The Hot Wheels Legends Tour 2022 has come to a close.
The competition, which spanned several states and countries, wrapped up on Nov. 12 at Jay Leno’s Garage. Out of all the custom builds, Charles Meaux’s 1992 Autozam Scrum mini truck stood out above the rest, literally and figuratively.
“The competition was strong in 2022, but turning a Japanese mini truck into a monster truck was hard to beat,” says Ted Wu, vice president and global head of design of vehicles at Mattel. “As the first truck to be crowned since the inception of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, we hope Craig’s passion project inspires builders and fans from around the world to set big goals and follow their dreams.”
Meaux’s truck, “Texas Toot,” is the first ever truck to win the Hot Wheels Legends Tour.
“I wasn’t expecting to win, so this is a dream come true,” Meaux says. “I wanted to create something that no one else had. I didn’t have previous experience with this sort of fabrication, so it’s awesome that it came out the way it did and to have everybody enjoy the truck.”
Now that the competition is over, Meaux’s truck will be turned into a 1:64 die-cast toy and enter the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends.
At the finals, Hot Wheels also announced the brand’s first adult-facing campaign, “Where Legends are Made.”
“’Where Legends are Made’ was created to expand our reach to more adult auto enthusiasts with an affinity for Hot Wheels and encourage them to celebrate their passion and become collectors,” Wu says. “Membership in our exclusive Red Line Club tripled in 2021, which proves that there is a strong demand for premium limited-edition die-cast cars and a desire for an adult members-only collector community for Hot Wheels die-cast vehicles.”
“Where Legends are Made” seeks to push the brand into pop culture, including fashion, film, and gaming while continuing traditions like the Hot Wheels Legends Tour.
