Anybody here work for Mattel/Hot Wheels?

Never make the mistake of infringing on any company's patents or trademarks or copyrights. You just can't afford the legal fees, fines, confi****ion and s****ping of merchandise, jail term and other goodies that come with that error in judgement.

 

Larry — That is a cool idea. Clearly the folks above have a better idea how to do this, but I can tell you that I would get one (or two) for my boy. He loves the Showdown, it is the only real show he comes to with me. —*MRAK

 

What's up Dan! Hey your rendering on the art show was cool to see again.

Yeah, Dan is right I work for Castline Inc. We produce the M2 Machines die cast, www.M2Machines.com , check out our cars when you get a chance.

The type of car you are looking for is a code 3 (like mentioned before) or you can just basically call it a promo. To be honest these are a pain in the **** for the manufacturer. For us, it takes away from my time to design the car so it meets our standards, we simply just don't just slap on any logo on our cars. New tampo plates must be made for the graphics and or logo. The first samples must get approved by the licensors (GM, Ford, Dodge & Chrysler) no matter how small the run, then packaged and shipped out.

Even if this all goes smoothly, we must find time to run let's say 500 cars for example. They must stop the regular production line, set up the new paint, tampos, tooling molds and any other items. Also, take into consideration the printing of the packaging, we run 1,000's of packaging cards at a time. To print the 500 special cards is going to cost more, like anything the more you buy the better the price.

But, if you really want something truly collectable you must keep the production numbers low. For example we do a limited edition chrome car for our line. It's a pain for us to do and we loose money on them but it helps the collectibility of our cars. We just cut the number from around 400 to 100. A chrome 1970 Chevelle just sold on ebay for $69.

You could always go with someone like Liberty Promotions who is set up for all this. I am not 100% sure, but I don't believe they are licensed by the big three. I could be wrong. You basically need to decide if you want a toy or collectable. I would be more than happy to talk to you next week if you like. I am actually working on a couple of promo cars right now for some customers. Give me a call at 626-357-8219 ext. 203, or just ask for Sean.

Here are a couple of images to tease you guys with. The '55 Pontiac and '54 Chevy are 1/64. The black 210 hardtop (the first time EVER IN DIE CAST OF ANY SCALE!!!) is 1/24, isn't she pretty.

Sean

 

HAMBer "future elements" works for them.
....and, of course 50Fraud did, he's retired and playing full time with the big cars!

If the HAMB wanted to do a limited car, I'd be in for sure! Keep in mind you'd have to utilize an existing car. Essentially, a repaint. Would be neat to do one based on HW's "adult collector" line....better detail, a lot of vintage offerings.

 

Here are two brand new castings that will be in next week.

Sean

 

Dude, there is something wrong with that Merc model. I think the molds are a little 'out'.
If I didn't know any better Id say that was un-chopped but we all know they came off the production line chopped, dumped with spats and a Nailhead in them.....


PS,
Some seriously cool stuff!

 

Doc, you so freak'n got me! I actually froze thinking that we screwed up somewhere, DOH!

Thanks,
Sean

 

Sorry man, cruel huh? but thanks for the laugh!! I dont remember seeing them over here, you guys have an Aussie importer?

 

Let me talk to the sales guys next week. I know they where talking to someone who handles Australia.

Sean

 

I like the 51 fender skirts on the Merc.

 

I checked into this a few years back for my brother n law's race team. Very expensive. And they are NOT made in the USA, if you know what I mean. When I asked why the special runs were so expensive versus the 99 cent cars in the stores, the rep basically said those were give away items. They counted on the return business of collectors and kids to purchase other Hot Wheels products that had more profit built in and make up for the losses on the 99 cent cars. Gary

PS I ended up making 6 custom Pro Stock truck models for his teams sponsors and friends. Just 6 cars was a nightmare in dis***embly, stripping, repainting, lettering. But they looked pretty cool.

 

I thought it would be cool to get some Atomic Punk hot wheels made....I was told that it would be a minimum of about 20 grand to do it. Therefore, no Atomic Punk hot wheels. ha ha ha

 

Just take it out of your world tour money.

 

I already spent that....on a pay toilet. ha ha ha

 

I had these made for my customers as a give aways, and they were reasonable to have made. Just over $1000.00 for 750.



http://www.lapelpinsplus.com/ Did a great job, and I had them in about a week from the day I ordered them.

 

I used to be a designer for Hot Wheels. I still do a lot of freelance for them.

 

Unfortunately they don't do that anymore. They used to. In fact a guy named Dave Wiese was in charge of that but they got rid of the division. Not very profitable for a big corporation. Someone might have answered this question for you but I thought I would throw that out there for ya.

 

Sean,
Anything new in the Auto-thentics line?

Keep up the good work!

 

when i'm at a machine show (food processing) the orkin guys always have promo hot wheel orkin exterminator trucks. usually by the end of the show they are willing to trade whats left over for some really killer cookies from one of our customers. the really strange thing was the last one was a white bronco like OJ'S. ten years ago they were trading for $90 bucks each. one thing i have learned about hotwheel collectors is if you walk up and say "i have a hotwheel i bet you have never seen!" and 100% of the time its instant sale!

 

I think between you and Fritz .. with your Bubble top cars.. they would sell very fast.. get those in a two car pack.. high quality just like your cars.. I would buy those..

 

I think the company that made the cars for the FROG FOLLIES is Racing Champions. Can't remember for sure and they are all packed up for the move or I would go see.
Anyway they were nice little cars.

48 Poncho

 

Why not do something a little more home made? I have a couple neat old toy cars from the 40's. One is pressed tin, the other is rubber moulded. both have nails for axles with tiny wheels. simple. cheap.

 

I have tried to send emails to see if there was interest in doing something with my '57 Caddy but never got replies from companies like JADA and Hot Wheels. I guess the they like offering the generic type cars like Sean72 has shown or are they are afraid to approch owners of cool rides other than Rick Dore?

Is there any process to submit a car idea to the companies or designers?

Brian

 

hot wheels already has a chopped 57 cad in thier collectible line, I think a d'agostino car.

 

I think Ertl does special orders.

 

Everyone needs to email Mattel and ask for these cars. I know a couple of guys that work at Mattel, they thought my car was cool enough to make resin model kits of my car that I am selling online and at shows, but the Mattel corporation thought my car was too retro for Hotwheels.

 

does someone on here still work for them? has anyone ever thought about a Hamb Andy car? they could put some of the profits towards cancer research, maby donate so much a car, I think with the story behind it, it would be a great seller.

 

When I was 9 or 10 I sent in a new design for "splittin' image III"... I got a polite letter back stating that they couldn't accept my design without paying me.

So I thought... "And the problem is???"

 

I would buy those up in a heart beat.. Mattel shouldnt cast a blind eye to the New Builds of today..