Code 3 cars are customized Hot Wheels cars that are done by a third party with no licensing by Mattel. They begin life as a stock Hot Wheels model off the shelf, sometimes purchased in bulk from Mattel. A third party disassembles the cars for repainting, graphics and possible new packaging. Most are used as promo's for Toy Shows, Hotwheels Diecast Clubs and Race Tracks. What is important is that most of these mark a point in time that becomes part of the Hot Wheels History. Maybe you were apart of that history.
