Hot Wheels uses fan’s custom car for next die-cast model

by joshed 5/20/2019 11:59:00 PM 0 comments

Photographer David Chickering

For the last 50 years, Hot Wheels has been providing collectors with some of the coolest and most unique diecast cars we’ve seen. To celebrate its half-century anniversary, Hot Wheels looked to its fans to find the next exclusive car that will be immortalized and join the ranks of some of Hot Wheels most memorable cars.

In partnership with Walmart, Hot Wheels launched its first ever “Hot Wheels Legends Tour,” the World’s largest traveling car show. The tour was launched to celebrate Hot Wheels 50th anniversary, which saw the tour conduct a 15-stop national search to find the next custom car that was deemed worthy to be made into a 1:64 die-cast toy.

From more than 3,600 custom cars that participated, Hot Wheels chose the one car that they found to be genuinely unique and innovative. That car was the 2JetZ custom car by Luis Rodriguez, a car that was inspired by a fighter plane in honor of American Veterans. Packed with more than 600 horsepower and a driver seat that’s featured in the middle of the vehicle, it shows that Luis had a strong focus on high-performance with high-end design.

Photographer David Chickering

“Hot Wheels has crowned me as a winner, and I get the chance to represent some of the most creative and beautiful designs that I’ve seen. With my car, I wanted to create something from scratch that tested my ability as a builder and I am happy that the 2JetZ has taken me on this journey,” said Luis Rodriguez.

Hot Wheels designers and automotive influencers were on deck to choose the winner of the Legends Tour. From the thousands of vehicles, they looked for authenticity, originality, and a garage spirit. The final team that decided on the winner included Jay Leno, YouTube influencer Tanner Fox, Legendary Hot Wheels car designer Larry Wood, and car enthusiast Magnus Walker.

Creating a die-cast car can take anywhere between 12 to 18 months. Hot Wheels plans to get the 2JetZ car on store shelves by November 2019.

“Hot Wheels has always been about variety and this year’s 15 Legends finalists are a perfect example of that. While 2018’s winner is an open-wheeled jet car, who knows what we will see from next year’s Legends challengers!” said Chris Down Senior VP and Global Brand General Manager, Hot Wheels.