A bespoke, racecar-inspired 1982 BMW 3-Series has won the UK leg of the 2025 Hot Wheels Legends Tour, held during this year’s Gravity Show at the NEC in Birmingham.
The car was built over 14 years by father and son, Paul and Ethan Foster. The wide-arched E21 beat more than 200 other entries to earn its place in the European final. The final prize is having your car made into a 1:64 scale Hot Wheels die-cast and inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends™.
The 3-series has group 2-style bodywork and only weighs 900kg. It has a 5.0-litre Rover V8 giving it 420bhp, fed by twin Jenvey throttle bodies. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a DTM-spec Getrag gearbox and Quaife limited-slip diff.
The chassis has been uprated with GAZ coilovers and Wilwood brakes, while the exterior has a fibreglass wide-arch kit, 345-section rear tyres, an alloy rear diffuser, and a deep front splitter. A genuine Group 5 rear wing, updated with a carbon blade, finishes off the aggressive aero.
Finished in a retro motorsport livery of violet, red, and blue, the E21 has the stance, sound, and spirit of a real-life Hot Wheels car.
“It’s amazing to win the Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK. Built together with my son Ethan, it’s part of our family and we’ll never sell it. We’ve both been huge Hot Wheels fans since we were kids. I just can’t believe it. Representing the UK at the next round of the competition is so exciting. Thank you to everyone for the support.”
Paul Foster, winner
The car was judged by a panel including Hot Wheels designer Charlie Angulo, broadcaster Nicola Hume, SlammedUK founder Jordan Clarke, and YouTuber Mat Armstrong. Entries were scored on design, authenticity, and garage spirit.
More than 200 custom builds were considered for the UK final, including historic racers, JDM drifters, off-road conversions, and time attack cars. A Volkswagen Polo took 37,006 fan votes to make the final round, joined by a Jaguar Mark VII and the winning BMW.
Next, the E21 heads to the European final, one of several virtual regional competitions also taking place in the Middle East, Latin America, and the US. The winner of the global final will be added to Hot Wheels’ Garage of Legends and turned into a die-cast car sold around the world.
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