The 50 Best Hot Wheels of All Time

By the time the set up was complete, you almost needed a machete to cut through the jungle vine-like mess of flimsy yellow plastic. Like the vibrant skin of a tree frog, the blue and red striping on the track should have been a sign that this wasn't a safe place for cars. The daredevil jumps. The near-vertical starting points. The multi-entry intersections with spinning speed boosters. They all meant inevitable steel-crunching crashes. And they were all trademarks of the childhood toy brand that any car enthusiast came to know and love: Hot Wheels.

The brand was launched in 1968, when Mattel manufactured the first cars as direct competitors to Matchbox cars. Today, Mattel owns Tyco, the brand that created Matchbox cars. Guess we know who won that race, huh? Let's a trip down the yellow loop-de-loop road, where kids learned way before high school physics the lessons of kinetic energy, and count down The 50 Best Hot Wheels of All Time.

Related: The 50 Coolest Matchbox Cars

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50. 1968 Custom Camaro

The '68 Camaro is definitely not the flashiest Hot Wheels car ever produced. But, it was the first model car that Mattel ever made, and it represented exactly what the company was trying to do with their lineup of model cars.

49. 1970 Ambulance

Whenever you use toy cars for their intended purpose (namely, crashing them into each other at SUPER high speeds!) there are bound to be one or two (or 10!) accidents. Mattel realized that early on and created this ambulance a few years after they produced their first rides. And, it's a good thing, too. Once they started creating tracks to race Hot Wheels (Criss Cross Crash anybody?), there were lots and lots of accidents taking place in homes around the world every day. So, this became a necessity.

48. 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2

This car demonstrated the impact that a Hot Wheels car could have on the perception of a real car. On paper, it shouldn't have worked because the Monza was hardly the kind of car that kids were salivating over back in the day. But, by adding some fun graphics to the hood, this car suddenly looked like something that every kid out there would want to race. So, it worked ... even if the Monza didn't.

47. 2000 Seared Tuner

Credit Hot Wheels for adapting with the times in the early 2000s. After the company brought in a team of new designers at the turn of the century, they also got with the program and released their first model car aimed at import car enthusiasts. It was pretty basic as far as car models go, but it got the job done.

46. 1971 Cockney Cab

How come we've never been inside of a cab that looks like this? TAXI!

45. 1976 Gun Bucket

This World War II-inspired military vehicle was meant to be able to traipse across any kind of terrain. So, whether you were riding dirty though the sandbox or killing the competition on the carpet, nothing could stop it. In recent times, Mattel has re-formatted the look of it and turned it into a lame "Snow Patrol" vehicle (boo!), but thanks to the swiveling guns on the original, this version of this model car will always be our favorite.

44. 1994 Killer Copter

Some of Mattel's best Hot Wheels don't even have wheels on them. In the 1990s, the toy company began producing helicopters like this, and, in recent years, they've ramped up their chopper production with products like the Sky Knife, too. They aren't as popular as their model cars (not yet, at least), but they have helped the brand to expand and grow over the past 20 years.

43. 1975 Backwoods Bomb

What would happen if you were to take every pickup truck from the 1970s, throw it in a blender, and then try to put it back together? Well, you'd get something that looked kind of like this. And, as a bonus, you'd get a removable white plastic camper to play with, too. As the side of this truck says, keep on camping!

42. 2001 Fright Bike

We couldn't do a list of Hot Wheels without including at least one bike. And, for our money, this is the bike to get if you want to play with a Hot Wheels toy that has two wheels instead of four. The bike has been modified and re-released ten times in the last decade, and it remains one of the most popular Hot Wheels bikes of all time.

41. 1975 American Victory

This car didn't just look fast, it was fast, thanks to the fact that it was designed to be a replica of a McLaren Formula One race car. If you were challenged to a Hot Wheels race and you had this thing in your back pocket, you were good to go.

40. 1972 Funny Money

Good luck robbing this thing! No wonder Brinks got on board and created a similar armored truck model with Mattel a few years later.

39. 1975 Emergency Squad

What kid wouldn't want to respond to an accident that just took place between a 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2 and a 1972 Funny Money in one of these?!

