There is a limit to how small a build using LEGO-style plastic bricks can get before it becomes too abstract. Anything smaller, and only nano bricks can give a build the proper “resolution,” so to speak. But Mattel Brick Shop begs to differ.
It has just announced the Mattel Brick Shop Hot Wheels Racer Series, which are, believe it or not, buildable 1:64-scale cars. They’re basically Hot Wheels 1:64 collectibles, but buildable.
So how did Mattel achieve the seemingly impossible without making the cars look like they came from an alternate universe? Well, it cheated. It uses molded parts, just like it does for its larger sets.
But that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s probably the only sensible way to recreate recognizable cars at this scale without resorting to bricks so tiny that assembling them becomes an exercise in patience.
The new Racer Series combines smooth resin bricks with specially molded elements that recreate the distinctive silhouettes of real cars. And in keeping with Hot Wheels tradition, each completed model features a metal base plate, functional metal axles, rolling wheels, and rubber-like tires.
So yes, these aren’t merely static display pieces. You can actually roll them around, just like regular Hot Wheels cars.
The first wave comprises six models: the 2024 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, 2018 Audi TT RS, Maserati MCPura, 1991 Acura NSX, 1999 Honda S2000, and the iconic Hot Wheels Bone Shaker.
And here’s the impressive part. Each car uses fewer than 30 pieces. The Maserati has just 27, the Bone Shaker has 28, while the remaining four use 29 pieces each.
The sets are designed for builders aged six and up, with step-by-step instructions included. There’s one little catch, though. They’re sold as surprise packs, so you won’t know which car you’ve got until you open the package. Collectors hoping to complete the lineup may have to contend with duplicates.
The Mattel Brick Shop Hot Wheels Racer Series launches in January 2027 with six vehicles, before expanding to 20 collectible models by the end of the year.
Interestingly, there’s also a four-car Performance Pack featuring the Camaro ZL1, Audi TT RS, Maserati MCPura, and Acura NSX. Unlike the individual blind packs, you know exactly what you’re getting, which should save collectors from accumulating a small fleet of duplicate cars.
The Mattel Brick Shop Hot Wheels Racer Series launches in January 2027, with individual blind packs priced at US$4.99 each and the four-car Performance Pack at US$19.99.
Images: Mattel.