Inaugural Inductees into Petersen Automotive Museum Hot Wheels Hall of Fame

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--Oct. 28, 2003--

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Five Automotive Legends, Rides and Moments to be Honored at Star-Studded November 11 Induction Gala with Master of Ceremonies Jay Leno

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Celebrating the 35th anniversary of Hot Wheels(R) cars, Mattel, Inc. today announced the five inaugural inductees into the Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame, a new installation being added to the permanent Hot Wheels(R) exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

An invitation-only induction ceremony on Nov. 11, 2003, with "The Tonight Show" host Jay Leno as Master of Ceremonies will honor these significant people, vehicles and moments and reveal the permanent displays that will remain in the Petersen Automotive Museum. The evening will benefit RADD (Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes Against Drunk Driving), the entertainment industry's voice on road safety.

Selected by a blue-ribbon panel of auto journalists, manufacturers, designers and drivers, the inductees were chosen as the embodiment of the Hot Wheels(R) tradition of speed, power, performance and attitude in three categories:

Legends: People who have designed or driven the coolest cars

-- Wally Parks: A trailblazing drag racer and motorsports editor, Parks founded the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) to promote and regulate the sport of drag racing, leading it to its status today as the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body

-- Richard Petty: Synonymous with class, excellence and NASCAR(R) championships, Petty's 200 victories, seven wins at the Daytona 500, an amazing 27 wins in a single season, and seven NASCAR(R) championships earned "The King" his throne in the Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame

Greatest Rides: Cars that epitomize the Hot Wheels(R) attitude of speed, power and performance

-- 1932 Ford V-8: The first popular eight-cylinder automobile offering brisk performance at a reasonable price, the '32 became the classic model for building hot rods and still is the most popular base used in hot rodding today

-- 1964 Pontiac GTO: The original muscle car, the powerful GTO was emulated by virtually every car manufacturer and became the high-performance image car for a generation of young car enthusiasts

Milestone Moments: Historic automotive event that captures the Hot Wheels(R) essence

-- Jan. 1, 20046, 1953: The introduction of the Chevrolet Corvette at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, where it instantly became an American classic

"The Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame induction is the culmination of our 35th anniversary year, and we're so excited to be involved in bringing automotive legends together across all genres of car culture as they claim their place in history," said Amy Boylan, senior vice president, Mattel. "From legendary personalities to the most memorable cars that have shaped attitudes, aspirations and automotive history, we're incredibly honored to help preserve these memories as the centerpiece of this permanent exhibit for all generations to see and share."

Two special awards also will be presented during the evening, including an honorary award to Mattel founder Elliot Handler, the "father of Hot Wheels," and the Hot Wheels People's Choice Awards(TM) based on the public's selection from the above three categories after months of voting at www.hotwheels.com.

The Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame Selection Committee is comprised of 20 automotive and entertainment industry representatives including historic drag racers Don "The Snake" Prudhomme and Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen; visionary custom car designer Chip Foose; J.D. Power and Associates CEO and Chairman J.D. Power III; Petersen Automotive Museum chairman Bruce Meyer; and Hot Rod Magazine editor-in-chief David Freiberger.

The Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame opened in April 2003 as the first-ever, permanent museum exhibition of Hot Wheels(R) vehicles at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, one of the nation's largest and preeminent automotive museums. The exhibit features interactive displays, a selection of Hot Wheels(R) die-cast vehicles and full-size cars which embody the brand's signature speed, power, performance and attitude.

The Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame hosts a rotating series of exhibits, including full-size versions of some of the most famous Hot Wheels(R) models ever created, like the Deora(R) concept car from the 1960s; the Twin Mill(R), an original Hot Wheels(R) design that was introduced as a full-size, functional car in 2001; and Petty Enterprises's NASCAR(R) Craftsman Series race truck. An array of the most significant 1:64-scale to 1:18-scale die-cast Hot Wheels(R) cars spanning 35 years also is on display, including the world's most valuable Hot Wheels(R) car, a 1969 pink Volkswagen Beach Bomb purchased for more than $70,000.

About RADD(R)

RADD(R) The Entertainment Industry Voice For Road Safety Recording Artists, Actors & Athletes Against Drunk Driving, an internationally recognized non-profit organization founded in 1986, pairs celebrities, media access and enlightened corporate partners like Mattel to create positive attitudes about road safety through award winning public service campaigns. RADD's motto, "Your lifestyle is your business. If you take it on the road, it's everybody's" embodies its position as the entertainment industry's voice for safe and sane travel on wheels -- two, four or more.

Visit www.radd.org for more information.

About Hot Wheels(R) Cars

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 track, 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.

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc. (www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie(R), the most popular fashion doll ever created. Leading the toy and game market, the Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels(R), Matchbox(R), American Girl(R), Tyco(R) R/C and Scrabble(TM), as well as Fisher-Price brands (www.fisher-price.com), including Little People(R), Rescue Heroes(TM), Power Wheels(R) and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 27,000 people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow.

About the Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen Automotive Museum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, 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 and holiday Mondays 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.