Elliot Handler, inventor of Hot Wheels, dies at 95
If you had any sort of childhood in the United States, then you’ve definitely heard of Mattel, Barbie and Hot Wheels – so it’s pretty sad for us to report today that Elliot Handler, the inventor of Hot Wheels die-cast toy cars, died on July 21 at his home in Southern California.
Handler, 95, and his wife, Ruth, and family friend Matt Matson founded Mattely in 1945.
In 1959, Matel had huge success with the Barbie brand after which it sought a popular toy for young boys. The company launched Hot Wheels in 1968. In close to 43 years, there have been more than 10,000 designs of Hot Wheels cars.
– By: Omar Rana
Source: AutoWeek
