2008 Designers Challenge

Released in 2008 for the 40th anniversary, Mattel presented Hot Wheels Designer’s Challenge. For this series, Mattel went outside the company and search for automakers around the world. Six different auto manufacturers accepted the invitation to participate: Ford, Mitsubishi, Chrysler (Dodge), Lotus, Honda, and GM (Chevrolet). Each of the automaker designers submitted 3 different version of a Hot Wheels car. Designer Jun Imai was chosen to design the Hot Wheels car for the series, His design was the HW40. With manufactures contributing their designs a group of car enthusiasts voted for their favorite one. The 6 design winners were made into Hot Wheels cars and were all unveiled at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

All Designers Challenger cars were made in Thailand and had 6 spoke co-molded wheels. Following is a list of the car in this series along with all known variations. Most of these models can be found today in stores in some other series or assortments.

 

They were on display along with a 1:5 scale model.

Gangster Grin – 75mm – 2008
Designed by Steve Gilmore, the Gangster Grin was inspired by the popular customized ’50s Mercs, with a little influence in the grille from a 1949 Ford.
a. mf burgundy, chrome base, black int., and red windows, pink ghost flames on sides, silver trim cm6gy/ch-rim.
b. mf pink, as, a, tinted windows, purple and pink flames on top and sides, stripes on top, cm6gy/ch-rim,
c. flat black, as a, black ghost flames, cm6gy/ch-rim.
d. mf yellow, as a, green, silver, and white flames, cm6gy/ch-rim.

Mitsubishi Double Shotz – 70mm – 2008
Designer Gary Ragle patterned the dual engines on the Double Shotz – one in front and one in back – after the Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
a. mf dk. white, tan base, chrome int., red windshield, red cm6gy/ch-rim.
b. flat black, red chrome base, tinted windshield, black and silver emblem and stripe on sides, red cm6gy/ch-rim.
b2. flat black, as b, cm6gy/ch-rim.
c. yellow, as a, white base, tinted windshield, red cm6gy/ch-rim.
c2. yellow, as a, white base, tinted windshield, cm6gy/ch-rim.
d. mf red-orange, satin chrome base, chrome int., tinted windows, orange and black design, cm6bk/or-rim.

Dodge XP-07 – 68mm – 2008
This Dodge designed by Marc Reisen’s is concept of the Dodge experimental cars made by Chrysler in the 1960s, it would be turbine powered.
a. mf red, black base, chrome int., tinted windshield, cm6gy/ch-rim.
b. black, as a, clear window, white yellow and orange flames on top, cm6gy/ch-rim.
c. candy blue, as a, cm6gy/rd-rim.
d. pearl white, black base, chrome int., clear windshield, black, yellow, and orange flames on hood and roof, cm6gy/ch-rim,

Lotus Concept – 72mm – 2008
Lotus designer Steven Crijns took the modern look of Lotus cars and maxed out this mighty concept car.
a. mf orange, black base and int., clear windshield, metal wing, black and silver headlights and emblem, cm6gy/ch-rim.
b. red, as a, black, red and white design on sides, cm6gy/ch-rim.
c. mf white, as a, cm6gy/ch-rim..
c2. mf white as a, cm6gy/rd-rim
d. mf blue-gray, as a, tinted windows, black and silver design on sides, cm6gy/ch-rim.

Honda Racer – 66mm – 2008
Designer Guillermo Gonzalez based the Honda Racer on the Honda “H” emblem and the Formula 1 race cars made by Honda in the ’60s, including the V10 engine with exaggerated exhaust pipes.
a. mf white, white plastic base, red drivers, gray engine, red and black design w/”Honda” on sides, cm6gy/rd-rim.
b. mf red, as a, black base, black “Honda” on sides,
c. mf yellow, as a, black “Honda” on sides,
d. mf black, as a, gray base, blue “Honda” on sides, cm6gy/bl-rim,

GM Chevroletor – 82mm – 2008
Based on a combination of the ’57 Corvette® and some 1930s speed record cars made by General Motors, the Chevroletor was designed by Amaury Diaz-Serrano.
This Thailand made GM design has a metal body with a plastic base, interior and windshield.
a. mf lt. blue, black base, silver int., clear windshield, black and white “40” on hood and sides, Hot Wheels logo on sides, cm6bu
b. black, as a, cm6gy/rd-rim w/red tipped axles,
c. mf red, as a, cm6gy/ch-rim.
d. white, as a, blue windshield, met blue stripes on top, cm6gy/bl-rim, red tipped axle.

HW40 – 75mm – 2008
Hot Wheels designer Jun Imai’s HW-40 was inspired by the Twin Mill (his favorite Hot Wheels® original design) and the Nerve Hammer®, which he designed for the 2006 line. “The overall design theme is a little bit of everything,” Jun says. “American, Italian, classic, modern, etc. I wanted the body to ooze muscle; tight, strong and ready to attack.”
a. satin green, flat black base, chrome int., blue windows, details, cm6gy/rd-rim.
a2. satin green, as a, black int., clear windows, cm6gy, Designers Challenge 7-car set excl. (2008) 10 – NA
b. met blue, as a, clear windows, cm6gy/rd-rim.
c. black, as a, clear windows, cm6gy/rd-rim.
d. red, as a, clear windows, cm6gy.