Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK winner announced
A Chopped 1972 Volkswagen Beetle has been named the Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK winner and will now face finalists from 19 countries, with the overall winner set to become a 1:64-scale die-cast model.
The win was announced at the CarFest event at Silverstone, with the Beetle finishing ahead of a 1989 Fiat Panda, known as The Flying Washing Machine and a 1951 Tempo Matador truck that used to deliver potatoes in Australia.
Judges Richard Hammond, Hot Wheels designer Dwayne Vance and host Nicola Hume were all unanimous in their decision, saying the Beetle demonstrated the authenticity, creativity and ‘garage spirit’ that embodies Hot Wheels.
A truly unique Beetle build
Created by Ray Ramsey, who has 150 custom car builds to his name, the Beetle build was inspired by 1960s Hot Rod legends like Ed Roth. Its body is chopped by 14 inches, with the motor raised and front axle pushed forward. Plenty of creativity has been thrown into the build, which features a champagne cooler bucket that houses the cyclops lamp and speedo, a vintage cinecamera bought for £1, a dome that came from a primary school toilet roof, inverted Corvette bumpers and a spider strainer from a chip fryer that now forms part of the seat
The car also features a chain link steering wheel and an egg whisk used for the radio aerial. Ramsey also created a unique hydraulic suspension and fluid dispersal system, while the rear wheels are from a 1951 truck and the front pair are space savers from a Porsche.
“I just built this car to make people smile”
The Beetle is now set to be sold, with all proceeds going to cancer research, with the cause close to Ramsey’s heart, as he faces his own prostate cancer battle.
“I just built this car to make people smile, and hopefully, I achieved this,” said creator Ray Ramsey. “Lots of people say it looks like a Hot Wheels, so maybe one day this day could come true.”
Ramsey’s VW Beetle will now face cars from Europe in a regional final before the Global Finale in the US in November.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Mattel