Hot Wheels Legends Tour 2025: The World’s Best Custom Builders Take Center Stage
As the 2025 Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour presented by Mobil 1 races toward its grand finale, the global competition once again proves why it’s the ultimate celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and car culture. What began years ago as a grassroots tribute to garage-built ingenuity has now evolved into an international showcase of imagination on wheels—one that gives a single custom car builder the rare chance to have their creation immortalized as an official Hot Wheels die-cast model sold worldwide.
This year’s tour has drawn thousands of entries from enthusiasts across 16 countries, culminating in 26 regional winners—each representing a unique expression of design and engineering excellence. Eleven U.S. champions, a Walmart Virtual Contest winner, and fourteen international victors now advance to three regional finals before meeting in the Global Grand Finale on November 15, streamed across Hot Wheels’ official social channels.
The competition’s journey from garage dreams to global acclaim captures the spirit of what Hot Wheels calls “built, not bought”—a philosophy that celebrates originality, authenticity, and the stories behind the builds that inspire the next generation of car lovers.
A Global Celebration of Creativity
The 2025 Hot Wheels Legends Tour will feature three major regional finals—the United States, Latin America, and Europe and the Middle East—before the ultimate showdown. Each finalist will present their creation before a panel of Hot Wheels designers, automotive experts, and celebrity judges who evaluate vehicles based on authenticity, creativity, and garage spirit—the three guiding pillars of the competition.
Regional and Global Event Schedule:
- November 4 at 6 PM PST: United States Regional Finals (Virtual)
- November 5 at 6 PM CST: Latin America Regional Finals (Virtual)
- November 7 at 6 PM GMT: Europe & Middle East Regional Finals (Virtual)
- November 15 at 9 AM PST: Global Grand Finale (Virtual)
United States: Where Garage Legends Are Born
Each American winner tells a story of perseverance, passion, and personal connection—proof that the Hot Wheels spirit lives in every corner of the car community.
- Tampa, Florida: Robert Harden’s 1974 Porsche 914 stands out as a fusion of classic European design and raw American power. Featuring a 427-cubic-inch V8 pushing over 630 horsepower, a custom composite body, and extended fenders, the car’s transformation from sports car to street beast mirrors the innovation of Hot Wheels’ earliest dream machines.
- Atlanta, Georgia: Jared Pink turned a scrapped 1990 Nissan 300ZX into a burnout monster, powered by a massive Chevy Big Block V8. The hoodless design showcases the raw mechanics of power—perfectly embodying the “no limits” ethos of the competition.
- Charlotte, North Carolina: Noel Santos resurrected a 1954 Grumman Olson Sunbeam Bread Truck, merging vintage charm with modern muscle. With an LS V8 engine and a custom air suspension, his “dream-built” creation redefines what a bread truck can be.
- Detroit, Michigan: Known for its industrial roots, Detroit crowned Joey Ruiter’s “Reboot Buggy”—a hand-crafted steel-tube machine powered by a 6.3-liter Chevrolet V8. Minimalist, rugged, and beautifully functional, it captures the soul of the Motor City.
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Jeff Kruse’s 1968 Chevy Camaro pays tribute to his father, featuring a chopped roof, ghosted flames, and injector stacks piercing the hood—a powerful homage to generational craftsmanship.
- Kansas City, Kansas: Clint DeVine’s 1990 Chevy S10 is a rolling tribute to family and heritage. With a western-style hauler bed and authentic patina finish, this air-bagged truck blends nostalgia and artistry with everyday practicality.
- Austin, Texas: Donnie Dye’s “Bombshell Betty,” a 1952 Buick Super Riviera, isn’t just a car—it’s a mission. Built to mentor at-risk youth, this six-time Bonneville Salt Flats record holder blends mentorship with speed, proving that horsepower and humanity can go hand in hand.
- Houston, Texas: Paul Suniga’s “Sharknatow” is a shark-themed tow truck that embodies the wild creativity of the Legends Tour. With airbrushed shark teeth, a 383 Stroker motor, and old-school hot rod wheels, it’s part sculpture, part street machine.
- Las Vegas, Nevada: Calvin Calp’s custom Chevrolet Cab took home the inaugural Vegas trophy. Its bespoke tube chassis, roof delete, and custom grille give it a stance and style fit for the Strip’s neon lights.
- San Diego, California: Christian Delgado’s 1972 Chevrolet C50 dazzled with modern ingenuity—a two-month build featuring a chopped cab, right-hand drive, and integrated iPad dashboard. The truck’s high-tech-meets-hot-rod approach made it a showstopper.
- El Segundo, California: Joe Magliato’s “Trinity” is a masterpiece of metalwork—a copper-and-brass stagecoach for the future. Every component was hand-forged by Magliato himself, combining old-world craftsmanship with visionary design.
