Tag: Jun Imai Designs

Jun Imai studied at Art Center College of Design before joining Hot Wheels in 2004. From 2004, until he left Mattel in 2018, he has designed hundreds of cars for the diecast lines.
In 2012, he left diecast to lead HW Innovation and RC Design, and returned in summer 2014 as Manager of HW Diecast Design.
A few of his favorite designs include: Mad Manga, Nissan Skyline GT-X “Hakosuka”, Nissan Skyline 2000GTR “Kenmeri”, Datsun 510, ’71 Datsun Bluebird Wagon, Mazda RX-7, Toyota 2000GT, Datsun 620, BMW 2002, ’66 Dodge A100, ’69 Mustang Boss 302, ’77 Pontiac Firebird T/A, ’83 Chevy Silverado, Porsche 935/78, Porsche 911 (993) GT2, Driftsta, Datsun Fairlady 2000, Custom Datsun 240Z “Fugu Z”.
Aside from HW’s, he enjoys spending time with his family, running 5K’s, skateboarding, and tearing up L.A. streets with his modified Datsun 510 Wagon, 260ZG, and Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2.

Orange Track Diecast

Connect Cars / 50 States: DRAGTOR

Life on the farm tends to be a slow, monotonous life-style. But what if your farm had a drag-racing tractor? Well, that may speed things up a bit! Thats exactly what the Hot Wheels Dragtor is … a drag-racing tractor. From the mind of Hot Wheels designer (and […]

Orange Track Diecast

HW Performance Series: ’83 CHEVY SILVERADO

As the early editions of the Hot Wheels ’83 Chevy Silverado continue on their meteoric rise in value, a lesser discussed white version from last year has started to climb. Released as a #Toys R Us Exclusive, the white colorway of the HW Performance (Fram) ’83 Silverado is proving to be hard […]

Orange Track Diecast

Volkswagen 5-Pack: VOLKSWAGEN TYPE 181

Turns out the Custom Volkswagen Beetle from the newly released Volkswagen 5-Pack wasn’t the only variation found in the pack. While it was surely the most noticeable, the Volkswagen Type 181 from that same 5-Pack received a more subtle casting modification. The VW Type 181 on the left […]

Orange Track Diecast

BMW Series: BMW 2002

The BMW Series was released earlier this month at Walmart stores worldwide. In this 8-Car Set — which is not to be confused with the 5-Car mainline series of the same name — each of the eight BMW vehicles came on a black blister card with unique illustrations of each vehicle. […]

Orange Track Diecast

Vintage Racing: DATSUN BLUEBIRD 510

The Datsun Bluebird 510 might have been known to be the “poor man’s BMW” but it is certainly the rich man’s Hot Wheel — with this release being the crown jewel of modern day Hot Wheels collecting. Yeah, I went there. With prices soaring to the $200 range […]

Diecast Motorsports

2010 New Models: BREAD BOX

The Hot Wheels Bread Box casting was first released as part of the 2010 New Models Series. It was first released in white and was succeeded by red and blue colorways. It was designed by Hot Wheels Designer Jun Imai and is modeled after the Jeep FJ-3 Fleetvan. […]