Hot Wheels, Aston Martin Team to Redesign Classic DB4GT as Land-Speed Racer

Mattel has announced a Hot Wheels collaboration with Aston Martin to develop a new Aston Martin DB4GT High-Speed Edition diecast. The two iconic automotive brands teamed up to imagine what a classic Aston Martin would look like chasing land-speed records on the hunt for Bonneville Salt Flats glory while retaining the design aesthetics that make the DB4 one of the world’s most recognizable classic cars. After hundreds of concepts, design meetings and sketches, the Hot Wheels and Aston Martin teams bring the DB4GT High-Speed Edition 1:64 die-cast model to retailers globally beginning in October. 

The design collaboration between Miles Nurnberger and Thomas Gilbert, designers, Aston Martin, and Craig Callum, design manager, Hot Wheels, took the classic DB4 shape and began modifications by studying the purpose-built performance of historic land speed racers that pushed for every additional mile per hour out on the dry lake beds and salt flats. The transformation includes an aggressive front splitter, a lowered chopped roof, custom wheels and a longer body to increase aerodynamics and reduce wind resistance. The motorsports-inspired livery pays homage to historic land-speed racing vehicles. 

“The juxtaposition between the sophistication of Aston Martin’s original design and outlandish land-speed cars results in an extraordinary die-cast, even by Hot Wheels standards,” says Callum. “Aston Martin is one of the most prestigious ultra-luxury performance brands in the world, and by working with their team to add a Hot Wheels-inspired twist to this iconic model, we’ve developed something legendary for collectors and fans of both brands.” 

For more than 50 years, Hot Wheels has driven automotive performance and design, bringing car culture to fans of all ages. Hot Wheels continues its drive to be legendary by collaborating with the best in the industry and participating in car culture worldwide. Beginning with the introduction of the V8 Vantage in 2005, Hot Wheels has been sharing Aston Martin die-casts with the world for nearly two decades. In total, 13 unique Aston Martin models have been recreated in 1:64 die-cast form. 

“Our intention for this collaboration was to reimagine an iconic Aston Martin model through the lens of some aspect of American car-modifying culture which chimed with the Hot Wheels brand,” says Gilbert. “My design theme sketch, which Hot Wheels and Miles chose to develop, imagined a DB4GT-based land-speed record car, very specifically inspired by those that run every year on the Bonneville Salt Flats. I even sketched the car in that unique setting, so the Bonneville name has been very much intrinsic to the design for us since day one. Following my sketch being selected, our company historian did some research and found that a customer in the 1960s did in fact take his DB4GT to Bonneville and drove it at high speed in the annual speed trials, which cemented the Bonneville theme from a historical as well as a design standpoint.” 

The new Aston Martin DB4GT High-Speed Edition Hot Wheels diecast will be available at retailers worldwide starting in October.