Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour Winner Announced: Fans' Custom Car Joins Hot Wheels® Collection As 1:64-Scale Die-Cast Car

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Nov. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) announced today the winner of the 2019 Hot Wheels Legends Tour. The Nash custom car, built by best friends Greg Salzillo and Dave Ford, will be joining the Hot Wheels collection as a 1:64 scale die-cast. The Nash is the second fan's car to become a die-cast and will hit shelves in-stores nationwide in 2020. The announcement was made at the 2019 SEMA Show, the world-renowned auto show in Las Vegas, where all finalist cars are on display alongside Hot Wheels fleet of life-size vehicles.

Salzillo and Ford's build was chosen from almost 5,000 custom cars entered in the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, which visited 20 cities throughout Europe and North America. Selected for its embodiment of Hot Wheels' high standards of performance and design, the custom build is completely unique to any die-cast cars that the brand has built in its 51-year history.

"The second year of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour brought more cars, more fans and more competition – it's hard to choose just one winner to be made into a die-cast car!" said Ted Wu, VP, Global Head of Design for Vehicles, Mattel. "We chose 'The Nash' as it represents the true garage spirit by bringing generations together and creating an impressive car that's built, not bought. You see it and instantly know it's meant to be Hot Wheels with that color, the shape and the dice."

A team of judges, including Hot Wheels designers and automotive influencers, chose the Legends Tour winner for its authenticity, originality and garage spirit. The final team included celebrity auto aficionados Jay Leno, Adam Carolla, Richard Rawlings, Editor-in-chief of MotorTrend Ed Loh, international auto influencers Juca and Sidney Hoffmann, founder of Gumball 3000 Maximillion Cooper, legendary auto designer Dave Marek and Peter Brock, Speed Channel's Car Warriors host Brad Fanshaw, CarCast co-host Matt D'Andria, racecar drivers Jackie Heinricher and Collete Davis, YouTube sensation Tanner Fox, VP of SEMA Warren Kosikov and more.

The Legends Tour winner's life-size car and die-cast version will also join the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends, a collection of one-of-a-kind cars immortalized as Hot Wheels die-casts that meet the brand's high benchmarks of style and performance.

The Nash is a Small Block Chevy 305. The car originally came stocked with 40hp and now touts a high-performing 300hp. The build has custom headers coming out of the fenders, old school stock steel wheels, and original bias ply tires.

"We're extremely overwhelmed, proud and excited over what Dave and I created with The Nash," said Legends Tour Winner Greg Salzillo. "I can't wait to see my kids' faces when they see their dad's car turned into a real Hot Wheels toy."

SEMA Show attendees are invited to visit the Hot Wheels Pavilion (Booth #61045 in Silver Lot 1) to see all Legends Tour finalist cars and vehicles from the Hot Wheels fleet.

To learn more about the Hot Wheels Legends Tour visit https://hotwheels.mattel.com/explore/HW_50th/en/legends-tour and follow #HotWheelsLegends.

About Mattel
Mattel is a leading global children's entertainment company that specializes in design and production of quality toys and consumer products. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic franchises, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, American Girl®, Fisher-Price®, Thomas & Friends® and MEGA®, as well as other popular brands that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 40 locations and sell products in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world's leading retail and technology companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in exploring the wonder of childhood and empowering kids to reach their full potential. Visit us online at www.mattel.com.

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