Hot Wheels collector turns hobby into museum in Maryland

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. – It’s been greater than half a century since Mattel created its Sizzling Wheels franchise, and for one super-collector in Gaithersburg, Maryland the fascination with the toys began at a younger age.

By day, Bruce Pascal is a industrial actual property agent within the nation’s capital.

By night time, he’s a Sizzling Wheels hobbyist with greater than 7,000 objects in his assortment. 

“To place it mildly, I’m obsessive about Sizzling Wheels,” Pascal mentioned.

At 7 years outdated, he obtained his first Sizzling Wheel in 1968 — the identical yr they had been created. Fifty-five years later he’s nonetheless shopping for them.

“My mom gave me again my Sizzling Wheels as a child I performed with in 1999,” Pascal mentioned. 

“I used to be with a buddy of mine, and he mentioned, ‘I’ll provide you with $200 for him.’ I used to be like, ‘oh, these have worth?’”

From there, his love for the tiny and complicated toys consumed him.

“Nothing’s higher than accumulating one thing you’ve a reference to and the truth that I’m accumulating my childhood toys, it is type of enjoyable,” Pascal mentioned. 

One in all his prized possessions is a 1913 Mannequin T that was used as inspiration for Mattel.

“In 1964, this Mannequin T was entered into the Grand Nationwide Roadster Present in California. This received America’s Most Stunning Roadster,” he mentioned.

“Years later, Sizzling Wheel mentioned, ‘What automotive may we make for our first yr?’ So Sizzling Wheels made this right into a Sizzling Wheel known as the Sizzling Heap. So there may be that toy automotive that was modeled after the unique automotive.”

Among the many $1.5 million greenback assortment, there are blueprints of authentic sketches. 

“Right here is the unique blueprint for the 1968 Corvette that got here out of Mattel,” Pascal mentioned. “So to me, these are just like the holy grail of paper paperwork.”

Pascal has wood prototypes, and even objects bought abroad.

“In Germany, they weren’t known as Sizzling Wheels they had been known as Heisse Rader,” he defined. 

Plus, one of many world’s rarest Sizzling Wheels vehicles ever created — the Volkswagen pink seaside bomb prototype bus — Pascal owns it. 

“They found it fell down off the tracks, so that they determined to re-engineer it and promote a distinct model to the general public. So, it is a prototype. It is thought of the rarest Sizzling Wheel on the planet,” Pascal mentioned. 

Whereas some objects are extraordinarily uncommon and might rack up a excessive price ticket, Pascal says the toys actually have stood the take a look at of time.

“When Sizzling Wheels first got here out they had been underneath a greenback. They had been 69 cents, 79 cents … That is in 1968,” Pascal recalled. “As we speak, you should purchase Sizzling Wheels at a grocery retailer or at a retailer for like $1.19 or $1.29. It is like inflation by no means hit it.”

So what does Pascal’s household consider all this?

“They suppose I’m loopy, however they know I’ve a enjoyable time and it’s loads of enjoyable,” he mentioned. “When you get right into a pastime, it is not simply the toys you gather, it is also the folks and the buddies you meet all around the globe.”

He hopes by displaying the world his assortment he can cross on his love of Sizzling Wheels to youthful generations.

“Have you learnt what number of children come right here with their instances of vehicles all prepared? They wish to commerce with me,” Pascal mentioned. “I at all times have enjoyable and any child who leaves at all times leaves with a number of Sizzling Wheels; I’ve a number of extras to cross out.”

Pascal says he sometimes opens up the Sizzling Wheels Museum — a 4,000 square-foot facility outfitted with floor-to-ceiling partitions lined with miniature vehicles — on Sunday afternoons for youths to come back in and play. And for adults to reminisce on their childhood.

To succeed in Bruce Pascal you’ll be able to electronic mail him at alpascal@aol.com