Mega Mini crowned as Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK winner
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Seeking the next Hot Wheels icon
© MattelThe Hot Wheels Legends Tour has been running since 2018, as a global search to find the most incredible full-scale vehicles in existence.
Thousands of entries are submitted each year, and the overall champion sees their car transformed into a new Hot Wheels model.
Before the worldwide Grand Final later in 2024, competitors have to win their own regional final. With the winner of the UK leg of the tour announced, we take a closer look at the car edging closer to becoming the next Hot Wheels Legend.
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In pursuit of ‘garage sprit’
© MattelTo become a Hot Wheels model, cars must embody the qualities of performance, authenticity and ‘garage spirit’.
In short, the judges want to see vehicles that have truly pushed the modified envelope to the absolute limit. Fancy alloy wheels or a fresh paint job are not enough here.
Vehicles can be hardcore racers or street-legal machines, with entries from owners of both classic and modern cars encouraged.
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How to become a legend
© MattelThe route to winning the 2024 Hot Wheels Legends Tour started in May for UK entrants. Contenders were asked to upload a short video and a description of their modified ride.
From this, an expert panel narrowed down the entries to just two vehicles. A fan vote was then used to find the third finalist.
To crown the overall UK winner, a judging panel assessed all three cars in person at the Gravity Car Show in Birmingham, before presenting the winner with this rather neat trophy.
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UK has strong form on the Legends Tour
© MattelExpectations are high for UK entries to the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, in part due to previous success in 2021.
Lee Johnstone’s custom Volvo P1800 Gasser dragster, named ‘Ain’t No Saint’, took the global honours in the competition.
Johnstone’s amazing car then became a Hot Wheels 1:64-scale model, which was sold around the world.
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2022 winner is trucking amazing
© MattelIn 2022, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour Global Grand Finale was held at Jay Leno’s garage.
Taking the overall trophy was Craig Meaux’s 1992 Autozam Scrum micro truck, better known as ‘Texas Toot’. Meaux had heavily modified the diminutive pickup, adding a 454-cubic inch Chevrolet V8 engine and the extreme monster truck running gear.
The 2022 winner of the UK round, a 1963 Ford Anglia, was the only European entrant to reach the final 10 in the Global Grand Finale.
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The B-EAST brings the noise
© MattelWith interest in the Hot Wheels Legends Tour continuing to grow, the 2023 contest saw an incredibly strong effort from UK enthusiasts.
The judging panel had a hard time choosing which car would represent the UK further in the competition. In the end, Michael Wallhead’s 1979 MG ‘B-EAST’ emerged as the chosen contender.
Making use of recycled parts where possible, the B-EAST features a 3.0-litre Jaguar AJV6 engine and can reach a top speed of 148mph. Wallhead had used denim jeans to upholster the seats, with the glovebox made from an old registration plate.
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Chimera outpunks the competition
© MattelDespite the impressive quality of the B-EAST, it sadly wasn’t enough to claim global honours in the 2023 Hot Wheels Legends Tour.
Instead, the top prize went to ‘Chimera’, a cyberpunk-inspired 1990 Mazda MX-5 owned by Chris Watson from New Zealand.
Built in Watson’s shed, Chimera has a carbon fibre shark fin spoiler, a futuristic light bar and rear wheels measuring 13 inches in width. A bespoke ‘cyberdeck’ computer was added to the interior, too.
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All eyes on Birmingham
© MattelBefore the UK final, which formed part of SlammedUK’s Gravity Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham on 24 and 25 August 2024, expectations were high.
Ted Wu, head of design for vehicles at Mattel, said: “The UK always blows us away with unique cars that are worthy of being recreated as Hot Wheels. From sleeper classics from the 1960s and 1970s, wild one-off customs, iconic race cars to the latest dramatic modified supercars, the sheer diversity and quality make the UK final a tough judgement, but it always offers true legends.”
Assessing the three UK finalists for 2024 was a special judging team led by Hot Wheels designer, Craig Callum.
