Inflation, the curse of our pocketbooks and the Federal Reserve, has hit almost every good in the U.S. But the price of a beloved toy has managed to hover around $1 — for more than 50 years. //

While Hot Wheels has fully embraced the nostalgic adult demographic, the production of high-quality, $1 cars, remains at the heart of the company's mission, Wu said.

"We like to say that everyone's first car is a Hot Wheels," Wu said. "And as new parents get back into the brand for their kids, it can sometimes rekindle the joy they had for the brand as a child."

Today, more than 16 Hot Wheels cars are sold per second across the globe and more than 6 billion have been produced to date, the company said.

That so many of those billions have been sold to parents looking for an affordable toy for their child says a lot about the brand, said Pascal, the collector.

"You're gonna buy a Hot Wheel for what, $1.29 today, or whatever the average number is? It's pocket change," Pascal said. "One of the reasons why I think Mattel is so successful is, you know, there are 330 million Americans, probably every adult, every kid that you know, has played with the Hot Wheel at one time, because they're so affordable."