The fourth annual Hot Wheels Legends Tour is nearing the end of its search for the next real-life ride to become a 1:64-scale die-cast Hot Wheels vehicle.
This year, five North American finalists will join the Nov. 4 International finalists to face off at the Global Grand Finale on Nov. 13. Last night, Mattel popped the virtual garage door to reveal the five “built, not bought” finalists from the U.S. and Canada that are in the running to be inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends and immortalized in toy form to be played with by kids and collectors everywhere.
2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour North American Finalists
1991 Porsche 911 Baja
- Owner: TJ Russell
- Location: Sun Valley, California
- About: Chosen as the Mobil 1 Fan Favorite vehicle, the Baja 911 is a true race-ready, Baja 1000 legal reimagination of the iconic Porsche 911. It features a one-off custom suspension design, race-optimized integrated roll cage and fuel cell, all-wheel-drive, light-weight composite body paneling, and a naturally aspirated Porsche 3.8 liter flat-six engine.
2020 Lulu Custom Aluminum Racer
- Owner: Paul Kalenian
- Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
- About: The Lulu is a one-of-a-kind, fully street legal, race-inspired ride. Garage built from sketch to street in just seven months, this Heli arc, all-aluminum monocoque/bulkhead design features a rear, structurally mounted turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 325 hp and 24 PSI. The brainchild of 70-year-old Paul Kalenian, Lulu loosely replicates Mickey Thompson’s 1963 Harvey Aluminum race car.
Scraptona 1969 Daytona Charger Superbird (pictured top)
- Owner: Christopher Palmer
- Location: Macomb, Michigan
- About: The “Scraptona” is a junkyard dream build. Powered by a Richard Petty Racing NASCAR engine, this 740 HP retro-rod turns the better half of 8,300 RPM and is a no-nonsense Alabama knockout. Sporting the right amounts of patina and performance, this stop’s winner is the epitome of garage spirit.
Exoskeleton 2003 Nissan 350Z
- Owner: Ashley Robinson
- Location: San Mateo, California
- About: What began as a wrecked car that was overlooked by most people, this 2003 Nissan was brought back to life by Robinson, who envisioned a Z that stood out from the crowd. With exoskeleton styling mimicking the 350Z’s original body shape, this custom build features forged internals, twin turbos, and many more top-to-bottom modifications that make this car a serious Hot Wheels Legends Tour contender.
High Class 1968 Mercedes Benz 250S
- Owner: Kevin Clarke
- Location: Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
- About: For Clarke and his friend Coleby, this 1968 Mercedes started off as another bad idea. But when tragedy struck — just a week later — Coleby passed away. Clarke decided to finish this project in his friend’s memory. After taking every usable part off of a 1973 Camaro, and many late nights, “High Class” was born. Now finished, this Mercedes-Benz 250S features a custom-built 395 SBC, 6-71 supercharger, a Ford 8.8 rear axle from a junkyard Explorer and ’94 S10 chassis. The interior also sports custom gauges, seats, floor mats, and more. For Clarke, this is more than just a car – it’s therapy, a conversation starter, a learning experience, and most importantly, a tribute to his friend.
To date, three cars have become die-cast toys based on Hot Wheels Legends Tour winners. The 2018 2Jetz and 2019 Nash Metropolitan are available now while 2019’s Custom 1970 Pontiac Trans Am will be making its way to retail in the months ahead.
