Mattel’s Hot Wheels Legends Tour continues to roll on with a hybrid format mixing virtual and live events this year.
At this week’s stop, Mattel officially unveiled the long-awaited 1:64-scale die-cast version of the 2020 winner: Riley Stair’s tricked-out 1970 Pontiac Trans Am. Stair’s ride was crowned as last year’s winner during a virtual event last fall. Beginning in November, the new vehicle will be available for sale as part of Mattel’s Hot Wheels mainline — the $1 vehicles sold at retailers around the world — as part of the “New for 2022” collection.
“We love all cars, but to be turned into a Hot Wheels that is sold around the world, the build needs to be extra special and more unique and creative than every car around it,” says Ted Wu, vice president and global head of design for vehicles at Mattel. “Riley Stair built a masterpiece that we know will be as exciting to see on the shelf as it is on the road.”
Stair’s Trans Am is the third Hot Wheels Legends Tour winner to make its way into toy departments following Greg Salzillo’s custom build, The Nash (aka “Nashole”) from the 2019 Tour and Luis Rodriguez’ 2JetZ from the 2018 Tour.
The fourth annual Hot Wheels Legends Tour culminates on Nov. 12 with an in-person global grand finale and live stream event in which one “built, not bought” custom ride will be selected to be inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends and immortalized as a 1:64-scale die-cast toy.
Finalists so far this year include a 1968 Mercedes Benz 250S from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada; a custom aluminum racer named “Lulu” from Santa Fe, New Mexico; the 1969 Daytona Charger Superbird “Scraptona” from Macomb, Michigan; the Miami-winning 1929 “Loosie” Ford Model A; a 1975 Opel Manta from Garden City, Michigan; and a custom 2003 Nissan 350Z from San Mateo, California.
