Lee Johnstone’s Volvo P1800 From the UK Crowned Winner of 2021 Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour Global Grand Finale at Jay Leno’s Garage
14.11.2021 01:41:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
The winner of the 2021 Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour was selected today during a global livestream event at Jay Leno’s Garage. Hailing from Somerset, England, the 1969 Volvo P1800 built by Lee Johnstone will join a prestigious group of custom cars in the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends™ and will be forever immortalized as a 1:64 Hot Wheels® die-cast toy.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211113005258/en/
2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour Winner - 1969 Volvo P1800 Gasser (Photo: Business Wire)
This Volvo P1800 "Aint No Saint" Gasser was originally registered as new in 1969. Its owner, 71-year-old English motor mechanic Lee Johnstone, acquired the vehicle as a rusty rolling shell before thoroughly restoring, modifying, and transforming it into the quarter-mile monster it is today. Sporting a Chevrolet 454 big block, its new power plant is capped with a 671 GMC supercharger and dual four-barrel carburetors. Finished in a fitting shade of Volvo green, it is a true culmination of more than 50 years of ‘race it, break it, build it better’ experience. Perhaps most importantly – and in true challenger spirit – "Aint No Saint" is also a family affair, with Lee's three daughters, Eleanor, Sarah and Victoria, sharing in the driving duties, and his wife, Sue, on standby to help crew.
Finishing its fourth year, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour is a worldwide competition spanning 11 countries and five continents, making it the world’s largest international traveling car show. Thousands of builds were submitted to compete in a series of in-person and virtual stops, which began in April 2021. Over the past seven months, some of the most unique and inspiring custom creations went head-to-head, all for a chance to become the next Hot Wheels die-cast toy sold – and played with by fans of all ages – across the globe.
This year’s global Grand Finale was co-hosted by celebrity car enthusiast Jay Leno and motorsports ambassador Jarod DeAnda during a virtual livestream event, where they were joined by an array of automotive and design experts from around the world to complete the task of choosing the 2021 winner. Joining them on stage were Ted Wu, Global Head of Design for Vehicles, Mattel; Bryan Benedict, Director of Vehicles Design, Mattel; Brendon Vetuskey, Vehicles Designer, Mattel; Henrik Fisker, automotive design icon; Elana Scherr, senior editor of Car and Driver; car customizer and automotive electronics guru Mad Mike; and automotive content creator and drifting enthusiast Sara Choi.
“The Hot Wheels Legends Tour has truly become a global celebration of custom car creations,” said Ted Wu, Vice President, Global Head of Design for Vehicles, Mattel. “With the addition of five new countries in the Tour, we have been able to reach and interact with millions of new fans and builders from around the world. The Volvo Gasser is a wonderful expression of authenticity, creativity and, most importantly, garage spirit. We look forward to welcoming Lee Johnstone and his 1969 Volvo P1800 into the Hot Wheels family and presenting the world with our newest Hot Wheels Legends Tour die-cast toy.”
“Having my family here with me for this moment was so special,” said Lee Johnstone. “I am excited to have my car become a Hot Wheels die-cast toy and to be able to share my passion project in 1:64 scale with the world. It’s amazing to be the first U.K. winner.”
The 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour was made possible in collaboration with Walmart and Mobil 1.
To learn more about the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, visit https://hotwheels.mattel.com/explore/en/legends-tour.
ABOUT HOT WHEELS
As a 53-year old brand more relevant today than ever before, Hot Wheels is the world’s leading vehicle franchise which represents and unites all segments of car culture. For decades Hot Wheels has proven its influence in automotive and pop culture with legendary design and epic performance. Through unparalleled collaborations with global leaders in streetwear, fashion, luxury, entertainment, action sports and motorsports, Hot Wheels is the #1 selling toy in the world* with over 8 billion vehicles sold. The brand engages fans of every generation through immersive live events, global competitions, theme park attractions, world-class digital gaming, consumer products and film and television content.
About Mattel
Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO® and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and e-commerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.
