Having played with many matchbox, corgi and hot wheels cars last century I was surprised that nowhere was rolling resistance mentioned in the article. Matchbox,

Having played with many matchbox, corgi and hot wheels cars last century I was surprised that nowhere was rolling resistance mentioned in the article. Matchbox, who made superb diecast replicas of real vehicles under license didn't roll very well as they were heavy with thick wire axles and a broad tire contact point. The whole point of the cheaply made HotWheels cars was that they had fine wire axles and rolled on a very narrow lip on the plastic wheel/tire, which meant their lack of rolling resistance made them much nimbler. Matchbox cars would barely roll on the plastic track Mattel sold, where the hotwheels cars could loop the loop etc. The hotwheels styling paid homage but rarely royalties to Ed Roth, Gene Winfield, Ed Barris and particularly Bill Cushenberry bubble top creations. By the 90s they were just cheap poorly designed diecast toys after the huge trend for innovative full size custom show cars waned in the 80's.