If you’re reading this, you can probably attest to the fact that Hot Wheels aren’t just for kids. For further proof, we offer our ten favorite homebuilt concoctions picked from the 150 wild things that recently gathered in a Walmart Super Store parking lot a few miles from Detroit Metro Airport for the Hot Wheels Legends Tour.
Unbeknownst to us, a kit produced in the Slovak Republic facilitates the conversion of a 1982-92 Chevy Camaro into what convincingly resembles a front-engine Ferrari. Frank Fragassi, a retiree residing but a few miles from this Taylor, Michigan, event, owns a 1983 Z28 converted with an Evoluzione kit into the Ferrari of his dreams. He adds that K-1 Styling manufactured very few such kits, sold in the U.S. by Euro-Works Ltd of Dayton, Ohio.
Colleen Medere of Trenton, Michigan, imported this 1989 Nissan S-Cargo utility vehicle to celebrate the snail it’s named after (escargot). This right-hand driver is powered by a mighty 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels. The owner’s son, Arthur Provenzano, responsible for decorations and upkeep, insists that it is a “work in progress.”
My personal fave among this illustrious crew is the 2001 Twin Mill designed by Ira Gilford and constructed ages ago by Action Vehicle Engineering of Chatsworth, California. Ample power is supplied by a pair of B+M supercharged 502-cubic-inch Chevy V-8s. The roof tilts for easy entry. Mattel purchased the Twin Mill for $150,000 at a recent auction and uses it to celebrate both the Legends phenomenon and sponsor Mobil 1.
To bridge the gap between kids young and not so young, we have this bike-based entry powered by a Harley-Davidson Sportster engine owned by Scott Walden of Auburn, Indiana. His V-twin has been rebuilt to raise its displacement from 883 to 1250cc. The cockpit is a real sidecar from the 1950s. Key components include a five-speed transmission, disc brakes for the rear wheels, and bumpers made of early-1950s Chevy grille bars. The state of Indiana registered this concoction as a motorcycle.
Chip Foose designed a series of cars labeled Deora. This Deora II, built in 2003, is powered by a supercharged Cadillac Northstar V-8 located over the rear wheels. Surfboards and two seats are standard equipment.
Decades ago, less fortunate individuals rode what was known as the Straight Jacket Express to the “insane asylum.” The core vehicle is a 1951 Ford pickup equipped with coachbuilt Master Safety Wagon bodywork. A decade ago, owner Eric Buck of Monroe, Michigan, refurbished this prize, fitting it with a supercharged Cummins diesel. Since then, he’s driven it 30,000 miles, fearlessly visiting every state but North Dakota, which is at the top of his to-see list.
Of course, there has to be a Beetle. Ernie Miyamoto of Davisburg, Michigan, created this remarkable VW 40 years ago, refurbishing it as necessary to maintain its sparkling appearance. Way too much power is provided by a 572-cubic-inch Chevy big-block V-8 installed where god intended. The farcical wind-up key is powered by a windshield-wiper motor.
Bob Turek of Medina, Ohio, constructed this gorgeous hot rod four years ago in only 14 months. The chassis and key driveline parts came from a 1996 Dodge 3500 pickup truck with artistically finished 1931 Ford Model A four-door bodywork placed on top. An inline-six Cummins turbo diesel supplies motivational energy while an air spring at each corner provides a congenial ride. Reporting an eighth-mile dragstrip performance of 10.1 seconds and a top speed of 70 mph, Turek calls his prize a lover, not a racer.
Shawn Stevenson of New Baltimore, Michigan, created this artful entry five years ago, creatively calling it ‘Woodie.’ The grain pallet includes elder, mahogany, maple, oak, and pine. The chassis came from a 1974 Chevy pickup truck, and the engine is a 454-cubic-inch bowtie V-8. When Stevenson isn’t polishing, staining, or varnishing lumber, he manages a towing company.
An astute mix of creativity and craftsmanship earned Hagerty Member Joey Ruiter of Grand Rapids, Michigan, best-in-show honors. His Reboot Buggy was inspired by early horseless carriages.
A 1978 Chevy small-block V-8 drives an aggressively narrow independent rear axle through a GM turbo-400 automatic transmission.
We’ll be watching this distinctive entry in hopes that it thrives during the rest of this year’s Legends Tour and earns conversion to a die-cast model for lucky kids to enjoy the world over.
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1/64-scale die-cast Hot Wheel models were created in 1968 by Mattel founder Elliot Handler. The brand created the Hot Wheels Legends Tour in 2018 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The Legends Tour has continued in the years since, and now claims to be the world’s largest car show, attracting 10,000 builders in 16 countries. Each year, the winning design becomes a production Hot Wheels model.
The Detroit-area Legends Tour held May 31 was the fourth of 11 such US events. Eight judges examine 150 entries to select the design to advance to finals held in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. The final choice enters the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends and will be manufactured in 1/64th scale. Over 100 new Hot Wheels designs are introduced each year, and over nine billion have been produced for sale in 150 countries. Mattel estimates that 22 such models are produced and sold per second.
You might try matching the pictures with the descriptions. A windup key on a VW but no picture. A gorgeous hot rod but only a picture of the engine.
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