About Mobil 1
Mobil 1™ motor oil is the world's leading brand of synthetic motor oil. Our advanced technology allows Mobil 1 motor oils to meet or exceed some of the industry’s toughest standards and to provide exceptional protection under even extreme driving conditions. Mobil 1 motor oil is designed to help protect critical engine parts, maximize engine performance, and extend engine life. For more information, visit us online at www.mobil1.us or and follow @Mobil1 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
*Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service
MAT-W
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211113005258/en/
Contact information
Scott Shaffstall
Mattel Global Communications
scott.shaffstall@mattel.com
310-252-3610
Michael Haas
Extension PR
mhaas@extensionpr.com
949-838-4116
Taylor Vande Beek
Extension PR
tvandebeek@extensionpr.com
310-982-0242
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Laserfiche Earns 5-Star Rating in the 2026 CRN® Partner Program Guide11.3.2026 16:00:00 EET | Press release
Laserfiche — the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management — has been honored by CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, with a 5-Star Award in the 2026 CRN Partner Program Guide. This annual guide is an essential resource for partners seeking vendor partner programs that match their business goals and deliver high partner value. As organizations navigate growing pressure to increase productivity and respond to regulatory change, Laserfiche’s AI-powered document management solutions enable users to transform operations and achieve meaningful business results at scale. Partners that innovate with Laserfiche solutions have the opportunity to grow profits through the Laserfiche Partner Program, which equips them with the tools and resources needed to deliver customer success. Laserfiche’s partner ecosystem drives sustainable growth, delivers differentiated solutions and maximizes opportunities for both partners and their customers. Laserfiche provides comprehensive AI and clou
I-Pulse Launches iTerra Pulsed Power Solution for Weed Control Without Chemicals11.3.2026 15:30:00 EET | Press release
I-Pulse Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO Robert Friedland, I-Pulse Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Laurent Frescaline, and iTerra CEO, Romain Leray, are pleased to announce the launch of iTerra, an agricultural technology subsidiary dedicated to non-chemical weed control within I-Pulse, the world leader in pulsed power technologies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311080724/en/ iTerra leverages I-Pulse’s proprietary high pulsed power technology to eliminate weeds at the root without harming crops, disrupting soil microbiology, or leaving chemical residues. Using AI-driven detection with accuracy rates of up to 95% in early trials, the system targets each weed individually with controlled, high-energy pulses lasting just five milliseconds. The treated weeds remain in the soil, where they naturally decompose, helping maintain soil health and supporting long-term crop performance. I-Pulse Co-Founder, Cha
Andersen Consulting Strengthens Platform with Collaborating Firm Ambit Iberia11.3.2026 15:30:00 EET | Press release
Andersen Consulting expands its technology and business transformation capabilities through a Collaboration Agreement with Ambit Iberia, a consulting firm specializing in digital and regulatory solutions for the life sciences sector. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Spain, Ambit Iberia provides integrated consulting, technology, and talent solutions for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. The firm supports clients in meeting evolving quality, compliance, and regulatory standards through services spanning regulatory affairs, data integrity, IT system validation, and digital transformation. Leveraging more than 20 years of industry expertise, Ambit Iberia also offers human capital and executive search services that connect organizations with specialized professionals and senior talent, enhancing efficiency and driving sustainable growth in a highly regulated environment. “Our focus has always been on delivering specialized consulting and technology services t
Canva Introduces Magic Layers, Turning Static AI Outputs Into Editable Designs11.3.2026 15:00:00 EET | Press release
Canva, the world's leading all-in-one visual communication platform, today unveiled Magic Layers, a new breakthrough technology that turns any flat design or image into something you can edit, refine, and remix to suit your vision. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311951174/en/ Magic Layers is a new breakthrough technology that turns any flat design or image into something you can edit, refine, and remix to suit your vision. Generative AI has triggered a flood of visual content, but most of it remains locked in static image files. Even small changes can require starting over, with reprompts that can unintentionally alter the entire design. Powered by years of internal research and Canva’s growing investment in its AI development arm, Magic Layers ushers in a new era of editable content, where speed meets true creative control. Available in public beta today, it turns AI-generated content into a launchpad, no
Adtran plays key role in OIF’s OFC 2026 interoperability demo with FSP 3000 OLS, ZR+ coherent plugs and domain controller11.3.2026 15:00:00 EET | Press release
Adtran today announced it’s playing a key role in the OIF’s multi-vendor interoperability demo at OFC 2026. The showcase brings together 40 member companies, highlighting real‑world operation across open optical networks. It validates multi‑vendor 100Gbit/s, 400Gbit/s and 800Gbit/s ZR+ coherent pluggable transceivers operating over open line systems. Featuring Adtran’s FSP 3000 OLS, coherent ZR+ pluggable optics and Mosaic Network Controller, the setup extends previous years’ configurations to include C‑ and L‑band operation and multi‑layer domain control. Adtran’s 800Gbit/s ZR+ pluggables also feature in the OIF plugfest, reinforcing their role in large‑scale, multi-vendor environments. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260311198561/en/ Adtran’s open networking technology will be central to the OIF multi-vendor interoperability demo at OFC 2026. “Interoperability is the foundation that enables open optical netw
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom