Hot Wheels TV Show Honors Those Who Rolled Before
Culture
Movies and Television
Concept cars
Builders
Rutledge Wood (Photo: Steve Schofield/NBC)
Who would have thought, back in 1968, that Hot Wheels would become the generation-spanning worldwide phenomenon that it is today?
Like so many automotive enthusiasts, Rutledge Wood’s lifelong obsession started with those tiny die-cast cars we all know and love. Over the years, he’s hosted a string of notable television shows, including Southern and Hungry (Cooking Channel), The Floor is Lava (Netflix), and most notably, Top Gear USA with co-hosts Adam Ferrara and Tanner Foust - opens in new window or tab..
He’s built a whole lot of cars too. In 2017, Rutledge and his mighty crew reimagined a unique 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback for eBay Motors, sharing the build with an amazing cross-country roadshow - opens in new window or tab.. Hosting Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge is next-level mayhem.
Where No Build Show Has Gone Before
Rutledge Wood and WWE Superstar Big E contemplate the "Mardi Gras Mania" Monte Carlo. (Photo: James Stack/NBC)
The contestants and their crews are tasked with creating Hollywood concept cars harkening back to the most memorable designs in the Hot Wheels universe. These are rollers, not runners. They’re full-size design exercises in sheet metal intended to become honest-to-goodness 1:64-scale die-casts.
You can’t help but think that Big Daddy Ed Roth and George Barris tune in to every episode from the great beyond.
Taking a closer look at "The Reaper" (Photo: James Stack/NBC)
Rutledge said:
Hot Wheels have always been a through point in my life… My first childhood memories are of playing with Hot Wheels. I would sit on my bed, on my quilt that I think my mom or another family member had made, and I would make blocks for my Hot Wheels to park and hang, and of course, RACE! My love for motorsports really started with Hot Wheels and my imagination.
In these days of generative AI - opens in new window or tab. and 3D printing - opens in new window or tab., the Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge process is a playful smack on the back of the head. It’s all about hands-on craftsmanship, not computers. It’s creativity that stands on the shoulders of those who’ve rolled out before.
So Many Gems
The builds on Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge lean heavily toward domestic iron but include notable imports as well, some more common than others. While it’s up to the judges to decide the winner of each episode, Rutledge has a few builds that stand out above the rest.
Rutledge Wood and Arushi Garg in the stock Maruti Suzuki Omni van. (Photo: James Stack/NBC)
He said:
Jim’s Powercharged 69 Charger was really cool. I had a 1979 Charger, that was my friend Kyle Petty’s car he drove in high school, so that one really brought me back.I also really loved Arushi’s Jaipur Jewel. It was based on her late father’s Maruti Suzuki Omni van, which is a Kei van just like my Suzuki Every that I own currently. Mine is an RHD AWD turbo five-speed variant, while hers was an NA LHD, but it’s still the same van. What that team did with it was absolutely bonkers.
Tiny Cars, Big Love
Vintage Hot Wheels are collectible and timeless. The eBay platform currently lists over 380,000 for sale worldwide. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply looking for that small but thoughtful gift that will be treasured for a lifetime, there truly is something for everyone.
In the past few months, we’ve seen vintage 1968 Redline Series Hot Wheels in their unopened original packaging sell for over $9,000 on eBay. It’s mind-boggling to think that the toys you used and abused so many years ago could be worth so much many decades later.
Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge is unabashedly fast-paced. But NBC has you covered if you’re into the gritty and greasy bits and pieces of how each vehicle was conceptualized and built.Rutledge said:
I, too, wish there was way more showing off our carpooler’s skills and talents, and you can see some in the after-show on Peacock and YouTube. It’s called Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge Best Builds. It is a tough balance to get car people like us and the people that love us, who might not actually care about the nuts and bolts of it all, together and watch the same show. So I think the producers did a really good job of showing who everyone is, where they come from, what they like, and ultimately, what they created.
Here's the inside scoop on Arushi Garg's Jaipur Jewel:
The season's grand finale airs on NBC - opens in new window or tab. at 10:00 PM on August 8. All episodes are available on Peacock.
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