The Hirohata Merc is a very famous custom car that we have seen brought into the diecast world by Hot Wheels. With the reintroduction of the diecast model in the 2024 Hot Wheels G Case, we thought it would be a good idea to dive into the history of this iconic vehicle. In the 1950’s having a custom car was the best way to show off your personality and get all the attention at the drive in. George and Sam Barris were among the first to start chopping and customizing cars and by 1951, they had become one of the premier shops for auto customization. The shop had more than it’s fair share of talent to help build the best vehicles on the road. Alongside the Barris brothers was Herschel “Junior” Conway, now known for his affinity of car painting. George Barris was the one running things at the shop, directing the customs in the direction he had in mind. Masato “Bob” Hirohata bought a brand new 1951 Mercury and brought it over to the Barris custom shop in hopes of having a completely custom car. Bob was hoping to have the car finished in time for the 1952 Motorama.

After months of procrastination, the car was started and finished in around a two week timespan. Some of the custom details included changing the lines on the car to be more streamlined. Many of the emblems and chrome parts were also removed including the door handles. A hidden button along the side of the car would allow access to the car. A curved chrome trim piece separated the front and rear windows giving another unique look to this car. The roof was chopped more in the rear than in the front giving the car an iconic sweptback look.  The car featured parts from other car manufacturers that had to be bought new and attached to the car. Some highlights were the Buick side spear, grill from a 51 Ford, separated French headlights, Cadillac hubcaps, ’52 Lincoln taillights, Appleton spotlights, and a Cadillac motor. The dashboard featured pinstriping details done by Kenneth Robert Howard, who is now referred to as the father of modern pinstriping. The interior also feature custom dash knobs and an immense amount of upholstery details. The “Ice Green” paint job was a stark contrast to the metallic paints that most customs of the time were using.

After doing well at the 1952 Motorama, the car began being featured in magazines including Motortrend and Hot Rod. In 1953 Bob Hirohata drove the car cross country to Indianapolis for a car shop competition and took best in show. In 1955, the car went through a color change, replacing the Ice Green for a gold metallic paint. The car would display this new paint scheme for the movie Running Wild where it was featured. After the movie appearance, Bob sold his Merc. It moved to a few other owners until 1959 where Jim McNiel purchased it from a lot for $500. By this time the car had been neglected and needed some work. After some restoration, Jim fixed the car up, but after he met his soon to be wife, the car was forgotten once again, but left in a protected place. Jim kept his aspirations of maintaining the car and declined multiple offers on the car including one reportedly up to a million dollars. Some time later Jim received a call from Pat Ganahl, editor for Rod and Custom magazine. Pat had an aspiration to help Jim restore his Merc so the magazine would have a high-profile car to feature in the magazine. The car stayed in the garage for the restoration. Most of the work was done by Jim and his son with some outside help here and there.

As the car neared completion, a target date and location was set for the cars re-unveiling. The Hot Rods and Customs car show at the Oakland museum of Art. The last detail that needed to be added was the paint and a call came in from Junior who didn’t work on the car during its first rendition but wanted to give his hand a try at painting the newly restored body. The car was restored to the original two tone “Ice Green” paint scheme with help from PPG. After 10 years of work, Jim’s dream of restoring the Hirohata Merc was complete. The car went to a multitude of car shows and eventually made its way to the Pebble Beach car show where it won first in class helping cement the cars legacy. On April 12, 2017 the Hirohata Merc was made part of the National Historic Vehicle Registers now archived in the Library of Congress. The car now resided at The Peterson Automotive Museum following the death of Jim McNiel. “The real car is currently owned by Beau Boeckmann over from Galpin motors and it’s on display in his Galpin Speed Shop up in Van Nuys, California” says Brendon Vetuskey, one of the creative Hot Wheels designers. The car was sold at a Mecum auction in 2022 for $2,145,000 after all fees had been paid.

This isn’t the first release of the Hirohata Merc from Hot Wheels. “Well, it’s not the first time that hot wheels has made this car in 1/64 scale. It was done previously in the premium product lines. However, it’s back in 2024 as a mainline car so you can buy it for one dollar…” Vetuskey states. The Merc had its first debut in 1998 as part of the Legends: Barris Kustom 4-Car Set. Along with being part of the premium set meant with more detail came a higher price. Vetuskey explains how he managed to take the complex car from premium to mainline. “I borrowed the original sculpted pattern from Larry Wood for this car and had it scanned in our model shop. I made a few adjustments to it and that’s what we used to prepare the digital sculpting for this car…With a car in the mainline, we are typically limited to four parts to keep it at a one dollar price point and I incorporated part of the body into the chassis to provide a color break which represents the real car. It will also help our graphic designers when they do new color versions of this for future releases” Vetuskey explains. There is plenty of excitement surrounding the real and diecast version of this classic custom and we’d love to see more cars like this make their way to the pegs.

