Mattel has named the five finalists who will vie for the opportunity to have their real car turned into a Hot Wheels 1:64 scale die-cast model as part of the brand’s Legends Tour. The list includes an eclectic mix of vehicles.
The Australian finalists are Tony Barron (1976 Holden Zeus Dominator), Peter Papanicolaou (2025 Spartan), Darren Pelacchi (1955 Ford Cab Over Engine (COE) C-600), Greg Carlton (1955 Holden FJ), and Clifford Clayson (1996 Mazda RX-7).
“To get this far makes all those hours in the garage worth it. Seeing my build alongside these other finalists is surreal, and it’s going to be epic to see who takes out the top spot at the Australian 2026 Hot Wheels Legends Tour finale,” Carlton said.
The region’s first-ever live finale will take place on Sunday 30 August between 8am and 2pm (AEST) at Sydney’s Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. The big day will include hundreds of unique vehicles on display, and is free to the public. A DJ and photo moments will be available.
Fans will witness the judging process live, as finalist vehicles are assessed by a panel of automotive professionals, including Gary Reid (Repco), Craig Phinn (Melbourne Motor Show) and Jimmy Liu (Hot Wheels and Matchbox).
“When we’re assessing these builds, we’re looking for three things: creativity, the innovation and vision each builder brings; authenticity, the genuine passion behind the project; and garage spirit, that raw dedication and obsession that defines real car culture,” Liu said.
“Each one of these finalists has these key ingredients, and it’s going to make selecting a winner super tough.”
The Australian champion will have their build compete at the Asia-Pacific (APAC) regional final, which will take place virtually. The winner of that goes on to the global grand finale in November.
They’ll compete against regional winners from around the globe for the ultimate prize – being inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends, and having their vehicle recreated as a die-cast model.
Fans are encouraged to mark their calendars for Sunday 30 August 2026, with further information available on the Mattel website.
