Designing a Hot Wheels

Thanks for all of the replies! I knew there would be people here who would appreciate it!

As for a full size, I would love to do it. Ya never know what the future might hold!

I don't know an exact time that the 1/64 cars are coming out, just that it will be in 2008.

Thanks again everyone! -Steve

 

I just realized I didn't answer some of the questions... It is not a clay model. I did design the entire car in a 3D computer modeling program, and it was milled out of renfoam. The wheels and all of the bright work is all milled, or hand formed aluminum. Unfortunately I can't send out photos of the build. It was built in Ford's fabrication shops (buy a bunch of guys that KICK ASS!) There is stuff in the background of those photos that can't be shown. Sorry about that.
-Steve

 

Your design is great. I agree with everyone else, you should build it full size. Or better yet get Ford to do it (though that will never happen).

Let us know when we can get one of them for our very own.

MRAK

 

Are they planning on doing this every year? Kinda like a miniature Craftsman's Guild.

 

i pay a dollar for that ... very cool.

 

that is nice . very cool you got to get that on the road like the Twin~Mill..........

 

Larry Wood..... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/member.php?u=14363

Cool design......I had to give up on HotWheels, It was getting to be too much of an addiction.......

 

Larry Wood is one of the nicest guys around. He should be, he has the coolest job on the planet!

 

I have sat and talked to Larry Woods at Mattel a few times. A really cool guy. He's semi retired the last time I spoke to him. He works on his full sized Hot Rods somewhere in Long Beach. - DV

Portfolio

 

Very cool car Steve. Congrats on being selected. So, you're a designer with Ford?

Tony Miller (50Fraud) was VP of design for Hot Wheels. Retireded now.

 

Retarded now? Yeah, seems like.

Stilmore, that's a nice piece. I'm glad Mattel is doing something to encourage pro design input from outside the company (other than just straight licensing).

 

Ford needs a guy like you..they really need to get their head out of the sand and start building cars that the people want instead of what they want us to have..or what government sanctions are pushing on us. I bet that model looks cool as hell on your desk! Nice job!

 

Amazing

 

i still have all my hot wheels from when i was little ..still buy them...i wish they would stop making the cheezy cartoon stuff.

 

Mattel declared around 2003 that they were no longer interested in the collector market, and that their proper business was to sell toys to kids. They were convinced that the caricature/cartoon stuff was the way to interest a bunch of kids.

With the exception of the "Cars" licensed toys, which have been wildly successful, there is no indication that the caricature stuff sold better than what they were doing previously. I notice that this year, they've been doing things that suggest that they are interested in collectors after all (the invitation to manufacturers that started this thread, the things they showed at SEMA, et al). I hope so; I think grown-up Hot Wheels kids are a huge market that has never been properly addressed.

 

He could show us, but then he'd have to kill us!!!!

Very cool man, I saw some pics in somebodies SEMA gallery, pretty sure it wasn't KIRK's thumbs up coverage though.

Oggie

 

Larry actually signed autographs with me. I'm sure the people walking up for autographs where like "Who is this clown, I want Larry's autoghaph!" lol

50Fraud, I saw some comments about you, were you a Ford or a Mattel guy?

 

The paint on that actually has me reconsidering the color of one of my cars.

 

I was a toy guy. Started at Mattel in '68, worked for a bunch of toy companies over 35 years, finished as VP Design on Hot Wheels '99-'03.

I was, and am, a lifelong car guy, and that often conflicted with some aspects of the Mattel culture.

 

I'm kinda grown up (32, at least I'm a 'grown up' as far as my daughter is concerned, although my mother would say otherwise ), and I KNOW that there's a massive market out there for the 'grown ups...unlike kids, we have enough pocket money to buy them by the handfull, including multiples if they have different features like wheels or paint...

Love your work (even the 'shady' flames....), would love to see more.... great to see people with passion doing what they do best...and being supported by the 'Big' guys....

Cheers,

Drewfus

 

I agree! When will it be available, and will you autograph mine if I send it to you?

 

Sweet!

We'd all like details on how you built such a professional model from your concept sketches.

 

Sweet....even though I'm not into toy cars. Always struck me as being like playing with a Barbie doll when you've got a hot wife.....I've got a real car, so why would I need to play with a toy one?

 

I see some Merc influences in the front and rear windows. Really cool! I noticed that Larry Wood is a HAMB member now. Hope he sees this thread.

 

I remember seeing pictures of a V8 60 powered motorcycle with skirted Indian Chief style fenders in a bike magazine that was owned by a Hot Wheels designer, ...anyone know the one I'm talking about?

 

Yup. That was the "Handy Hog", built by John Handy. He was the Sr.VP of Design over all boys' toys at Mattel. HRM 10/2000 had an article on all the enthusiasts' vehicles belonging to the Hot Wheels staff.

 

i have buddies in their late 40's that make a living buying and selling hotwheels. at least you don't run into issue's with asshole neighbors on the storage issue. cool car!

 

Man... that's beautiful!

Is there a web site where all of the other designs are shown?

Great craftsmanship!