We rate the Hot Wheels Legends Tour — how to watch it live

Maybe you’re not a collector, you’re all grown up and need some pretentious bourbon shelf space, but we’d be surprised if you saw a Hot Wheels car and didn’t give it a spin at the table. Mattel’s glossy mini cars appeal to all age groups and all over the world, here’s why Hot Wheels Legends Tour— a chance for full-size car designers to see their work celebrated cast form— attracts entries from all over the world.

It takes an entire year to whittle the hope down to one, with regionals leading up to the 24-car semifinals and eventually a top-10 shootout. This year we were invited together with our beloved Window shop contributor and senior editor of Road & Track John Perley Huffmanofficiating challenging semi-finals.

The semi-finalists ranged from a pink mini truck to an almost spherical Volkswagen Bug bus. We loved the blown-up Porsche 928 with Snork, while other judges marveled at the high-speed Autozam and the Ford Anglia with its stock rear window design so wildly designed it seemed more custom than customs. Here’s the full list we had to choose from.

• 2015 Proton Suprima S – Nilai Seremban, Malaysia
• 2003 Toyota Hilux – Shimatsuma, Japan
• 1969 Buick Riviera – Los Angeles, California, USA
• 1987 Mitsubishi Jeep Ratrod – Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, Philippines
• 1998 Nissan 240SX S14 SE – Miami, FL, USA
• 1974 Mini GT – Punta Arenas, Chile
• 1978 Porsche 928 – Dallas, Texas, USA
• Raptor Buggy – Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
• 1973 Toyota Celica ST – Windsor, Ontario, Canada
• 1980 C3 Corvette – Paiechno, Poland
• 1992 Autozam Scrum – Beaumont, Texas, USA
• 1976 VW Puma GTE – Saarbrucken, Germany
• 1956 VW Beetle – Syracuse, New York, USA
• 1963 Ford Anglia 105e – Hertfordshire, UK
• 1971 Plymouth Duster/2009 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee – Mexico City, Mexico
• 1968 VW Beetle – Atlanta, Georgia, USA
• 1931 Dodge Rat Rod – Detroit, Michigan, USA
• 1962 Beetle – Bandung, Indonesia
• 2011 Kart 1000 cc – Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
• 2017 Radio Flyer – San Tan Valley, Arizona, USA
• 1927 Wayne Ford School Bus – Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas, USA
• 1974 Mini Clubman Panel Van – New South Wales, Australia
• 1969 International CO1800 – Corning, California, USA
• Nissan Skyline R33 1JZ without VVTI – Barcelona, ​​Spain

We weren’t just being polite when we said that any of the cars we saw would make great Hot Wheels, but we were tasked with thinking about the final product: How would the parts translate? Is this a Hot Wheels-like car already in production? Will the child want to play with it? Will it be an adult?

We will not give out the winners of the semi-finalists! You can watch the judging here and tell us who you would send to the final.

How to see the final

If you want to watch the finale, which takes place in Jay Leno’s garage, check in on the Hot Wheels Facebook page on November 12th at midnight EST.