Hot Wheels, the iconic brand that has fueled the imagination of car enthusiasts for over half a century, is hitting the road once again with its exhilarating Legends Tour. This annual event, now in its [specific number] year, brings together automotive aficionados, collectors, and fans of all ages to celebrate the passion and creativity of custom car culture.

The Hot Wheels Legends Tour is more than just a car show – it’s a vibrant celebration of automotive innovation and ingenuity. From classic muscle cars to futuristic concepts, the Legends Tour showcases a diverse array of vehicles that push the boundaries of design and performance. Whether you’re a die-hard gearhead or a casual enthusiast, there’s something for everyone to marvel at and admire.

But what sets the Legends Tour apart is its emphasis on community and inclusivity. Unlike traditional car shows, which often cater to a niche audience, the Legends Tour welcomes enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. From seasoned collectors to young fans experiencing their first car show, everyone is encouraged to participate and share in the excitement.

Central to the Legends Tour experience is the opportunity for attendees to witness the magic of Hot Wheels come to life. Throughout the event, participants have the chance to vote for their favorite custom car, with the winner earning the coveted title of “Hot Wheels Legend” and the chance to have their design immortalized as a 1:64 scale die-cast model.

But the Legends Tour isn’t just about showcasing cars – it’s also about inspiring the next generation of automotive enthusiasts. In addition to the main event, the tour often features interactive activities and workshops designed to engage young fans and ignite their passion for cars. Whether it’s building custom Hot Wheels cars, designing their dream car, or meeting real-life automotive legends, kids of all ages are sure to leave the Legends Tour with memories that will last a lifetime.

Moreover, the Legends Tour serves as a platform for aspiring car builders and designers to showcase their talent and creativity. For many participants, being selected to compete in the tour is a dream come true, offering them the opportunity to share their passion with a global audience and potentially see their design become a part of Hot Wheels history.

In conclusion, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour is a testament to the enduring appeal of cars and the power of imagination. From its diverse lineup of custom vehicles to its focus on community engagement and inspiration, the Legends Tour embodies everything that makes Hot Wheels such a beloved brand. So whether you’re a seasoned collector or a wide-eyed youngster with dreams of building your own custom car, the Legends Tour invites you to join in the celebration and experience the magic of Hot Wheels firsthand.

Hot Wheels Legends Tour Mazda Autozam Picture from HotWheelsOfficial Instagram page.

Featured image from Mattel Creations

The 24th annual Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals kicked off on April 3rd and while we didn’t get the chance to go, there’s a lot to talk about admiring from afar. Outside of all the festivities associated with the convention, the most important thing to look at is the convention vehicles that are available at the event. The first car to take note of is the Pink Party RLC 1993 Mustang. This car has been made available early at the convention but will also get an RLC release later this month. Overdrive members currently have the car showing a purchase date of April 14th so we expect the actual release to take place on the 16th. The Mustang comes in a familiar Spectraflame pink paint scheme and features five spoke wheels. The car also appears to have the possibility of an opening hood but it will be hard to know until someone opens one up. Currently prices for this car are around $100 but we would expect that to go down once the RLC release has passed. The next car to pay close attention to is the first souvenir car for the event, the Mk IV Supra. The car is retailing for around $40 at the event but prices for this car are currently around $120. While the car is listed as having rhodamine red paint, it appears more pink from pictures. The car features smoked windows, black interior, and is rocking an awesome carbon fiber hood. The car also has some interesting chrome rims and we love the additions of TRD inspired stripes on the side of the vehicle. The headlight detailing and carbon fiber skirts are great touches as well. This car will be highly sought after for years to come as the Supra is a cult favorite amongst JDM lovers. Speaking of cult favorites, our next car is a big one. The 2nd souvenir car for the convention is the 55 Chevy Bel Air Gasser. Prices on this casting have seen insane amounts of profitability so expect this car to be the same. This version is sporting a yellow paint scheme with black top and Mooneyes branding. The pinstriping featured on the hood is a nice touch we’ve seen from other gassers. The varied tire width gives this car an awesome drag look that appeals to a wide audience. This is another car that will be retailing for around $40 but we can see prices currently upwards of $150. Another car to recently pop up from the convention is the dinner car, the Kawa-Bug-A. This is another casting that seems to be gaining some traction and becoming more popular. The convention Kawa-Bug-A comes in a cream paint and features a surfboard and luggage on the rack. The surfboard features an olive green paint and shark livery that we’ve seen displayed on fighter planes in the past. There is also some graffiti on the side that says “Vance Speed Shop”, a tip of the cap to the Kawa-Bug-A’s designer Dwayne Vance. This car currently has a value of around $200 on the secondary market. The last car that may or may not be confirmed is the finale car. There aren’t any pictures currently of this car but it appears to be a 2018 COPO Camaro SS as the finale car. The car will feature a spectraflame blue paint scheme. Overall, the event seems to be great.  Let us know what you think about these rare cars and we look forward to giving you more exciting diecast news!