The Hot Cars That Inspired Hot Wheels - News

We saw that Hot Wheels are celebrating its 55th birthday on 18th May - and as we're all car fanatics here at the TrackDays office, it sent us into a nostalgic spin!

There were always two types of people when it came to Hot Wheels: those who didn't care about damaging the cars and played with them relentlessly, and those who preferred to keep them in pristine condition and simply admire them.

For the former, there was nothing quite like racing their cars down homemade ramps, feeling the thrill of speed and the satisfaction of victory. The latter, however, were content to bask in the beauty of their unscathed models, displaying them on shelves and preserving them in their original packaging.

Whether you were a player or an admirer, Hot Wheels cars always held a special place in the hearts of those who grew up with them, that's why we wanted to look back at a few of the original cars which inspired the first ever set of Hot Wheels' cars to be produced, dubbed the 'Sweet Sixteen'. While we won't go over all of them, here are some of our favourites. It's playtime!

• 1967 Chevrolet Corvette

The 1967 Corvette was considered to be the pinnacle of the second-generation Corvettes. The car featured a number of upgrades from previous models, including a redesigned hood and front end, restyled fender vents, and new taillights that became an iconic feature of the Corvette.

With a few produced with a race ready L88 powerhouse engine under the bonnet, the car's lightweight fibreglass body and powerful engine options made it one of the fastest and most capable sports cars of its time.

Overall, the 1967 Chevrolet Corvette was an iconic sports car that remains highly sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts to this day. Its timeless design, powerful engine options, and impressive performance capabilities have ensured its place in automotive history as a true classic.

• 1967 Ford Mustang

The Mustang that inspired the first set of Hot Wheels cars was also part of the first generation of Mustangs produced by Ford, helping it define the 'pony car' category. It featured a sleek, fastback body style that gave the car a sporty, aggressive look, and was available with a range of powerful engine options.

What endeared the car so much to the public was its general affordability considering the amount of power and control it was producing. It gave many people a chance to own a 'sports car', which has only helped it gain its cult status over the decades.

• 1968 Chevrolet Stingray

Rumour has it that the 'father' of Hot Wheels, Harry Bradley, snuck out the blueprint designs for this car in his cane when he left General Motors, and that was how it made its way out into the public eye through the shape of a toy.

The car's sleek, aerodynamic body style with its distinctive side vents rose to fame in the 1960s popular TV show 'Route 66' and continued to build on its reputation the more people managed to get behind its wheels and experience the car's handling and powerful acceleration, with the engine capable of 430 bhp.

• 1967 Pontiac Firebird

Introduced as a direct competitor to Ford's Mustang, General Motors' Pontiac Firebird was based on the same platform as the Chevrolet Camaro but had a unique design which helped set it apart from its cousin.

Featuring a split grille design and a sleek, sloping roofline, the car also came with various other custom options, including a special 'sprint' package which increased the horsepower to 215 bhp by introducing a racier camshaft and four-barrelled carburettor in its six-cylinder engine.

While we can't supply you with the original toys to play with, we can offer you an opportunity to get behind the more recent versions of the Mustang, Camaro and Corvette through many of our packages available on our website.

Visit our American Muscle Cars page today on the TrackDays website to browse and book from available dates on our American Muscle Cars Calendar or through purchase of our Gift Vouchers.