Stuff You Should Know Selects: How Hot Wheels Work
May 22, 2021
Rev up for a nostalgic journey through the world of Hot Wheels! Discover the toy's fascinating origins and its impressive evolution since 1968. Highlights include iconic 1970s designs, clever marketing strategies, and the allure of collecting. Explore how Hot Wheels outshone competitors like Matchbox and the cultural impact it’s had on childhood memories. The blend of humor and nostalgia offers an entertaining glimpse into the joy these tiny cars have brought over the years.
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Chuck's Missing Collection
- Chuck Bryant had a large Hot Wheels collection as a child.
- He doesn't know where they are now and wonders if any are valuable.
Hot Wheels: Top Vehicle Manufacturer
- Hot Wheels is the number one vehicle manufacturer globally, surpassing the big four Detroit automakers combined.
- This is because they are much cheaper to produce and collectors buy many.
Hot Wheels Origin
- Elliot Handler, husband of Barbie creator Ruth Handler, created Hot Wheels to compete with Matchbox cars.
- The name "Hot Wheels" came from a designer's hot rod, and early commercials emphasized "hot" over "wheels".