A quick note: the following information pertains to users with at least Contributor access. If you're interested in getting involved, and with to contribute to the hobbyDB database, check out our article on different ways to get involved. We'd love to have you onboard!

Hot Wheels have their own unique identifying characteristics. Each model has a ton of subtle information that allows identifying exactly what makes each car unique. To help us maintain consistent and relevant data on each casting, we’ve created a list of Hot Wheels data entry guidelines to keep everyone on the same page.

  1. Image: The Main Image should ideally be the car on the card or on its box against a white background. Add as many other images as you think make sense.

  2. Number of Variants:  With the very rare exceptions of new castings every Hot Wheels model will have variants.  Customs are not included as a variant of a car.

  3. Name: Always use the name on the package. If it’s a set car without a name on the package, or is loose, use the name on the base or the common casting name. Please do not use custom names like ‘3-Window or ’34 with missing tampo.

  4. Brand: This should always be Hot Wheels.

  5. Series: The most powerful field as it places the item on related pages/lists on the site. A series is a group of products made by the same manufacturer, linked by being the same type of item and frequently by theme, scale or similar characteristics. This field could also be used for colloquial names that have been adopted for a specific model.

  6. Alternate Name: If your item has a different name from the normal casting name, add it here. Example: If the name on the card is “Mom’s Pro ’34” from the Mother’s Wax exclusive, you would use “3-Window ’34” as the alternate name.

  7. Designer: The name of the casting designer, not the designer of the real vehicle.

  8. Production Status: This provides a number of classifications from which you can select; for example, Limited Edition for items produced in intentionally-limited quantities or Standard Issue for items that are just regular production.  

  9. Produced: Model year. Example: The 2016 mainlines were released in October of 2015 but are considered 2016 produced/released.

  10. # Produced: Enter the number of items that were produced if known.  Example: 2014 Gulf Drag Bus from the RLC had 4,000 produced. 

  11. Made in: Enter country (only options: China, France, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, United States or Venezuela).

  12. Reference #: Enter the series number, collector number, and/or SKU/Toy number. Example: The Talbot Lago from 1997 #714 would be entered as “Collector #714, Toy #17965”.  Please note that almost every Mattel product will have a Toy Number and that they always have five digits and are alphanumeric. They are also the best way to search a Mattel product on hobbyDB.

  13. UPC code: Enter the 12 digit bar code found on the package.

  14. Scale: Enter the scale. Hot Wheels are usually 1/18, 1/24, 1/43, 1/50, 1/64 and 1/87.

  15. Material: Choose the material that the body is mostly made from. Most common materials are Metal, Diecast Metal/Mazak, or Plastic.

  16. Color: List the paint color and style for the body. Example: A 1968 Redline release will include “Spectraflame” and “Red”.

  17. Interior Color: Select a color and style for the car’s interior such as “Tan” or “Chrome”.

  18. Livery: Add a Subject that is related to the model. Example:  Instead of adding “Fire Dep” add “Fire Services” which will then show all Fire Engines on one page.

  19. Decoration: Add any decoration details such as that “Fired Dep” decal or “Orange & Blue stripes on sides and hood”.

  20. Casting Type: Always “Diecast”.

  21. Wheel Color: Black tire and chrome are auto-selected, or, personally select up to 5 wheel colors. If there are two different wheel colors, enter the front wheels’ color and make a note of the rear wheel colors at the description box further down the form. Example: “Glow-In-The-Dark” & “Yellow”.

  22. Baseplate material: Almost always “Metal” “Diecast Metal/Mazak” or Plastic.

  23. Baseplate color: Select the color of the baseplate.

  24. Window color: Select the color of the window. Use “Smoke” for tinted.

  25. Features: Add any additional features from the drop-down menu.

  26. Packaging Details: List any card or packaging variations such as “International Short Card”, “Snowflake Card” or different styles such as “2004 Style card” or “Red car on card artwork”.

  27. Description: Enter any other details about the car that aren’t covered above and or highlight what makes the car different from a normal release. Use complete sentences. Example: “This model the first Walmart Exclusive”.

  28. Variant Summary Description:  This is a very important field if there are very similar variations.  It lists the difference between models that otherwise would look the same.


