Which is older Matchbox or Hot Wheels?

Matchbox is older having begun in England in the fifties, Hot Wheels came onto the scene in 1968 from the USA, with their fast wheels on piano wire axles.

What year did Matchbox cars start?

A formula for high quality, impressive detail, and affordable prices set Matchbox apart from their competitors when they debuted in 1952 and fueled such an enduring success that some people continue to call a miniature car, no matter the maker, a “Matchbox.”

What was the first Matchbox car?

In 1954, the 19th vehicle in the series was rolled out: a dainty MG TD roadster, the first Matchbox car. The toys quickly spread to the United States where they typically sold for 49 cents. They were finely wrought things.

When did Hot Wheels cars come out?

1) The first Hot Wheels car that was produced was a dark blue custom Camaro in 1968.

How can you tell how old a hot wheel is?

"How old is my Hot Wheels car?" Almost every Hot Wheels car made has a "year" engraved into the base. This date is the year in which Mattel filed the COPYRIGHT for the name of the car and the design of the car. The date is NOT the year it was made.

HOT WHEELS vs MATCHBOX - Which is Better?

How much did Hot Wheels cost in 1968?

The price has not changed much in almost 40 years, although in real terms the models have dropped significantly in price (a Hot Wheels car cost $0.98 in 1968 and costs $0.98 today, in spite of inflation).

When was the first toy car made?

Revell pioneered the plastic model car in the late 1940s with their Maxwell kit, which was basically an unassembled version of a pull toy. Derek Brand, from England, pioneered the first real plastic kit, a 1932 Ford Roadster for Revell.

How much did Matchbox cars cost in the 60s?

In the 1960s, toys like this Matchbox Lambretta TV175 — produced between 1961 and 1966 — were typically 39 cents.

What are the rarest Matchbox cars?

Who made original Matchbox cars?

Jack Odell, a self-trained engineer whose daughter's mischievous habit of taking spiders to school in a matchbox prompted him to make her a tiny steamroller as a substitute - an invention that led to Matchbox Toys - died July 7 in London. He was 87.

Who made the first Hot Wheels?

Hot Wheels was born when Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler (shown left, with wife and Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler) challenged his design team, which included a General Motors car designer and a rocket scientist to create a toy car that was cooler and performed better than anything on the market.

Are my old Matchbox cars worth anything?

To be realistic, most Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars won't fetch anywhere near that, even if they're pristine. But those toys probably cost you $1 each, at most, and even if you could sell them for hundreds more that is an achievement.

Are Matchbox cars worth collecting?

Hotwheels and Matchbox cars are very popular toys, and they can also make valuable collector's items. Matchbox and Hot Wheels gave children an early itch to become car enthusiasts. Hot Wheels hit the toy shelves in 1968 to compete with the already thriving Matchbox cars that were introduced to the world in 1953.

What Hot Wheels are worth the most money?

Why are Hot Wheels called Hot Wheels?

According to one version of the story, that El Camino even gave Hot Wheels its brand name, after someone admiring it in the Mattel parking lot remarked to Bradley, “Those are some hot wheels.” Prior to that, the working name of the project was Big Wheels, a name that Mattel competitor Marx Toys would later use on ...

Who has the most Hot Wheels in the world?

Mike Zarnock has the world's largest Hot Wheels collection, a record he's held for nearly two decades. 30,000 cars are kept inside 2,500 square feet of storage space in his home owned by Mike Zarnock.

Why are there no Hot Wheels in stores?

As a manufacturer, Mattel does not operate a complete customer sales department so our products are sold primarily through retail stores. However, please check out www.hotwheelsshop.com for some collectible items being sold there.

How many Hot Wheels are there in total?

Since 1968, more than 4 billion Hot Wheels® cars have been produced. That's more than Detroit's “Big Three” have manufactured, combined, since the start of the auto industry!

What do the numbers on Matchbox cars mean?

Matchbox started to use the base code method in 2008 to define a model's production date. Base codes consist of a single letter followed by two digits. The letter indicates the year of production, and the digits indicate the production week.

What does Hot Wheels red line mean?

A “Redline” Hot Wheels car is one manufactured within the first 10 years of their production, meaning they were made between 1968 -1977. During this time, the wheels on each car included a red stripe, hence the term “Redline.”