V8-powered Mini wins UK leg of Hot Wheel Legends Tour

The 2024 Hot Wheels Legends Tour has selected another finalist that will go into the running to be made as a 1:64 scale Hot Wheels diecast toy. The UK leg of the global tour has been completed and saw 180 entrants whittled down to eight finalists, from which a panel of expert judges chose a heavily modified Mini as the winner.

Known as ‘Mentley,’ the 1983 Mini is jointly owned by musicians Dominic Whittle, Gary Selby and Mike Williams. With their instruments strapped to the luggage rack, the trio use the car when touring in France, Italy and Germany to raise money for global charity, Save the Children.

Originally built as a track car, Mentley has been gradually transformed into the showpiece it is today.

Under the bonnet, the Mini’s original 1.0-litre four-cylinder engine and transmission have been replaced with a fully-engineered V8 from a TVR and the gearbox from a Range Rover. Engine capacity and gearbox type aren’t described, but it’s likely a 5.0-litre and four-speed manual. What is known is that the V8, plumbed for nitrous and with straight-exit exhaust pipes, produces a claimed 320bhp (238kW). Early trials suggest Mentley can achieve 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in three seconds!

"It's a huge privilege for us to win the UK round of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour with 'Mentley', justifying the hard work (and fun) we had creating it," said Dominic Whittle. "Our interest in cars began when we were six years old, and it's great to be here 53 years later with a vehicle that reflects those childhood memories.”

Hot Wheels’ design manager, Craig Callum, who led the judging panel for the UK leg, described the character and authenticity of Mentley as capturing the essence of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour.

"With a wild engine transplant squeezed into a unique design twist of two British icons, Whittle's Mini 'Mentley' perfectly captures the fun we are looking for,” Callum said. “And if you look at our past Legends, this is a true contender – it’s the kind of design we would develop in the studio ourselves.

"It’s got such authenticity, but it’s also completely different, there are so many little touches that give it character. When I think practically about how we make a diecast Hot Wheels, with four main component parts, the vehicle lends itself to manufacture. It's spot on.”

Callum and fellow judges, Nicola Hume (host of Red Bull’s ‘Talking Bull’ podcast), Jordan Clarke (founder of Slammed UK) and influencer Mat Armstrong, scored each entry against a strict set of criteria – design, authenticity and garage spirit, as well as performance, fun and the story behind the build.

Whittle’s Mini Mentley beat out finalists that included custom VWs, Porsches and Lamborghinis, as well as a rare Ford P100 (a Cortina-based ute from South Africa) and a BMW E36 that had been converted into a ute.

“The Hot Wheels Legends Tour celebrates the builders, visionaries and the people in the automotive world who put in the late nights, early mornings and creativity to produce a legend,” Callum added. “Once again, the UK has provided some fantastic contenders full of the creativity, garage spirit and authenticity that makes Hot Wheels Legends so special.”

As the winner of the UK leg of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, 'Mentley' will compete against other regional finalists at the Global Semi-Final on 2 November. If it makes it through that, the Mini will go on to the Grand Finale on 11 November. This year’s overall Hot Wheels Legends Tour victor will be replicated as a 1:64 scale diecast toy and sold around the world.

Last year’s winner was New Zealand’s Chris Watson with his Mazda MX5-based creation, ‘Chimera’.