Where it all began: 40 years ago today, Hot Wheels Speed Machines were launched. Speed Machines were a line of vehicles released by Mattel in 1983 to compete with other lower cost diecast brands. They consisted of Hot Wheels castings with a few cost cutting features, such as plastic bases, no chrome apart from the wheels, and simple enamel paint. All were made in Malaysia and had standard basic wheels. Extreme prices: In 2010, the Speed Machines were taken up again, but adapted somewhat for the time. The models looked a lot more modern, were more or less printed all around and were from licensed car brands. Each of these…