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Not your average Ford Sierra
© MattelThe first of the three finalists entering the UK leg of the 2024 Hot Wheels Legends Tour was Jason West’s 1992 Ford P100 pickup.
Conceived as a practical version of the Ford Sierra, the P100 was sold between 1987 and 1995. Quite clearly, though, Ford never imagined a P100 could look like this…
Along with its wild colour scheme, Cosworth RS 500-inspired front end and huge wheels, Jason’s P100 also packs a 4.2-litre engine. It makes for quite an upgrade over the 2.0 usually found under the bonnet.
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Another beautiful ute
© MattelPickup trucks were clearly garnering attention as part of this year’s Hot Wheels Legends Tour, with another of the three finalists being a ute-style creation.
Jason Gorle’s bespoke BMW E36 3 Series pickup was the SlammedUK fan vote winner, propelled to the UK final on a wave of popular support.
From its bespoke bodywork to its wide BBS alloy wheels and ultra-low ride height, it is easy to see why the BMW was such a hit with Hot Wheels fans.
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Mini ‘Mentley’ wins the top prize
© MattelAlthough the pickup truck pairing proved to be good enough to reach the UK final, they had to take the runner-up spots behind a truly astonishing winner.
For 2024, the UK’s Hot Wheels Legends Tour champion was named as Dominic Whittle’s Mini ‘Mentley’.
Beating 179 other cars to claim the top UK prize is an impressive feat, but the spec of the Mentley proves just how deserved its win was.
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A Bentley in miniature
© MattelOwned by a trio of musicians – Dominic Whittle, Gary Selby and Mike Williams – the ‘Mentley’ is intended to be a tribute to the Bentley Blower models of the 1920s.
We promise that, beneath the radical open-top bodywork, is the chassis of a 1983 Austin Mini. Honest.
Features such as leather bonnet straps and large driving lamps are obvious nods to the vintage Bentley.
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Big power in small car
© MattelDespite being based upon the tiny Mini platform, the Mentley has performance on a gigantic scale.
Wedged, somehow, beneath the bonnet is a V8 engine taken from a TVR. This is connected to the rear wheels via a Range Rover-sourced transmission, and offers 320hp in standard guise.
For maximum performance, however, the trio have also equipped the Mentley with nitrous oxide. Early trials have suggested it could achieve a 0-60mph sprint in just three seconds, for those feeling brave enough to try.
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Used for a truly noble cause
© MattelThe three owners use the Mentley for more than just terrifying acceleration runs, though. Instead, it is driven across Europe, with musical instruments carried on the luggage straps.
Whittle, Selby and Williams have staged musical performances in France, Italy, and Germany, helping raise money for the Save the Children charity.
“It’s a huge privilege for us to win the UK round of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour with Mentley, justifying the hard work (and fun) we had creating it,” said Dominic Whittle. “Our interest in cars began when we were six years old, and it’s great to be here 53 years later with a vehicle that reflects those childhood memories.”
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Winning over the judges
© MattelSuch ingenuity and vision ensured the Mentley ticked all of the boxes against the criteria of design, authenticity and garage spirit.
Craig Callum said: “With a wild engine transplant squeezed into a unique design twist of two British icons, Dominic Whittle’s Mini Mentley perfectly captures the fun we are looking for. And if you look at our past Legends, this is a true contender – it’s the kind of design we would develop in the studio ourselves.
“It’s got such authenticity, but it’s also completely different, there are so many little touches that give it character. When I think practically about how we make a die-cast Hot Wheels, with four main component parts, the vehicle lends itself for manufacture. It’s spot-on.”
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Onwards towards the Global Grand Finale
© MattelAfter winning the UK leg of the Legends Tour, the Mentley will progress to compete against other regional winners at the semi-final on 2 November 2024.
Should it prove successful there, the car then moves on to the global Grand Finale, set for 11 November.
A win in the ultimate showdown will then see the amazing roadster miniaturised to become a 1:64-scale Hot Wheels model. Fingers crossed the Mentley can make the UK proud later this year.