38. 1971 Snorkel

The Snorkel is often referred to as a "crumbler" by collectors, because it was built with a low-quality chassis that hasn't stood the test of time and is probably in shambles by now. But, we don't care. When we were, like, six, there was no way you could stop us from playing with the "cherry picker" on this thing. "Heavyweight" Hot Wheels like this one were Mattel's answer to the Matchbox series of toy trucks, and they definitely hit the mark.

37. 1970 Custom Police Cruiser

Want to reenact a wild police chase? Then, you better have one of these handy at all times.

36. 1972 Hot Fire

1972 was the last year that Hot Wheels featured their patented "Spectraflame" colors. So, they went all out by creating the Open Fire that was based on the AMC Gremlin and featured six wheels on it for optimum performance on the track.

35. 1974 Baja Bruiser

Shortly after Mattel stopped using "Spectraflame" colors on their model cars in 1972, they introduced graphics, which were called "tampos," to the sides of many of their new Hot Wheels cars. And, they were an instant hit. The '74 Baja Bruiser, inspired by a Ford truck, was one of the earliest examples of Mattel's new approach to outfitting their Hot Wheels.

34. 1977 '56 Hi-Tail Hauler

The Ford F-150 is one of the most popular pickup trucks in the history of automobiles. So, it should come as no surprise to hear that Mattel has created a handful of different Hot Wheels based on the F-150. However, Mattel has continuously put their own spin on the F-150 to keep it fresh for Hot Wheels fans. And, that's made the F-150 re-creations a staple of most Hot Wheels collections.

33. 1975 Sand Drifter

We know what you're thinking right now: "I see lifeguards drive these things at the beach every summer. What's so special about it?!" Our response: Oh, really? You see lifeguards driving dune buggies WITH FLAMES ON THEM all the time?! If this Hot Wheels model taught us anything, it's that you can make any vehicle look 1,000 times cooler by putting flames on the hood of it.

32. 1971 Team Trailer

When you showed up to a Hot Wheels race looking real serious with one of these, your little brother didn't stand a chance.

31. 1975 Gun Slinger

So, you think your Hot Wheels collection is better than ours?! Oh. Let's just see what the swiveling gun on top of this bad boy has to say about that.

30. 1974 Carabo

Lamborghini doors on a Hot Wheels car?! Yes, please!

29. 1977 '31 Doozie

The Doozie was based on the 1931 Duesenberg Model J, and it featured a removable top, a steamer trunk in the back, and plastic fenders. It was also one of the last cars produced during the Hot Wheels "Redline" era, which saw Mattel include red lines around the edge of every single car's wheels. Later versions of the Doozie, which was mass-produced until 2003, included all-black tires and did not have the "redline" design.

28. 1975 Tough Customer

This tank has gone by a bunch of different names over the years, including "Battle Tank" in 1982 and "Big Bertha" in 1985. But, we prefer to call it the "Problem Solver." Anyone want to guess why?

27. 1971 Fuel Tanker

Your Hot Wheels were nothing-nothing!-without fake gas in the tank. So, you always had to make sure one of these "Heavyweights" was on standby to avoid driving on "E."

26. 1970 King 'Kuda

From its unique name to its chromed-out engine, this dark-blue model car was part of the Hot Wheels "Spoilers" series that was introduced in 1970. It packed plenty of muscle into its tiny frame.

25. 1975 Chief's Special

Have you seen the giant SUVs that fire chiefs ride around in these days? Weeeeeeeak! With this thing, you could get to the scene of a fire-and get back to whatever it is you were doing before all hell broke loose-in the blink of an eye.

24. 1971 Evil Weevil

Have you ever wondered how much horsepower you can cram into the back a tiny Volkswagen? Eh, probably not. But, after looking at this ridiculous ride, we bet you're having second thoughts. And, third thoughts. And, fourth...oh, just forget it. There's no way you're doing this to your VW. Give up now.

23. 1974 El Rey Special

Got a need for speed? Then, you need one of these. Got a need for money? Then, you need to retire from racing Hot Wheels (trust us, it's for the best!) and sell one of these. Today, you can easily get a couple hundred bucks for an El Rey Special in decent condition.

