Advertisement
BBC TopGear
BBC TopGear
Advertisement feature
WELCOME TO HYUNDAI’S HAPPINESS MACHINE
View the latest news
First Cars

This dented, rusted, and frankly brilliant ‘Not Wheels’ toy celebrates crap first cars

And it’s only got three wheels! It’s also already sold out

Published: 03 Sep 2024

Hot Wheels has partnered up with a company called MSCHF to celebrate the sheer, unadulterated crapness of first cars with this magnificent creation. Behold: the Not Wheels toy.

It was built as a homage to all the rubbish cars drivers are forced to begin their automotive lives with, and while brilliant, TopGear.com is enormously concerned if you’re buying cars with three wheels.

Advertisement - Page continues below

Hence why Mattel – makers of Hot Wheels – has gone full caps lock explaining that this particular toy ‘DOES NOT ROLL’. Still, inspiration for its design came from the Nineties Japanese imports Americans were treated to, hence why it looks like a mash-up of the best generation of Japanese cars and not a selection of crap but equally brilliant French superminis we got in Blighty.

So yes, it’s only got three wheels. It also features a cracked windscreen, a dirty rear window with the classic ‘wash me’ scrawled on it, some parking tickets, mismatched panels, poor arch-rust repair, a ‘Turbo’ decal and of course, the obligatory aftermarket rear wing. Seriously though, what kind of beaters were Americans buying as first cars?

“Thoroughly dented, rusted, and amateurly repaired, our Not Wheels car proudly shows off both how hard it’s been driven and how much it’s been loved,” said Mattel.

In yet more excellence, it’s even got a sort of classified listing written on the back of the pack. “NO WARRANTY,” it exclaims, before writing what we’ve all read as a perfectly acceptable explanation before buying a rotter. “Car is in great condition, just needs a little work,” it reads. “By purchasing this HOT WHEELS Basic 1:64 scale car, buyer indicates that they own polyester putty, spray paint, and know a guy who can buff out dents.”

Advertisement - Page continues below

Sadly, you won’t be able to purchase this particular rotter, because it’s sold out. It was available for just $30 – no doubt the same price as yer average first car. More of these, please.

Top Gear
Newsletter

Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.

More from Top Gear

Loading
See more on First Cars

Subscribe to the Top Gear Newsletter

Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy.

BBC TopGear

Try BBC Top Gear Magazine

subscribe