Local wheels scouted for global car comp

BENDIGO car enthusiasts are among those in the running for a Hot Wheels competition that sees one lucky winner’s custom build transformed into a diecast model and sold around the world.

As part of the push championship rally driver Molly Taylor is searching the country for the strongest contenders for the Aussie leg of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, scouting the Street Machine Drag Challenge in Heathcote last week.

“We’ve seen so much potential out here at the drag challenge, there’s so much work, effort, dedication and hours and hours in the garage that’s been going into creating these cars,” she said.

“We’re looking for something that’s unique, that represents Australian car culture and something that we think is really going to sell and be really popular among Australian car fans.

“I can’t wait to see what else we can find around the country and put some Aussie custom cars on the global stage.”

A finalist is selected from each of the 15 countries in the tour, including the US and New Zealand, with one global winner to be made into a miniature model.

Scouted by Taylor over the weekend was John Kerr’s 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente.

“It’s pretty cool, I told them they’ve never made a model of this car in all these years,” Mr Kerr said.

“I bought it about 32 years ago and built it up from the bare shell. Then I restored it again another three years ago, repainted it and built everything myself.”

Last year’s competition title was taken out by a 1969 Volvo P1800 hailing from the UK, with a new Aussie finalist to be decided in an online judging on 21 April.