Australia's crazy custom car culture took its place on the world stage… and the local Aussie winner was announced who'll now head to the global semi-finals!
Taking out the 2022 edition of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour Australia was Corey Solomons from the Hunter Valley region of NSW and his custom Mini Clubman from 1974, named The Frankenmini.
Image: Supplied
The car has a 351 Windsor V8 and is pushing 38’ x 15.5’ tyres, sitting on a shortened Nissan Patrol chassis. Solomons says that it’s called The Frankenmini because it’s made from many different car parts with welded stitches all over.
Solomons is also hoping to get his Frankenmini featured in the new Mad Max prequel film which is being filmed in Australia and plans to do so by showing it off in front of the producers at the upcoming Mini Nationals in Hay.
Image: Supplied
The Frankenmini was in the top three for most of the judges on this year’s panel. Hot Wheels Legends Tour Australia judge, Greg Rust said that The Frankenmini lends itself to being a Hot Wheels car kids will want to play with.
Image: Supplied
“I just think this thing is a total juxtaposition of what we expect with a Mini Clubman. I can see some kids playing with this car outside in the dirt and I can see others saying, ‘you know what, that thing is wild, I’ll keep it safely in its Hot Wheels box on my shelf’. Such a cool thing”
Some of the other finalists included a custom 1948 Fiat Toppling Delivery van and a 1958 Austin Healey Spirit Drag custom. The annual event sees thousands of Hot Wheels fans compete to have their custom car reimagined as a 1:64th scale Hot Wheels Die-Cast toy and sold around the world.
The winner of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour globally will be revealed later in the year.
Keyword: The Frankenmini wins 2022 Australian Hot Wheels Legends Tour competition