Mister Benedict, do you still remember your first Hot Wheels or Matchbox car?
If yes, what model was it?
Yes, I remember getting a Ramblin’ Wrecker (designed by legendary Hot Wheels
designer Larry Wood) for my birthday when I was very little. I loved that casting and
played with it all of the time! I realized later as an adult that the one I had was one of
the very rare early ones where Larry Wood had his actual phone number on the side
of the truck. But the number was barely visible anymore on mine because I really
thrashed it as a kid. I never thought to actually try to call the number when I was a kid,
but I guess a lot of people did so they had to change the deco and remove his phone
number!
Did you ever think that you would one day design these little cars yourself?
Not exactly, I was always focused on designing real cars from a very young age. I set my mind on working for a car company designing cars when I grew up, and sketched cars every single day, but it hadn’t really occurred to me to design Hot Wheels as a job back then. However, I did write a letter to Mattel once when I was about 8 years old with some ideas for cars that I thought they should make, so it is kind of ironic that I ended up where I did.
Before your designer role at Hot Wheels, you worked in development at
Mercedes and Mitsubishi. How did this transition happen?
Yes, I spent 10 years in the car industry before coming to Mattel. My experience at Mercedes, Mitsubishi, and other car companies provided me with great automotive design experience and valuable insights into automotive development and technology. One day Mattel called me out of the blue and asked if I was interested in joining the team. I jumped at the chance and haven’t regretted the decision since. Transitioning to Hot Wheels was an opportunity for me to channel my passion for design and my automotive background into a realm that fosters creativity and innovation.
What role do model and toy cars play in automobile culture in general?
Model and toy cars are essential components of automobile culture as they introduce people of all ages and backgrounds to the fascination of cars. They serve not only as collectibles but also as inspirations and gateways into the world of automotive design and car culture.