On July 21, 2011, Elliot Handler died. He was 95 years old. What you may not know is that Handler was the creative force that developed Hot Wheels. What might surprise you even more (it did me), is that Handler’s wife, Ruth had created the Barbie doll a few years before the arrival of the first Hot Wheel.
So both of these iconic toys came from one married couple. It was the success of Barbie that caused Mr. Handler to think of something that would relate to boys as Barbies had to girls.
I am impressed with the creative minds living under one roof.
