Site MapCadillac, Gucci & Hot Wheels: The Ultimate Brand Threesome
A Toy You Can Drive
Every car enthusiast has their own story about what made them fall in love with cars when they were a kid, and there are so many variations on them. Whether it was working on something with their dad in the garage, or seeing a car chase in a movie and thinking to themselves, “Yeah I need that car in my life.” But the most basic origin of fandom is also, perhaps, the most prevalent – playing with toy cars as a kid.
You know the cars well... Shutterstock
When a budding car enthusiast can’t get the kind of wheels they really want they almost always settle for Hot Wheels. The perennial toy car by Mattel has been the model of choice for all car-minded boys and girls since 1968.
They’re also on the forefront of brand collaboration. Recently the team at Mattel teamed up with iconic fashion brand Gucci to create a scale model of the 1982 Cadillac Seville by Gucci to celebrate Gucci’s 100th anniversary. Annnd it’s already sold out at $120 a piece.
A Gucci car that can fit in your Gucci bag. Mattel.com
This special design first introduced in 1978 was a production model Cadillac Seville that was recast by Aldo Gucci himself with the notable Gucci styling that is still seen as the epitome of flair and splendor. It is outfitted with saddle leather for the seats and the familiar checkered pattern for the seats’ headrests, and, of course, the Gucci logo for the hood ornament, and enough 24 karat gold trim to give Goldfinger goosebumps.
Luxe interior of the Cadillac Seville. Classicdriver.com
Gucci himself wrote, “The Gucci styling we have created for this car is designed to give a fortunate few owners a rare possession of distinction, beauty and ultimate luxury.” In addition to a car also came with a complete set of matching Gucci luggage.
The 1978 Gucci Seville complete with matching luggage. Classicdriver.com
This was during a time when car makers were exploring collaborations with fashion designers; there was the titanic Bill Blass Lincoln Mark V, and also the Emilio Pucci edition. But those were official partnerships. The Gucci Cadillac was actually a production line Cadillac that was converted by a Miami based company called International Automotive Design, which has since folded.
. Bill Blass Lincoln Mark V Orlandocars.com
But at the time it made quite the splash. Only 200 were made, but they were made to order and cost $80,000 in today’s money. It stands to reason that this really was a one-of-a-kind feature for the wealthiest few, considering that the median annual household income was around $15,000 in 1978.
It’s no wonder that the Hot Wheels anniversary edition sold out as quickly as it did. Cadillac and Gucci seem like the perfect pairing, and considering that there were only 200 of the actual cars, enthusiasts will be looking at these Hot Wheels as more than just toys – it’s all part of our national fabric. The fun part, that is.
