MONTEREY, Calif. (September 28, 2023) – Porsche, in partnership with Hot Wheels and Mobil 1, unveiled the toy company’s first life-size car-build as part of a three-company collaboration to mark the Porsche’s 75th Anniversary and the beginning of Rennsport Reunion 7 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Nicknamed “Dirtmeister,” the custom off-road 1987 Porsche 944 has been inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends and commemorated as a 1:64 Hot Wheels die-cast car. The Dirtmeister 1:64 Hot Wheels die-cast car will be offered on a made-to-order basis and enthusiasts can register interest via MattelCreations.com.
Reserved for the most dramatic and striking vehicles from Hot Wheels, the Dirtmeister will become the first Porsche inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends. Existing both as a life-sized vehicle and in 1:64 die-cast, all Legends vehicles must be extreme, exotic iterations of road-going cars. When you see them, they are unmistakably “Hot Wheels” in style. Previous Garage of Legends inductees include the legendary Twin Mill and the Bone Shaker.
“Unveiling the first Porsche inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends at Rennsport Reunion 7 before over 80,000 people holds great significance. Creating a 944 in this unique fashion for off-roading is something we hope our fans enjoy. We couldn’t be more proud of the result and we want to thank Hot Wheels and Mobil 1 for the creativity and enthusiasm for this wonderful project.”
Ayesha Coker, Vice President of Marketing for Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
The Dirtmeister’s most dramatic modification is the custom bodywork designed by Kudensport to mimic the classic “shooting brake” style. The rear of the vehicle has been completely altered to resemble a two-door wagon with sports car spirit. Upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent the vehicle was designed for rough roads and rally stages. Jimco Racing equipped the vehicle with a custom roll cage and Recaro racing seats to keep the occupants secure. Additionally, the Dirtmeister features modern technology adapted from today’s Trophy Trucks including coilover shocks utilizing Eibach Springs, Garmin Baja Tread XL navigation equipment, off-road Pirelli tires, a PCI race radio system, and Triple R LED lights.
“We couldn’t be more excited to add the Dirtmeister 944 to the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends and we had a ton of fun designing this purpose-built 944. With Porsche being as culturally relevant as ever and off-road builds being very on-trend, this is the perfect addition to our fleet of life-sized vehicles.”
Ted Wu, Vice President and Global Head of Vehicle Design for Mattel, the parent company of Hot Wheels
Rooted in the brands’ history with Porsche, Hot Wheels and Mobil 1 came together to celebrate its 75th anniversary with this iconic build. Beginning with the introduction of the Hot Wheels Redline Porsche 917 in 1970, Hot Wheels and Porsche have been collaborating for more than 50 years. In total, 54 unique Porsche models have been recreated in 1:64 die-cast form.
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Hot Wheels to unveil the Dirtmeister, a Porsche 944 build that represents our commitment to high performance cars, the love of driving and enhancing the overall experience for automotive enthusiasts both on and off the road. Together, with this legendary build, we celebrate Porsche’s seventy-five years of defining automotive culture and we look ahead to the next seventy-five.”
Ryan Allen, Brand & Partnerships Manager of North America, on behalf of Mobil 1
Rennsport Reunion is a celebration of Porsche’s storied history, making it the ideal location to debut the Dirtmeister Porsche 944. The Dirtmeister will remain on display for the remainder of Rennsport Reunion at the Hot Wheels children’s play area near the Paddock in the Park.
To learn more about the Hot Wheels Legends Tour presented by Mobil 1, visit www.HotWheels.com/Legends. Rennsport Reunion 7 will be held September 28-October 1. For more information about Rennsport and to obtain tickets, click here.