Vintage Hot Wheels Ads

Back in the 60s Mattel ran many ads in comic books.  The following ad introduced many kids to the exciting new world of Hot Wheels cars.  It featured the original 16 castings.

 

Not only did Hot Wheels look great but they could do something Matchbox couldn't: race down the track.   Kids like me wanted their Hot Wheels to be the fastest and it was easy to set up match races in one's room.  Best of all: no batteries required; only required gravity to make it work.  The iconic loop was introduced in the earliest of sets.

Battery powered devices were introduced to compete with then popular slot car tracks.  These enabled Hot Wheels to zoom around a closed circuit race track.

Later ads switched to photos which were not as cool looking.  But the idea of challenging to a race was very tempting.  Mattel also ran TV commercials but that is a topic for a future post.

Hot Wheels Porsche 908 Spyder Hybrid

Gorgeous new hybrid from Porsche.  Another beauty from Hot Wheels.  Poised on my desk this car looks real with tampo headlights and Porsche emblem, realistic dark grey interior with 3-spoke steering wheel and well-bolstered racing buckets.  When Mattel designers nail it they really nail it.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is a mid-engined sports plug-in hybrid powered by a 4.6 litre V8 engine and two electric motors. Porsche plans to manufacture 918 units as a 2014 model with deliveries starting winter 2013.

*From the 2013 HW Showroom segment.

 

Hallmark Ornaments: A Hot Wheels Christmas Keepsake

Hallmark has a tradition of producing annual ornaments.  I have collected a few of them over the years primarily those dealing with my favorite redline years.  The Deora is among the first Hot Wheels cars and this ornament is a miniature replica of the car in its blister pack complete with collector button.

Deora

And who can resist a Silhouette with tiny vinyl carrying case?  I couldn't.

Silhouette

Not to mention everyone's elementary school favorite lunchbox and Thermos.

Splittin' Image

In honor of Hot Wheels' 30th anniversary Hallmark created a TwinMill on orange track loop.  Classic. 

TwinMill

The ornaments look great even without a tree and I hang mine from a shelf in the display cabinet with my redlines. Thanks to the Internet many of these are still easily found.  Why not start your collection today?