A very Rare set Model Shop Employees Only

[jimgallegos]

This is a very limited and rare 2003 Happy Holidays Mattel Model Shop Christmas Set hand signed by Elliot Handler founder of Mattel.

[Tinman]

What matchbox model had wheels molded into the body of the model? Could his memory be faulty?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

The story is at odds to other stories of why 'Hot Wheels' came into existance and I am not sure what he means by "wheels moulded into the body" and that they did not rotate, all Matchbox models had rotating wheels, didn't they!

Ghosthunter.

[johnboy]

It's also reported that the name Hot Wheels was coined when Elliot Handler saw a Southern California Hot Rod in the car park that belonged to designer Harry Bradley and said "Man, those are some hot wheels."

[jimgallegos]

The model he was observing was the MB08 Mustang Regular Wheels. Maybe because with the steering mechanism, it did not roll fast or freely in a straight line? This model was not at all good on a track due to it's realism steering. (Which I really liked) Anyones guess. Maybe he was misquoted or confused?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

...ironic then that the very first 'Hot Wheels' car was a 'Prototype' mocked up on just such a model, the #8 Ford Mustang!!

Ghosthunter.

[kay]

...ironic then that the very first 'Hot Wheels' car was a 'Prototype' mocked up on just such a model, the #8 Ford Mustang!!

Ghosthunter.

...and here are two pictures of the car in focus......




Kay

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Here is the other side showing the cut-out for the steering control when it was a Matcbox model.

1st 'Hot Wheels' car.jpg (39.3 KiB) Viewed 2113 times

Ghosthunter.

[fixer]

It does look good , maybe it was the inspiration for the #8 wild cat with that tail up stance

[GHOSTHUNTER]

It does look good , maybe it was the inspiration for the #8 wild cat with that tail up stance

Yes it could have been...

..."Anything you can do, we can do better"...

Ghosthunter.