. Not sure what came later.

I'm also referring to the same period; but I think perhaps the Hawk put it better in his post; the Hotwheels stuff felt gaudy; brash even!. And perhaps therein lies the difference (at the time) between the two societies on opposite sides of the pond.

Anyway, c'mon Jim, show us your best hotwheels (from the net) and I'll show you my best matchboxes.

[jas xjr]

I had matchbox as a kid but poked the glass out and filled it with plasticine to make it go faster. Later I graduated to painting them badly.

[alfaman]

well I moved from the UK to the US in 1969 as an 8 year old with some matchbox cars. Hot wheels were waaaaaay better due to the wire axles and free running wheels - they would run for miles on a hard floor Or hot wheels track.

The styling was also much more imaginative with futuristic cars and souped up versions of surf-dude cars that made you dream of being in california.

Bit better than a morris marina!!

[Jimbeaux]

Police State said:

Jimbeaux said:

Police State said:

Jim, this was where it was at for many this side of the pond.

http://www.matchbox1-75.co.uk/

The 'Hot Wheels' stuff always felt slightly 'cheaper' and less durable than the 'Made in Britain' product.

Alas, I will have to go digging.
I am referring to Hotwheels from the late 60s early 70s. They were metal affairs with an actual suspension of some sort. Not sure what came later.

I'm also referring to the same period; but I think perhaps the Hawk put it better in his post; the Hotwheels stuff felt gaudy; brash even!. And perhaps therein lies the difference (at the time) between the two societies on opposite sides of the pond.

Anyway, c'mon Jim, show us your best hotwheels (from the net) and I'll show you my best matchboxes.

[Jimbeaux]

alfaman said:

well I moved from the UK to the US in 1969 as an 8 year old with some matchbox cars. Hot wheels were waaaaaay better due to the wire axles and free running wheels - they would run for miles on a hard floor Or hot wheels track.

The styling was also much more imaginative with futuristic cars and souped up versions of surf-dude cars that made you dream of being in california.

Bit better than a morris marina!!

There is a vote for the yank version!

[Eric Mc]

Hot Wheels were THe Wacky Races.

Matchbox was The Archers.

Anybody remember Husky die-casts - which were similar in size to Matchbox and Hot Wheels?