About Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels is one of the most successful toy brands in history, launched by American toy giant Mattel in 1968. The brand was created by Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler, who in 1966 noticed while playing with his children that existing die-cast cars were slow and uninspiring. He assembled a team including a General Motors car designer and rocket scientist with one brief: create the coolest, fastest toy car ever made. The result was revolutionary. The original Hot Wheels featured a unique suspension system using music wire axles and custom plastic bearings that dramatically reduced friction, making them far faster than competitors like Matchbox and Corgi. When Handler saw the prototype rolling across the floor, he exclaimed 'Those are some hot wheels!' - and the iconic name was born. The first 16 models, known as 'The Sweet 16', debuted at the 1968 International Toy Fair with the Custom Camaro becoming the first official Hot Wheels car on May 18, 1968. The brand's success was immediate and enduring. First-year sales hit 16 million units, and Hot Wheels forced the entire die-cast industry to rethink their products. Today, Mattel has produced over 3 billion Hot Wheels cars - more than Ford, GM and Chrysler combined. With over 800 distinct models and 11,000 variations, Hot Wheels has evolved from children's toy to serious collector's item, with rare vintage pieces commanding thousands at auction. Compare Hot Wheels prices across UK retailers on Grocefully. From single cars and track sets to collector editions and multi-packs, find the best deals on the world's best-selling toy car brand that has been thrilling children and collectors for over 55 years.