The Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame, scheduled to open in April, will be housed in the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and will offer an entertaining tribute to automotive culture from the Hot Wheels(R) point of view. With interactive displays, an exhibit of six full-size cars and a collection of significant Hot Wheels(R) cars from the past 35 years, the museum will showcase the coolest cars in the world and automotive milestones through history. From the original models and drawings of 1967-68 to life-size, fully operational versions of some of the most famous Hot Wheels(R) cars ever produced, the Hall of Fame museum exhibit also provides a look inside the prolific Hot Wheels(R) design studio.

The centerpiece of the exhibit, the Hall of Fame, will honor the people, legendary vehicles and spectacular moments that reflect the power, speed and performance for which Hot Wheels(R) cars are known. These inaugural honorees, to be selected by a panel of car culture experts, including journalists, manufacturers, designers, drivers and Mattel executives, will be revealed in September and honored at a gala reception at the Petersen on Thursday, November 6. Hot Wheels(R) aficionados and fans can vote via online ballot for their own list of honorees at www.hotwheels.com between April and September, 2003.

The launch of the Hall of Fame is part of the Hot Wheels Highway 35(TM) celebration, a yearlong campaign commemorating the 35th anniversary of The World's Coolest Car Company(TM). The Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame will be a long-term installation in the Petersen Automotive Museum, one of Southern California's favorite family destinations, and will include gallery and retail space.

"The establishment of a Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame at the country's preeminent automotive museum, is a defining moment for Hot Wheels(R) cars and for Mattel," said Chris Corman, senior brand manager for Hot Wheels(R). "We think it's an exhibit that will appeal to the kid in all of us because it combines the fantasy of our 1:64-scale cars with the sheer 'wow' factor of seeing some of the coolest cars in the world - in any scale - brought to life."

"The plans to establish a Hot Wheels(R) exhibition have been discussed for years. The fact that there's an audience asking Mattel to make this happen is a testament to Hot Wheels(R) creator Elliott Handler and his original team of designers, to all of the persons who have shared their visions as part of Mattel's automotive team over the past 35 years, and, most importantly, to the 41 million American adults and young people who have made Hot Wheels(R) cars a part of their lives," said Corman.

The Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame will host a rotating series of exhibitions. Visitors will enjoy reviewing authentic 1:64-scale replications of the world's most popular automobile brands; its colorful commercial vehicles, trucks and other motor craft; and such popular original Hot Wheels(R) designs as the Deora(R) II and the Twin Mill(R). Parents are certain to recall the favorite Hot Wheels(R) cars of their own childhoods, while youngsters will have the opportunity to relive the history of the modern automobile... in miniature. The exhibit also provides a historical retrospective of the trends and fads in car culture.

But it's the 1:1-scale beauties that will truly make the Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame a must-see destination. This rotating series of vehicles inspired by or recreated in the Hot Wheels(R) line includes some of the most memorable showcars of the past 35 years.

The Hall of Fame honorees, who will be commemorated in a special section of the exhibit, are certain to bring smiles of recognition to any automotive buff. Those selected will include Legends, the personalities of racing, industry and innovation; the vehicles chosen as the Greatest Rides; and Milestone Moments of distinction, such as the setting of speed records or memorable televised feats.

The Hot Wheels(R) brand also honors the heritage of automotive culture with its line of forty-two 1:64-scale Hall Of Fame vehicles. The limited-production cars, representing the nominees in the online Hall Of Fame ballot, pay tribute to the Legends, Greatest Rides and Milestone Moments that have had a significant impact on car culture, racing and design. Each car features a clamshell package and a collectible trading card that tells the story behind the person, event or vehicle it represents. The anniversary-year line will also include the standout Hot Wheels(R) originals Beatnik Bandit(TM) and Deora(R) II in 1:18-scale, and a special 35th anniversary Deora(R) and Deora(R) II 1:64-scale set.

About the Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity. The Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles. Admission prices are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students with ID, and $3 for children ages 5 to 12. Museum members and children under five are admitted free. Covered parking is available for $6.00 per car. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For general Museum information, call 323/930-CARS or visit the Museum's Web site address at www.petersen.org.

About the Hot Wheels(R) brand

Hot Wheels(R) cars revolutionized boys' toys in 1968 with an original line of super-fast, customized cars built for speed, power and performance, wrapped in attitude. Now, 35 years later, Hot Wheels(R) is a global lifestyle brand that represents the coolest cars imaginable in scales from miniature to full-size. In addition to leading the way with innovative vehicles, playsets and tracks, Hot Wheels(R) cars are also popular collectibles for adults. For the latest information on Hot Wheels(R) cars, cruise over to www.hotwheels.com.

Mattel, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of family products. With headquarters in El Segundo, California, Mattel has offices and facilities in 36 countries and sells its products in more than 150 nations around the world. For more information on Mattel products, please log on to our Web site at www.mattel.com.

HOT WHEELS(R) and associated trademarks are owned by Mattel, Inc.