Note: This is not a review.

Last month, 131 Off-Road‘s intrepid reporter was on his usual desert adventures (walking around a mall) when he spotted an oasis in the distance (a vending machine). His throat parched from days with nary a sip of nourishment (he hadn’t had a drink outside of a glass of water at breakfast, though he was planning on getting a smoothie later that day), he rushed to his savior (walked at a modest pace) and admired the scenery.

All around him were trees bearing fruits of many kinds. One caught his eye: a strange yet familiar pome, white like snow yet adorned with a fiery gradient of yellow, orange, and red.

(You know where this is going, so we’re going to stop now)

---

In December 2024, Hot Wheels released a 1989 Toyota HiLux Stadium Truck as part of its Elite 64 series. As the name suggests, it is intended to be a tribute to the trucks that tore it up with the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group during the late ’80s and turn of the decade.

When people are asked about stadium trucks, they usually think of either Robby Gordon because of SST or Ivan Stewart. While “Ironman” was already a legend as one of the greatest drivers in MTEG history who also enjoyed tremendous success in the desert wth SCORE–HDRA, he and his Toyota truck transcended their usual domain and were arguably mainstream icons too.

Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart’s Super Off Road was a beloved arcade game and how many off-road fans got into the discipline, while his truck’s white and yellow-orange-red livery is often the first look that comes to mind when one pictures an off-road truck and one that some still use today in tribute. This was also at the height of manufacturer involvement in off-road racing, so even those who never got into the sport were well aware thanks to Toyota’s promotion. By 1989, Toyota had won the MTEG manufacturer’s title six years in a row.

Stewart’s racing days might be behind him, but he’s still living life as vicariously as any 80-year-old retired racer would. Last month, he was at the Mint 400 reveling in the Vegas atmosphere.

(Gordon also raced Toyotas during this time though was mainly known for being with Ford.)

With a legacy like Stewart’s, it only made sense that merch would exist of his trucks. Understandably, Hot Wheels wanted to get in on the action themselves. Hot Wheels was far from a stranger to making off-road vehicles, let alone licensed trucks. The HiLux wasn’t even the first Toyota truck produced by the company as the 100% Hot Wheels Series in 2001 included a Baja-style truck directly inspired by Stewart’s ride. The stadium truck, on the other hand, goes for a more generic identity.

Obviously, it is not a one-to-one replica of the Toyota trucks that raced back in the day. There’s no way in hell a toymaker would try to get Coors onboard, and any Toyota branding is limited to the grille.

The bigger tell, however, is in the name. Unlike today where it’s known as a Dakar winner, the Hilux was only sold in the United States for eight years from 1969 to 1976 before being phased out. Later models as the Toyota Pickup and Toyota Truck came and went, though those names weren’t used either since the factory racing program had a unique model from production trucks. If one squinted, they could say it looks like an SR5 but that’s not it either.

Annoyingly, the box art doesn’t list attributes because everything like the dimensions and transmission have “Trade Secrets” written next to them. The only non-censored trait is “Born In: Japan”, which at least confirms why the HiLux is used as the mold and that the diecast isn’t replicating the actual stadium truck.

Toyota’s off-road racing trucks were purpose-built by Cal Wells’ Precision Preparation Inc. and Toyota Racing Development. TRD and PPI created a template with input from Stewart, who had a say in matters like the suspension and engine tuning. Graham Jones of the Toronto Star once remarked it’s quite similar to a NASCAR Winston Cup Series car.

“[Wells] was pretty much given an unlimited budget and told, ‘Build ’em and make ’em win,’” recalled Daniel Case in 1987, who eventually acquired Stewart’s Toyota for his own short course endeavors. Wells, for his achievements, is an inductee in the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Although the Hot Wheels livery isn’t fully faithful to the original, the other companies depicted were indeed involved in building the actual trucks. Bilstein worked with PPI to make the shocks, while Borla was responsible for the exhaust and Sparco provided seats. BFGoodrich gets due credit too.

On the other hand, Rigid Industries has a decal whereas the OG sported KC HiLITEs for lights. Tragically, the “headlights” on the diecast only had the truck’s number as opposed to a branded light cover like what KC offers. Denso, TRD, PPG, and Ultra Wheels were among the sponsors that didn’t make the cut, nor did slogans on the windshield.

Otherwise, the build isn’t all too different from the real McCoy. Even the number plate geometry is the same.

Inside the box, it seems a bit wonky with questionably smushed suspension. Fortunately, removing the packaging reveals this is because of the negative-camber suspension and it looks far more natural once outside.

Worth the $30? Honestly, yeah. Even if it’s not directly based on a PPI build, it’s still a nice novelty to have. After all, Hot Wheels are sick no matter how old you are.

Featured image credit: Justin Nguyen