Finalists to be judged live at Slammed UK’s Gravity Show this August, with a ticket to El Segundo and global stardom on the line.
LONDON, 28 MAY 2025 — One of the world’s most exhilarating celebrations of custom car culture returns to the UK for another year as the Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour fires up its engines in search of Britain’s next automotive icon. Now in its fifth UK edition, this global competition invites builders, modifiers and dreamers to submit their most imaginative, audacious and authentic creations — for a chance to see their vehicle immortalised as a 1:64 scale die-cast model and enshrined in the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends™.
From meticulously restored classics to track-ready beasts, lifted trucks, slammed imports, and wild restomods, entries are now officially open at hotwheelsuklegendstour.co.uk. Submissions close on 4 July 2025, giving UK car creators just over a month to make their mark.
The Journey to Global Glory
The UK leg of the tour culminates on Saturday 23 August at the NEC Birmingham, where three homegrown finalists will be showcased live at the Gravity Show, the country’s premier modified and performance car event. There, a panel of expert judges — including Hot Wheels designer Craig Callum, YouTube star Mat Armstrong, and automotive presenter Nicola Hume — will select the UK winner in front of a live audience.
That winner won’t just earn national bragging rights. They’ll also advance to the European final, before possibly heading to the Global Grand Finale. And new for 2025: the UK victor will be flown out to El Segundo, California, to witness the final showdown on American soil — the birthplace of Hot Wheels.
Should they triumph on the world stage, their car will join the Garage of Legends™ — a hallowed collection of the most compelling builds in Hot Wheels history — and be replicated as a die-cast model available in toy aisles and collectors’ shelves worldwide.
The Judging Criteria: More Than Just Good Looks
Cars will be judged across three key categories:
- Authenticity: Is the build a true one-off? Does it push the boundaries of automotive design while staying grounded in Hot Wheels DNA?
- Creativity: From hand-fabricated bodywork to turbocharged tweaks, judges are looking for ingenuity that tells a story.
- Garage Spirit: The build should embody the relentless passion of its maker — long nights, scraped knuckles, and boundless drive.
“What began as a series of U.S. events has grown into a global tour for car and Hot Wheels enthusiasts around the world to share their passion projects while competing for a chance to have their creations immortalised in 1:64 scale,” said Ted Wu, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Design for Vehicles at Mattel. “The UK always provides compelling contenders to the competition – entrants take huge pride in their vehicles, demonstrating ingenuity, charm and true garage spirit. We can’t wait to see this year’s UK finalists!”
Flying the Flag for Britain
In just five years, the UK has established itself as a powerhouse of innovation on the Legends Tour. The Bentley-inspired ‘Mentley’ Mini captured national hearts in 2024, while the 1969 Volvo P1800 Gasser stormed to an outright global win in 2021 — a first for a non-US car.
They join a legendary lineup of past champions including:
- 2 JetZ™ (2018)
- THE NASH™ (2019)
- 1970 Pontiac® Firebird™ (2020)
- “Texas Toot” Autozam Scrum (2022)
- “Chimera” Mazda MX-5 (2023)
- “La Liebre” Baufer-Ford Falcon (2024)
Partners & Prizes
This year’s UK competition is powered by Smyths Toys Superstores, Forge Motorsport, and Collecting Cars, who will offer a prize bundle including merchandise and a £150 Forge Motorsport voucher. But the real reward? A permanent place in global car culture history.
Think Your Ride Has What It Takes?
Whether it’s built in a driveway or a full-blown shop, your passion project could become the next Hot Wheels legend. All it takes is three photos and a short description uploaded to hotwheelsuklegendstour.co.uk.
This isn’t just a competition. It’s a global stage. And your garage-built masterpiece could be the next Hot Wheels icon.
Enter now. Drive into history.
