Hot Wheels Contemporary Manufacture Diecast Cars, Trucks and Vans

Hot Wheels Contemporary Die-Cast Cars, Trucks, and Vans

Hot Wheels cars can serve as both a toy and a displayable collector's item. The brand was founded in the 1960s, and it continues to make die-cast cars today. Their current line of vehicles mimic contemporary cars, look like vintage automobiles, or have fantasy designs based on movies and other media.

Not all Hot Wheels cars are the same exact size, but they do tend to fit within certain dimensions. Depending on the model, a car may be anywhere between 2.5 to 3 inches long, and it may be anywhere between 0.5 to 2 inches tall. The cars are made roughly to a 1:64 scale, but the company will create cars on a slightly smaller scale if necessary to ensure they fit within the company's parameters.

The majority of Hot Wheels toys are sold in the die-cast category. This means that the toys are made from a liquid material that is poured into a mold and allowed to harden. After it hardens, the company then paints on additional details and adds movable parts. Depending on the toy car you select from Hot Wheels, it may be made from either metal, plastic, or a combination of both. The metal most frequently used by Hot Wheels is ZAMAC, an alloy of zinc and aluminum.

When you are trying to keep vehicles in good condition, you should follow these steps:

• Keep in original packaging if possible: For many collectible vehicles, the packaging is part of the collectible product. Therefore, it may be a good idea to avoid removing the cars from the original packaging.
• Keep away from the sun: Direct rays from the sun can warp paint, make paint flake off, and cause car windows to blister, so it is best to keep the cars in a darker area.
• Protect from dust: It can be hard to clean dust once it settles into minute crevices in the cars. Therefore, it is best to keep them in a glass or plastic case that will keep dust out.

You can find Hot Wheels in the following styles:

• Car: This is the broadest category of Hot Wheels. Cars made into Hot Wheels include plain, everyday vehicles, fancy sports cars, and specialty cars.
• Bus: Buses and vans have an elongated shape. Many are painted to look like school buses or other signature bus styles.
• Pickup truck: These smaller Hot Wheels trucks have a cab in the front and a flatbed along the back.
• Semitruck: Hot Wheels semitrucks have a large front cab, and they may come with or without the trailer.
• Race cars: These Hot Wheels have paint and special shaping to make them look like classic Formula 1 and NASCAR vehicles.