Hot Wheels: Little cars are big business | Hacker News Reader

Hot Wheels: Little cars are big business

ft.com

57 pointsJSeymourATL15 comments

I was always fascinated by the "Sizzlers" line of tiny motorizied Hot Wheels. The engineering to make a tiny EV seems excellent, especially for the time. I wonder why no similar toy has been made since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUjVbsdFQlI

As a parent of a toddler, these are also great because you can literally grab one for $1.99 and the kid is both thrilled to get it and plays with it for days/weeks.

No other toy even comes close to that level of value.

And no annoying tv shows, characters, etc etc etc.

Of course Matchbox cars predated these. I had a decent collection going from I guess when I was around 7 in 1969. But certainly the orange tracks and the hot rod style of Hot Wheels got pretty appealing, and I think had made sure Santa Claus knew by Christmas '72.

I've always loved Matchbox because they made mundane, everyday cars that you could see on the streets. I know I'm in the minority with my love for the ordinary cars, but even as a child I would have much rather played with a Ford Sierra than a hot rod.

I’m part of that minority too, and as a kid growing up in the 80s the Majokits sets from Majorette were the best for me: city buses, construction trucks, and yeah, the same cars you could see on the street.

In Germany we have Siku: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siku_Toys

Mundane cars, municipal service vehicles, construction vehicles, just about everything. All of it in three scales, I think.

Same here.

I tell my wife that Matchbox are the "proper cars" and Hotwheels are the whacky lumo-plastic monstrosities.

Wish this link were about Micro Machines, those were so much cooler.

I'm 46ish now and the only toy I still have since growing up are my Micro Machines (probably about 50 or so).

I'm 30 years old and still collect these if I see one I like. Not as often as when I was a child but its a great little nostalgia trip for me now and again.

I thought it might be fun to have toys of the cars we owned over the years but its proved relatively difficult and expensive.

My favourite is a Johnny Lightning Jeep Wagoneer. We didn't get that brand of toy in Oz when I was a kid, they are insanely detailed compared to a Matchbox, Majorette or Hot Wheels. I am tempted to buy more of those.

Nobody beats a piluqui or duravit(?

And LEGO is the largest wheel manufacturer.

I would have expected lego to focus on small wheels

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