Is This Car Cool Enough to Be a Hot Wheels Model?Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels The Hot Wheels Legends Tour is in its ninth year, having launched in 2018 to celebrate the brand's 50th anniversary. It has grown into a global custom-car competition. There is no shortage of entries, as custom-car builders live to see their creations recognized. The winner of the tour gets their car made into a genuine Hot Wheels die-cast car. Could there be a greater honor? The tour stops at countries around the world; last weekend it was in Union City in the San Francisco Bay Area, where 130 cars and their creators came to vie for the top honor. The judges chose Dave Ford's 1932 Ford. He says the build was inspired by Kustom Kar kings Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and George Barris. That's Ford with his Ford above. 1) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels The build started with an airplane canopy and evolved into a family effort, Ford said. 2) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels Can you see the aircraft inspiration? 3) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels This young fan agreed with the judges. 4) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels Advertisement Advertisement Ford in his Ford. 5) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels The car parked in front of a giant Hot Wheels retail hanger. 6) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels The Ford is powered by a Chevy 327 engine. 7) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels The 327 paired with a Turbo 350 transmission and a Dana 60 rear differential. 8) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels Advertisement Advertisement The interior looks cool too. 9) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels The bubble canopy raised. 10) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels Ford and his Ford. 11) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels The exterior is distinguished by its unique F/A-18 Hornet–inspired nose cone. 12) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels Advertisement Advertisement Ford's wife hand-stitched the interior. 13) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels An acrylic steering wheel. 14) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels Note the billet shifter. 15) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels You can make out some of the 130 cars against which the Ford competed (we didn't get many clear shots of the other cars). 16) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels Advertisement Advertisement This is one of the 20 identically prepared Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 sedans that ran in the Nürburgring Race of Champions held May 12, 1984, to celebrate the opening of the new Nürburgring grand prix circuit. It featured a star-studded grid with legendary past and present Formula 1 world champions, including Niki Lauda, James Hunt, Alain Prost, Keke Rosberg, and Stirling Moss. A 24-year-old F1 rookie named Ayrton Senna stunned the motorsport world by beating the elite field of champions. 17) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels We have no info on this entry, but it looks like it'd make a good Hot Wheels car. 18) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels Here's its engine. 19) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels A Nissan GT-R done up in Lightning McQueen livery. 20) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels Advertisement Advertisement A Miata in AriZona iced-tea livery. 21) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels A Nissan Z also done in AriZona livery. 22) Photo credit: Mitchell Weitzman Hot Wheels Should this Twin Mill–inspired car have won?