Wild Holden creation wins Australian Hot Wheels competition

This unique vehicle will soon represent Australia on the global stage, after being crowned the local winner of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour.

Created by retired metal sculptor Tony Barron, the 1976 Holden Zeus Dominator was created from a HJ one-tonner ute, and is powered by a 4.2-litre V8 producing 172kW.

Looking like a space-age vision of a Formula 1 race car dreamed up in the 1960s, the Zeus Dominator took one year to build from hand-formed aluminium, and is ADR-compliant and road-registered.

The vehicle took the win against a strong field of other custom vehicles, which included a 1955 Ford Cab Over Engine C-600, a 1996 Mazda RX-7, a 2025 Spartan, and a 1955 Holden FJ panel van.

“A seed was planted at an early age,” Mr Barron said following the competition.

“Becoming Australia’s winner of the 2026 Hot Wheels Legends Tour feels like a full-circle moment, and I’m excited to be representing Australia at the Regional Finale.”

Judging was conducted by Repco ambassador Gary Reid, Craig Phinn from the Melbourne Motor Show, and the Director of Product Design for Hot Wheels, Jimmy Liu, at a free event held in Sydney on Sunday, August 30, 2026.

“Australia has one of the most passionate building cultures I’ve seen, and it was on full display this weekend,” said Mr Liu.

“It made judging no easy feat, with each of the finalists’ builds displaying such unique features and styles – there was no shortage of standout competitors here.

“Seeing Tony crowned the Australian winner was an absolute highlight. I look forward to seeing him compete at the Regional Finale – he’s a true contender.”

Mr Barron and his Holden Zeus Dominator will now compete in the regional finals held online, with each regional winner then going head-to-head at the Global Grand Finale in November 2026.

The ultimate champion will be inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends, with their vehicle immortalised as a 1:64 die-cast Hot Wheels model and sold in shops around the world.

MORE: Holden finalists to feature at Hot Wheels live show