Hot Wheels

October 6, 2005 9:22 PM

Hot Wheels. The 2005 Hot Wheels Convention is going on right now. There are a few days left if you are within easy reach of Irvine, CA. That forty years later some "kids" still love these cars amazes me.
posted by caddis (19 comments total)

I am here at the hotel, and I was here last year, but both times for other reasons. Given the weird coincidence of being at the convention hotel two years in a row I just had to post it. It is a bit geeky to be sure; kind of like a Magic Cards convention. Nevertheless, The folks here seem to be having a blast. They have some pretty great cars around and a few tracks set up. They are more into the unique cars, while I just love to watch them go down the track. I hear that one went for $13,000 today! I should never have let mom through out my old collection, the early sixties cars fetch nice prices.
posted by caddis at 9:23 PM on October 6, 2005

It's all about the red stripe on the hot wheels tires, right? Those are the only ones worth anything these days?
posted by mathowie at 9:25 PM on October 6, 2005

Ah ... memories of the "orange track" and Jerome Lemelson's litigation:

"Another case centered on a flexible track toy for miniature cars for which Lemelson had submitted patent applications in 1967. The Mattel Corporation introduced Hot Wheels® the next year, and it became one of its most widely sold items. Hot Wheels® was based on a concept that Lemelson had developed and documented for the Patent Office, and he sued Mattel for infringement. A twenty-two-year legal battle ensued; a $71 million settlement in Lemelson's favor in 1989 was overturned on appeal in 1992." [source]

posted by ericb at 9:36 PM on October 6, 2005

I collected Matchbox cars myself. Of course, they're one and the same these days....
posted by linux at 10:00 PM on October 6, 2005

Never too old for something like the granddaddy of all dump trucks. (technically no longer OT since Mattel owns both Matchbox and Hot Wheels)

More MB Superkings here.
posted by kurumi at 10:01 PM on October 6, 2005

I also collected the Matchbox cars, linux. The Matchbox vs. Hotwheels debates were as heated as those of Atari vs. Intellivision and Rock vs. Disco.

Oh, and disco still sucks.
posted by horsewithnoname at 10:12 PM on October 6, 2005

" I should never have let mom through out my old collection, the early sixties cars fetch nice prices."

A message to moms everywhere, no matter what stupid thing your son is collecting, DON'T THROW IT OUT.


((and never open something that is unopened or give it to another kid, my friends vintage TMNT's just got torn out of the package by an infant a few weeks ago))
posted by furiousxgeorge at 10:13 PM on October 6, 2005

ToyFilter
posted by wfrgms at 10:53 PM on October 6, 2005

First Barbie then Hot Wheels? We need a Mattelfilter.

That orange track made the nastiest whuppin' switch ever---as many a disobedient child knows.
posted by sourwookie at 11:39 PM on October 6, 2005

Matchbox cars were for sissy-boys and booger-eaters. NYAH.
posted by keswick at 11:54 PM on October 6, 2005

These Johnny Lightning muscle cars rock.
posted by maryh at 12:07 AM on October 7, 2005

a ha! a circular link to thread below !
posted by doogyrev at 12:48 AM on October 7, 2005

I always thought Corgi cars were better myself.
posted by macdara at 1:11 AM on October 7, 2005

Wow, when I read "hot wheels," I was fully expecting to see one of these. Thanks for the accidental nostalgia.
posted by leapingsheep at 5:48 AM on October 7, 2005

I collected Matchbox cars myself. Of course, they're one and the same these days....
Careful, them's fighting words in some circles.
posted by tetsuo at 5:51 AM on October 7, 2005

That orange track made the nastiest whuppin' switch ever---as many a disobedient child knows.

Ha! I thought my mother was the only one who did that. Ah, memories... *wipes a tear*
posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:22 AM on October 7, 2005

And speaking of mothers and throwing things out, my brother and I have never let her forget that she once gave the Salvation Army some 'junk'--a very old Lionel Train set, don't know what gauge or whatever but the cars were *big*: about ten inches long. As Bill Bryson says in Neither Here Nor There, (I'm paraphrasing): I don't know how much they would be worth now, but surely enough for a quick trip to the dementia clinic.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:27 AM on October 7, 2005

Matchbox cars were for sissy-boys and booger-eaters. NYAH.

*glares*

Actually, although my carrying case was Matchbox, I had Hot Wheels cars in it, too. This probably violates some fundamental rule but I don't care, because I'm a rebel, man.
posted by jonmc at 8:06 AM on October 7, 2005

I remember getting this briefcase thing once christmas, and being a little kid, I didn't do a good job of hiding my disgust (a briefcase for a kid for christmas?)
Then I took it out of the box/wrapper and discovered it was a hotwheels/matchbox briefcase for holding all your cars and there were some cars in it! My parents rock, they were always messing with me... I also remember having the hugest hotwheels track that started on top of the top of the pinball machine, down to the ground, back up on the pooltable, some loop da loops, then down the stairs (my dad bought a BUNCH of track dirt cheap at this swapmeet, it was awesome).
Hmm, I'm revisiting the idea of having kids one day....
posted by imaswinger at 8:44 AM on October 7, 2005