- Walmart Virtual Winner (Oklahoma City): Joshua Woodworth and his daughters built the “Jeeprod,” a 1946 Willys Jeep reborn as a hand-built hot rod. With a 5.7-liter LS engine, oversized tires, and a 10-inch chopped body, the family-built machine embodies the DIY spirit that defines the tour.
International Icons: Passion Without Borders
Across the globe, the Legends Tour showcases how car culture transcends geography. From European precision to Latin American artistry, these regional winners push creative boundaries in ways that inspire global audiences.
- United Arab Emirates: Jaber Al Mohannadi’s BMW i8 is a futuristic marvel with a full carbon-fiber body kit, Forgiato wheels, and a star-studded interior. It’s a cyber-luxury evolution of modern performance.
- France: Sébastien Robillard’s Honda S2000 represents a touching father-son collaboration, sporting aerodynamic upgrades and race-ready refinement—a personal project turned national contender.
- Germany: Heiko Behrend’s Honda Civic Type R evolves from a humble street car to a race-prepped powerhouse. Its supercharged engine, bright yellow roll cage, and rally-inspired wrap bring Autobahn attitude to the Legends stage.
- Poland: Paul Czarnecki’s FIAT 126B blends rally heritage with cutting-edge tech—40% of it 3D-printed. A tribute to Group B rally cars, it’s a remarkable feat of home engineering.
- Turkey: Sanayi Güzeli’s 1990 Tofas Sahin channels cyberpunk street art. Retaining its original engine, the car’s glowing aesthetic and creative detailing make it feel straight out of a sci-fi movie.
- Brazil: Thiago Marco Baptista Pereira Araújo dos Santos’ 1972 Volkswagen SP2 is race-ready, featuring a massive rear wing, racing seats, and aerodynamic enhancements. It’s a modern interpretation of a Brazilian classic built for performance.
- England: Paul Foster’s 1982 BMW 3 Series, a 14-year father-son restoration, combines Rover V8 power with Group 2 rally styling. The result is a nostalgic tribute to ’80s touring cars that still turns heads today.
- Mexico: Jesus Daniel Payan Gastelum’s off-road Beetle pickup is an imaginative reinvention of an icon. Featuring 37-inch tires, KC headlights, and a 6.0-liter LS V8, this lifted Beetle blends Baja grit with classic Volkswagen charm.
- Colombia: César Augusto Jaimes Real’s 1952 Willys Jeep fuses vintage design with modern versatility. A V8 swap and lowered stance make it both off-road capable and street stylish.
- Peru: Damian Ode Jamis’ 1928 Ford “RatRot” reimagines hot rodding with flames literally shooting from its flathead V8. Its aged patina and humor-infused details pay homage to old-school Hot Wheels design.
- Benelux: A four-man team—François Boulengier, Giovanni Capizzi, Vadim Faucona, and Tony Luciano—turned a forgotten Plymouth Duster into a racecar masterpiece. With a BMW V12 engine, custom chassis, and 3D-printed bodywork, this build merges European engineering with American muscle.
- Italy: Tony Lafata and Saverio Tanzi’s Porsche 997 was revived after seven dormant years. Featuring smartphone-controlled air suspension, bespoke leather interior, and retrofitted lights, the build beautifully bridges old and new Porsche eras.
- Spain & Portugal: Alberto Tena’s 1992 Honda NSX represents over a decade of passion. The supercharged build enhances Honda’s iconic mid-engine sports car with performance and style worthy of the global stage.
- Chile: Hugo Félix González Ibáñez’s 1980 Austin Mini Speedster converts a classic into a minimalist two-seater. Its open-air design and reinforced structure embody craftsmanship and bold creativity in a compact package.
The Grand Finale: From Dream to Die-Cast
On November 15, the regional champions will face off in the Global Grand Finale, streamed live across Hot Wheels’ social platforms. Judges—comprising Hot Wheels designers, motorsport icons, and automotive industry leaders—will select the one build that best captures the soul of Hot Wheels.
The winner’s creation will be transformed into a 1:64 scale Hot Wheels die-cast model, distributed globally to millions of collectors and fans. For many, this marks the pinnacle of creative achievement—immortality on wheels.
More Than a Competition
Beyond the awards and fame, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour serves as a global community where professional builders, hobbyists, and families unite under a shared passion for cars. It’s a celebration of diversity in design, engineering artistry, and the power of imagination to turn ordinary vehicles into extraordinary expressions of self.
From garages in Florida to workshops in Italy and backyards in Mexico, these creations prove that the spirit of Hot Wheels is alive and thriving around the world. As the engines roar toward the Grand Finale, one thing is certain—every build, no matter where it comes from, started the same way: as a dream worth building.
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, Polly Pocket®, and Barney®, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies.
Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.