22. 1981 Peterbilt Tank Truck

Over the years, there have been many, many Hot Wheels tanker trucks (one was even designed with the words "HELIUM GAS-CAREFUL!" on the side of it). But, we still have to give props to the original one that was part of the "Workhorses" series.

21. 1969 Chaparral 2G

There are two things that we love about this car. One, it was based on the Chaparral cars that the U.S. automobile racing team used to drive. And, two, the word "Chaparral" is the Spanish word for "roadrunner." So, what's not to love about this car?

20. 1975 Ramblin' Wrecker

Funny story behind this one: When model car designer Larry Wood created this tow truck, he originally included his home phone number on the side of it. So, when it was first released, children from all over the country called his house. He eventually had the phone number blacked out from the side of the truck when it was reissued a few years later, but not before he fielded thousands of calls from curious kids.

19. 1996 Ferrari F50 Spider

Let's face it: This is the closest you're ever going to get to a Ferrari. Not to worry, though. Mattel has released more than a dozen of these in the last 40 years. So, if you can't your hands on a real one, this is the next best thing.

18. 1976 American Hauler

In 1976, Mattel celebrated the U.S. Bicentennial by releasing a number of different Hot Wheels trucks decked out in patriotic colors. This hauler is, by far, our favorite truck to come out that year.

17. 1969 Classic '57 T-Bird

Sometimes, you don't feel like racing your Hot Wheels. Instead, you feel like dropping the top and trying to holler at the honey in Mattel's Barbie convertible. On those days, you pull this out, and you're ready to ride.

16. 1983 Classic Cobra

In 1983, Mattel introduced the "Real Riders" collection of Hot Wheels. The concept was simple: Instead of using non-descript tires on their Hot Wheels, Mattel teamed up with Goodyear and made special tires for cars like the Classic Cobra that made them look even realer than they already did. Mattel eventually pulled the emergency brake on their "Real Riders" initiative because of high production costs. But, not before they pushed out a few classic cars in the process.

15. 1971 Grass Hopper

Although you might not be able to tell just by looking at it, the '71 Grass Hopper was actually based on the Willys MB U.S. Army Jeep. How badass is that?!

14. 1975 Vega Bomb

The actual Chevy Vega that this model car was based on was, in a word, average. It was meant to serve as a rival to the Ford Pinto, so there wasn't a whole lot of flash to it. In fact, it's often credited as one of the cars that almost destroyed the GM brand because of how uninspiring the company became after the Vega dropped. So, we're not sure how they did it, but Mattel managed to make the car look like one of the coolest cars on the market when they got their hands on it by rebranding GM's compact car as the "Vega Bomb" and turning it into a flip-up funny car. Very well done.

13. 1970 Red Baron

Unfortunately, Mattel only produced this Hot Wheels car as a prototype and never actually released it to the public. So, only ten of them exist in the world today. But, it does have a pretty interesting back-story. It was inspired by the Red Baron World War I plane and featured a German helmet in place of a roof, a pair of machine guns, and a white plastic interior. Had it hit stores, it would be much, much higher on this list than it is today.

12. 1970 Blue Ed Shaver Custom AMX

Back in 1970, Mattel agreed to sponsor U.S. serviceman Ed Shaver, a drag racer who was stationed in the U.K. at the time, and created a special U.K.-only Hot Wheels car for him. The car, which featured Ed Shaver and Mattel decals on it, was given away at tracks when he raced and also made available through special cereal mail-in deals. However, very few of these still exist today, so they've turned into a hot collector's item over time.

11. 1970 '55 Chevrolet Nomad

These days, there's absolutely nothing cool about driving a station wagon around town. But, back in 1970, Hot Wheels honored one of the coolest station wagons of all time by building a replica of the classic '55 Nomad in a number of different colors. We actually wouldn't mind whipping one of these around today.

