As I’ve mentioned here before, even though I’m busily building a 1:18/1:43 business, I still have a deep affection for 1:64-scale cars. And why not? They’re the gateway drug of the diecast collecting hobby, one that takes hold when we’re little kids, and for some of us never lets go. I keep on accumulating these darned things, and also why I participate in a few Hot Wheels and Matchbox Facebook groups; I’m amazed at the high-quality new castings that never seem to stop flowing (see below for my latest mess), the incredible vintage stuff that people display, and also the outstanding customs that talented folks (including many LaLDers) keep cranking out.
That’s why a few weeks ago, I found myself offering my opinion in an FB comment thread. A poster wanted to know whether his particular method of customizing original vintage HW Redlines might be considered sacrilegious to the group. Without first paying much attention to this guy’s method, I submitted that if the starting point was a playworn car with little “collectable” value, then there shouldn’t be a problem with ANY choice a customizer might make…and even if I did have a beef, is it my place (or anyone else’s ) to judge? This sparked a conversation between me and the customizer in question, a genial Texan named Mike Graves. He shared my outlook on the care and feeding of old Hot Wheels, and he wondered whether or not I might like to take a look at some of his work. Could I really say no?
Arrangements were made to get one of his pieces in my hands. After learning of my particular fondness for Hot Wheels’ international race cars from 1969 to 1972, we determined that a Shelby Turbine would be just the right fit for my collection. I waited anxiously until the day when the finished car arrived at my doorstep.
It was worth the wait.
Mike’s chosen method of customization is one of subtraction. Rather than adding bespoke paint schemes or wheel swaps, he takes vintage Redlines down to their barest elements. Mike strips away what’s left of the original Spectraflame paint, and polishes the bare metal to a mirror finish. In this way, the beautiful lines of the original Mattel designs comes to the fore, revealing nuances that I might once have overlooked due to my love of Spectraflame. The result is simply stunning: I display a handful of my favorite 1:64-scale cars at home, and Mike’s Shelby Turbine is now one of the centerpieces of the collection. Photos don’t do it justice; the thing positively gleams.
Perhaps best of all, Mr. Graves leaves no doubt with his custom work that the underlying car is truly a vintage piece. He preserves just enough patina to keep things charming. Though it seems he did add updated, reissued Redline wheels to the car (which doesn’t bother me a bit…they look great) he did leave the base in good-but-lightly-tarnished condition, as well as leaving the worn plastic windscreen in place. To me, this was the right call. I don’t think the idea here is to create a sterile piece of sculpture, but rather to take a good, honest old toy and elevate it to its best possible presentation.
Mike Graves works on both contemporary and vintage Hot Wheels, and does offer custom paint options in addition to his bare-metal polish jobs. To see more of his work, visit munclemikes.com.