|
Hot Wheels is a popular brand of toy automobile, introduced by U.S. toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to that brand as well.
Most Hot Wheels cars measure about 2½ inches (6.4cm) in length, and are approximately 1:64 scale.
Aside from their popularity as toys, Hot Wheels cars are also popular collectibles. Mattel estimates that 41 million children, mostly boys, grew up playing with the toys, the average collector has over 1,550 cars, and children between the ages of 5 and 15 have an average of 41 cars.
The Hot Wheels brand also sold plastic track on which the cars could be slid down and placed to make interesting jumps and loops. A dual set of tracks could be set up and using a starting gate a race could be conducted. Later sets had both a plastic starting gate and finishing flag which would be tripped by the first car although a visual ascertainment was usually sufficient.
|
