An incredible modified 1972 Volkswagen Beetle has been crowned the winner of the 2026 Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK.
Now into its ninth year, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour is a global competition to find the wildest customised cars. The overall champion will have their vehicle transformed into a 1:64-scale die-cast Hot Wheels miniature.
Ray Ramsey, an experienced car customiser with some 150 builds under his belt, was responsible for creating the incredible Beetle. It defeated two other vehicles in a live final at CarFest in Hampshire.
Designed with a ‘no limits’ ethos, the victorious Beetle will now be sold to raise money to fight prostate cancer: a battle Ray himself currently faces.
A life-sized Hot Wheels toy car
Ray was inspired by 1960s legends of the hot rodding world, such as Ed Roth. Everything about his Beetle pushes the limits of creativity.
The Volkswagen’s original bodywork has been chopped by an incredible 14 inches, while the stock air-cooled engine has been lifted up by 6 inches. Ray also pushed the front axle forward by 10 inches, resulting in the extreme dimensions.
Bespoke hydraulic suspension was designed by Ray for the Beetle, allowing it to be completely slammed to the floor. The rear wheels are taken from a 1951 truck, while the front pair are Porsche space-saver items.
Accessing the interior is also unconventional: achieved either by opening the clamshell bubble roof, or via a passenger door that folds flat.
Once inside, there is a chain link steering wheel, an instrument pod made from a repurposed champagne cooler bucket, and even a kitchen whisk repurposed into a radio aerial.
Edging towards global Hot Wheels glory
Judges Richard Hammond, Hot Wheels designer Dwayne Vance and host Nicola Hume were unanimous in selecting the Beetle as their winner during the final at CarFest.
The Volkswagen was said to best demonstrate the authenticity, creativity and ‘garage spirit’ that embodies the Hot Wheels Legends Tour.
“I just built this car to make people smile, and hopefully I achieved this,” said creator Ray Ramsey. “Lots of people say it looks like a Hot Wheels, so maybe one day this could come true.”
Having won the UK leg of the Legends Tour, Ray’s Beetle will go on to face cars from Europe in a regional final. Winning this would see the modified VW head to the global finale in the United States this November, where Hot Wheels die-cast immortality awaits the champion.
Along with the prestige of winning the UK leg, and entering the Garage of Legends, Ray also received an exclusive Hot Wheels merchandise bundle. He will have a chance to visit the Hot Wheels design centre in California, too.
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