Lee Johnstone’s Volvo P1800 From the UK Crowned Winner of 2021 Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour Global Grand Finale at Jay Leno’s Garage
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
IFF to Release Fourth Quarter & Full Year 2025 Results on Feb. 11, 2026; IFF to Present at 2026 CAGNY Conference on Feb. 19, 202621.1.2026 23:15:00 EET | Press release
IFF (NYSE:IFF) today announced that it will release its fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings results following the market close on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. The management team will host a live webcast on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss results and outlook with the investor community. IFF also announced today that the Company’s management will speak at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET. Investors may access the live webcast and accompanying slide presentation on the Company's website at ir.iff.com. For those unable to listen to the live webcast, a recorded version will be made available for replay. Welcome to IFF At IFF (NYSE: IFF), we make joy through science, creativity and heart. As the global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, health and biosciences, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products—advancing wellness, delighting the senses and en
UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science Announces Awardees of 6th Cycle Grants21.1.2026 22:17:00 EET | Press release
The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), managed by the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), announced the awardees of its Sixth Cycle research grants. Each recipient will receive up to US$1.5 million over three years, with a maximum annual allocation of US$550,000. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260121231610/en/ UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science Announces Awardees of 6th Cycle Grants (Photo: AETOSWire) The Sixth Cycle awardees are Dr. Dixon Michael, Principal Radar Meteorologist and Software Engineer at Echo Science Works, USA, for “Advancing Cloud Seeding Science with Dual-Polarization Radar Signatures and AI”; Prof. Linda Zou, Adjunct Professor at Victoria University, Australia, for “AI-assisted Development and Optimization of Glaciogenic Cloud Seeding Materials”; and Dr. Oliver Branch, Senior Scientist at the University of Hohenheim, Germany, for “Rainfall Enhanceme
Logical Intelligence Introduces First Energy-Based Reasoning AI Model, Signals Early Steps Toward AGI, Adds Yann LeCun and Patrick Hillmann to Leadership21.1.2026 20:21:00 EET | Press release
Logical Intelligence, an artificial intelligence company developing energy-based (EBM) reasoning systems, today announced that Kona 1.0, its pioneering EBM for reasoning, will enter pilot programs with select partners in the energy, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor industries later this quarter. Logical Intelligence also released a live demonstration of Kona 1.0 on its website, beginning with head-to-head sudoku challenges against leading large language models. Additional demonstrations, including chess and Go, are planned. The company said the goal is to give researchers and the public a clear view into how energy-based reasoning differs from probabilistic systems. “Kona learns by recognizing and correcting its own mistakes, rather than guessing the most likely answer,” said Eve Bodnia, founder and CEO of Logical Intelligence. “If general intelligence means the ability to reason across domains, learn from error, and improve without being retrained for each task, then we are s
Galderma Provides Update on Arbitration Case Regarding Neuromodulator Research and Development Partnership21.1.2026 18:35:00 EET | Press release
Galderma (SIX:GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today announced that an International Chamber of Commerce arbitral tribunal issued an award confirming the termination of a 2014 neuromodulator research & development partnership with Ipsen. The partnership was limited to the rights and obligations relating to the companies’ early-stage neuromodulator pipeline for aesthetic indications. Galderma welcomes the clarity provided by the arbitral tribunal. This decision has no impact on the commercialization of Galderma’s neuromodulator portfolio. Galderma will continue to commercialize and supply Dysport®/Azzalure®, Alluzience®, and RelfydessTM in all territories where it has regulatory approval and in accordance with our existing agreements with our partner Ipsen. Progressing on our path towards becoming the undisputed dermatology powerhouse Galderma remains focused on its ambition to become the world’s undisputed dermatology powerhouse across the full spectrum of a fast-growi
ThetaRay Appoints Financial Markets Technology Leader Brad Levy as Chief Executive Officer21.1.2026 18:00:00 EET | Press release
ThetaRay, a global leader in Cognitive AI financial crime compliance, today announced the appointment of Brad Levy as Chief Executive Officer. Levy, a leading financial markets infrastructure executive and former CEO of Symphony, will lead ThetaRay’s next phase of growth as the company continues to scale its Cognitive AI platform, now emerging as the leading AI strategy and technology for transaction monitoring and transaction due diligence, across banks and fintechs worldwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260121002476/en/ ThetaRay Appoints Brad Levy as CEO Levy brings decades of experience building and leading mission-critical financial infrastructure at scale. Most recently, he served as CEO of Symphony, the financial markets infrastructure and technology platform established by a consortium of leading global banks, including Goldman Sachs and other major financial institutions, and relied upon by hundred
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