The MATTEL HOT WHEELS HALL OF FAME is back!

Artist Rendering Courtesy of Mattel, Inc.

In 2003, Mattel marked the 35th anniversary of the Hot Wheels® brand by unveiling the first-ever long-term museum exhibition of Hot Wheels® full-size and die-cast cars at the Petersen Automotive Museum. The Hot Wheels® Hall of Fame included interactive displays and a selection of Hot Wheels® cars, both miniature and full-scale, which embodied the brand’s signature speed, power, performance and attitude.

After a brief hiatus, the Hot Wheels® Hall of Fame returns to the Museum on December 21, 2007 with a redesigned, condensed layout in a new location on the second floor. Like the first exhibit, the new Hot Wheels® Hall of Fame will host a rotating series of exhibits, including full-size versions of some of the most famous Hot Wheels® models ever created. Plans call for the exhibit to initially feature the Twin Mill®, an original Hot Wheels® design that was introduced as a full-size, functional car in 2001 and recently given a thorough reconditioning in preparation for display at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Now spanning nearly four decades, an array of the most significant 1:64-scale to 1:18-scale die-cast Hot Wheels® will also be on display. The exhibit will provide visitors with a look inside the highly prolific Hot Wheels® design studio, via original models, wooden patterns, injection molds and drawings of original vehicle designs. Hot Wheels® cars revolutionized boys’ toys in 1968 with an original line of super-fast customized cars built for speed, power, and performance, wrapped in attitude.  Now almost 40 years later, Hot Wheels® is a global lifestyle brand that represents the coolest cars imaginable in scales from miniature to full-size.  In addition to leading the way with innovative vehicles, playsets and track, Hot Wheels® cars are also popular collectibles for adults.  For the latest information on Hot Wheels® cars, cruise over to www.hotwheels.com