Lincoln man hopes classic car becomes model for next Hot Wheels toy car

Lincoln local Byron Burnham’s car was chosen among 3,600 vehicles that entered the Hot Wheels Legends Tour. Now, he’s hoping to secure the winning spot in Las Vegas next week.

“I was shocked, I was kinda nervous cause there was some fantastic cars there,” Burnham says.

Byron Burnham will compete with just 18 others to make his car, a 1975 Chevy Vega, into the classic hot wheels toy car.

The Legends Tour, a traveling car show, chooses a winner from 18 different cities. Burnham entered his in St. Louis.

The tour ends in Las Vegas with SEMA, one of the largest car shows in the nation, and the winner of the tour will be announced there.

Burnham has been working on the car for 10 years, the inspiration coming from a vehicle owned by his friend. However, he never intended for the car to be a show car.

“Just a track car, that’s all it was going to be a track car, not even licensed, nothing just strictly track,” says Burnham.

Hot Wheels’ three main criteria for finalists include authenticity, creativity and garage spirit, meaning the car was built, not bought. Those requirements is what landed Burnham a spot as a finalist.

“Two things, one of a kind paint job. . . people see the car one way and come back thinking there’s two cars, and two, the wide body, that’s all hand formed and its a throwback to the 70’s.”

Burnham has been a car lover since he was a young boy, and encourages others to keep their dreams alive.

“I almost gave up on this thing, two or three times, but when I got to the top to finish it, I had to finish it that’s why it cost more money to finish it but i think the important thing is to never up,” he says.

Burnham leaves for Las Vegas on November 3rd, and the winner will be announced the 5th.

The winning car will then be inducted into the ‘Garage of Legends,’ and made into one of the toy cars to be sold around the world.