Hot Wheels vs Matchbox: Two massive names in toy car collecting, but which is the best? Are they the same? Which brand should you collect?
Everything you need to know about the two Mattel brands will be answered in the next 800 words.
Matchbox (1953): Started in Britain. Made small, real-looking toy cars that came in boxes the size of matchboxes. They focused on making toys that looked like real cars and trucks.
Hot Wheels (1968): Started in America by the company Mattel. These cars were made to be faster and more eye-catching than Matchbox cars. Known for their loud designs and fantasy concept cars.
The Competition: For many years, these two brands fought to be the best toy car brand. However, Hot Wheels beat out Matchbox most years.
Big Change (1997): Mattel (Maker of Hot Wheels) bought the Matchbox company.
Today: Both Hot Wheels and Matchbox are owned by Mattel. They still stay true to their original branding.
Are Matchbox and Hot Wheels the same?
Matchbox and Hot Wheels are both owned by Mattel. Over time, they’ve grown more similar, but they’re still different and have their own sets of fans.
There are a handful of key differences.
The main difference between Matchbox and Hot Wheels is the design and car selection.
Hot Wheels is louder and more vibrant. The real-life cars are brighter, flashier, and stylized to an extent. The fantasy cars are concepts that let the design team go wild.
They’re also designed to perform on the Hot Wheels tracks.
Matchbox, on the other hand, is a lot more “dull” and realistic. In a case of matchbox, you’re likely to find a Ford Fiesta, Citroen C4, or even bin lorries and fire trucks.
Unlike Hot Wheels, Matchbox fantasy cars closely resemble their real-life counterparts. You can expect fire trucks, road rollers, and boats rather than the crazy hot wheels concepts.
I’ve also found that while most shops that stock hot wheels tend to stock a small selection of matchbox. You’ll find that its much easier to buy hot wheels in the UK than it is matchbox.
The Same Castings But Different
Above is The Porsche 911 GT3 RS. This is the exact same casting, just one from Hot Wheels (Left) and the other from Matchbox. (Right).
You can see these are very similar cars, however, the Hot Wheels car on the left is more vibrant. It’s also more stylised.
The Matchbox car on the right is much more subtle and something you’re likely to see come out the factory.
Hot Wheels Or Matchbox Which Should You Collect?
Collect both! If you like a car, buy it – no matter which brand it is.
Why it makes sense:
- They cost about the same
- Both have good quality
- The same company (Mattel) makes both
Finding them in stores:
- Hot Wheels are easier to find in many stores
- More stores carry Hot Wheels, especially in the UK
- Stores get new Hot Wheels more often
- Matchbox cars can be harder to find because fewer stores stock them
- When stores do have Matchbox, they don’t get new ones as often
You can buy both types from our website, but in regular stores, you’ll probably see more Hot Wheels.
Hot Wheels And Matchbox Comparisons FAQ
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding hot wheels vs matchbox
Are hot wheels and matchbox the same size?
Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars are the same size most of the time. Regular car castings are going to be very similar in size, at around 2.5-3 inches long.
Both Hot Wheels and Matchbox are designed to be 1:64 in scale and can both fit on Hot Wheels tracks. This means they need to be very close in size, if not the exact same.
Can Hot Wheels And Matchbox cars be used on the same tracks?
Most modern Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars are compatible with each other’s tracks. They’re designed to work this way.
However, older Matchbox cars manufactured before Mattel’s ownership are unlikely to be compatible with current track systems.
Do hot wheels and matchbox cars have opening parts?
If you want cars with moving parts, Matchbox is your best choice. Matchbox has a whole series of cars with parts that work, like doors and hoods you can open. The series is literally called “moving parts”.
Hot Wheels only puts moving parts on their more expensive models or special chase cars/variant cars.