Fresh off the pegs is the brand-new, Hot Wheels Aristo Rat. Clearly a play on the word aristocrat, which is a term for “someone from the ruling class”, it can be implied that this racer rules its class on the local dirt track. But that is not the only thing the name implies as this rat rod race car is built from a hodgepodge of junkyard parts.

Hot Wheels Aristo Rat from the 2017 Legends of Speed Series (also a 2017 New Model) … rear view

As a #Dmitriy Shakhmatov design for 2017, this #2017 New Model features plenty of “easter eggs” in this design — something that Dmitriy likes to do in all of his designs. By simply flipping the car over, you can see the front splitter is a grill from another vehicle and that the 6-cylinder engine lies in the rear, directly below the car’s quad-exhaust system, and beneath its rather large truck bed which can only be assumed is there to carry more junkyard parts.

Hot Wheels Aristo Rat from the 2017 Legends of Speed Series (also a 2017 New Model) … base view

In a conversation I had with Dmitriy at the 30th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention, he informed me that beyond the “easier to find” easter eggs in all the junk yard parts, he also instructed me to look for an actual rat and a wrench in the car’s interior. Sure enough, next to the driver’s seat, molded into the interior piece is a rat and a wrench. While I was unable to get a picture of it with my camera, I later noticed that they were on Dmitriy’s autograph sheet from the convention.

Dmitriy Shakhmatov’s Autograph Sheet from the 30th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention … depicts his design of the Aristo Rat

Located in the brand-new #Legends of Speed series, the Aristo Rat is one of ten racing-inspired vehicles in the segment. In what seems to be a promising new series, we will have to keep an eye on what else is to be included in it. Hot Wheels decided to number the vehicles in the 2017 mainline a little differently than in years past. For example, the Aristo Rat is #3 of 10 in the Legends of Speed, however this purple colorway is #1 of all 365 numbered vehicles in the 2017 Hot Wheels mainline — #Treasure Hunts and store exclusive colorways will not have numbers.

The #Legends of Speed #Aristo Rat is appearing in stores now — as part of 2017’s “A” case assortment. Look for it now and let us know what you think. It may not be for everyone but this is one that the Hot Wheels customizers will definitely have fun with.

RELEASE DETAILS: Metalflake Purple Body (metal). No Windows. Gray Interior. Gold-Chrome Skinny 5-DOT (SK5) Wheels on Front, Gold-Chrome 5-Spoke (5SP) Wheels on the Back. Black Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# DTX10. Released in 2017 as #3 of 10 in the Legends of Speed Series (#1/365 in the 2017 Mainline) … also part of the 2017 New Models