10. 2008 Diamond-Encrusted Custom Otto

In 2008, Mattel wanted to prove just how big the Hot Wheels brand had become. So, they commissioned celebrity jeweler Jason Arasheben of Jason of Beverly Hills to create a one-of-a-kind Hot Wheels car to help them celebrate their 40th anniversary. It featured 2,702 multicolored diamonds, took more than 600 hours to produce, and was auctioned off for $140,000. Quite the status symbol, eh?

9. 1974 Blue Rodger Dodger

Want to pay off all your student loans, like, tomorrow? Then, get out there and find the elusive '74 blue Rodger Dodger. Good luck, though. This is easily one of the rarest Hot Wheels ever, as only seven of them were produced. Legend has it that all seven of them were sold off for relatively cheap back in 1985 after a young Hot Wheels collector named Bob Parker traded a bunch of his Matchbox cars to a collector from England for the limited-edition cars and then sold them through a mail-order business he started. But, they're just about impossible to find today.

8. 1996 Volkswagen Drag Bus

Believe it or not, this is one of the most popular Hot Wheels castings ever. Although some collectors hated it when it was first released, it's gotten so popular over the last 18 years that companies like Penske and General Mills have teamed up with Mattel in the past to create Hot Wheels with their company names and logos plastered across the side. Coincidentally, the bus is also the heaviest Hot Wheels casting ever created. So, we don't expect it to go anywhere anytime soon.

7. 1976 Street Rodder

It took them almost a decade to do it, but in 1976, Mattel finally got around to building a model of America's favorite hot rod. And, it was every bit as awesome as people expected it to be.

6. 1968 Custom Volkswagen without Sunroof

The '68 Custom VW was a part of the "Original 16" Hot Wheels collection that Mattel released. But, it looked much different than this one that was produced in Hong Kong at the same time. Intended for release exclusively in Europe, it didn't feature a sunroof like the U.S. version, and it came in a range of different colors, including blue, aqua, copper, red, and orange. One of these can sell for a couple thousand dollars today.

5. 1976 Corvette Stingray

You can't go wrong with a classic, which is why Hot Wheels has re-created this Chevy over and over (and over!) again over the last four decades. In recent years, Mattel has even created special Stingray concept cars for loyal Chevy fans. Hands down, this is one of the most popular Hot Wheels ever created. And, something tells us it's never going to go out of style.

4. 1968 Deora

The first few designers of Hot Wheels really liked surfing, huh? It seems like every other model car was designed to carry surfboards. Just check out this unique concept pickup truck that looks like it was created to be a surfboard carrier. We can't knock it, because this turned out to be one of the most popular Hot Wheels ever. It was even re-released a few years ago to much fanfare. But, what was with all the surfboards, guys?!

3. 1971 Purple Olds 442

Early on, Mattel found out that one way to get people excited about their model cars-specifically, the model car collectors out there-was to release a small batch of some of their most popular models in limited-edition colors. That's what they did with the super-popular Olds 442. Most of the '71 Olds 442 cars they released were magenta. But, a select few were also salmon, hot pink, and purple and quickly became collector's items. Today, the purple one can sell for up to $5,000.

2. 1968 Beatnik Bandit

Back in 1961, a guy by the name of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth built a concept car for Rod & Custom magazine that featured a joystick in place of a steering wheel and a big bubble over the driver's seat and called it the Beatnik Bandit. And, oddly enough, it was one of the first cars that Mattel decided to turn into a Hot Wheels model car. It looked slightly out of place next to the Camaro, Mustang, and Volkswagen models that Mattel included in its "Original 16" lineup. But, today, the Beatnik Bandit is still one of the most sought-after model cars in Hot Wheels history. And, it wasn't even a real car! Go figure.

1. 1969 Pink Rear-Loading Volkswagen Beach Bomb

This Hot Wheels car is worth more than your car. No, really: Unless you're pushing, like, a Lambo, this tiny '69 VW Beach Bomb is definitely worth more than whatever you're driving right now. The retail version of the Beach Bomb featured side pods for the surfboards that you see hanging out of the back of the Beach Bomb here (again with the surfboards, guys?!). But, this is a prototype and there is reportedly only one in existence. So, it sold a couple of years ago for-are you ready for this?-$125,000. It puts your ride, not to mention your entire Hot Wheels collection, to shame.