A 1979 MGB GT nicknamed “the B-EAST” is set to signify the UK on the worldwide stage and stake its declare to be recreated as a 1:64 scale die-cast mannequin – after successful this 12 months’s Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK on the RADwood automotive occasion September 2.
Beating a report variety of 274 entries, Michael Wallhead’s MGB GT encompasses a 3.0 liter Jaguar AJV6 engine, to realize 0-60mph in 4.2s and a high pace of 148mph. Built over eight years, Wallhead wished to recycle as many components as potential and used a propshaft from a Range Rover, an axle saved from a Reliant Scimitar, Triumph bike throttle our bodies, Nissan Silvia S14 brakes, an previous quantity plate for the glovebox, and denims for the seat upholstery.
An eagerness to reuse and recycle sources fueled Wallhead’s enthusiasm for traditional automobiles. “For all my builds, I always look to find ways to reuse parts, and on this MGB GT I’ve even used registration plates to build the glove box, everything has second or third life and I try not to throw things away that can be reused.”
Michael Wallhead is now dealing with the Legends Tour Semi-Final (November 2) in a bid to make it via to the Global Finale (November 11) and be in with a shot on the general prize – coming into the hallowed Hot Wheels Garage of Legends and securing his place in automobile tradition historical past.
“I’m so humbled to have been chosen as the UK winner – from a stellar line-up with no two cars the same,” says Michael Wallhead. “Growing up, I played with Hot Wheels, and you always had your favorites – the one that went fastest or the one that looked the coolest, and those memories inspired me when it came to designing the B-EAST.”
Wallhead believes Hot Wheels impressed him to turn into a artistic engineer, now designing turbos for automobiles and business automobiles. Outside of labor, Wallhead’s love for pace and aggressive spirit secured the Guinness World Record for the quickest wheelie bin, attaining 88.344 km/h in May this 12 months. “I really believe youngsters should have more time to play with toys, and I hope my builds inspire children to dream and do something different – either as a career or building fun projects.”
The preliminary entry record was narrowed all the way down to 10 finalists by Hot Wheels representatives on either side of the Atlantic, with marques resembling Jaguar, Ford, VW, and Skoda represented – alongside the Mazda RX-7 of Hagerty fan vote winner Sam Carr, which was fast-tracked to the UK closing.
For the primary time, the UK finale was open to the general public to observe, and all 274 entrants had been supplied the chance to attend the present and exhibit their construct at this 12 months’s RADwood, held at Bicester Heritage.
With a whole lot of automotive fanatics listening in, a panel of professional judges – together with motoring journalists Richard Porter, Steve Parrish, and Abigayle André, in addition to design supervisor for Hot Wheels, Craig Callum – joined host Paul Cowland to deliberate which of the finalists finest represented Hot Wheels’ standards of authenticity, creativity and “garage spirit.”
