Family made headlines with their customized cars
Seeing how naturally Eduardo Matteuzzi plays a humorous version of the Incredible Hulk on his social media, it’s hard to imagine that his 1.6 million followers are a recent achievement. Just a few years ago, he lived a quiet life in Praia Grande (SP).
“Before becoming known, I worked with imports and also bought auction cars to resell. Over time, importing became unfeasible due to high taxes, so I focused solely on auction cars. I once had up to 12 vehicles at the same time,” he told UOL Carros.
The big turning point came three years ago during a visit to Beto Carrero World in Santa Catarina. There, at a show featuring real cars styled like Hot Wheels toys, his son Enrico was amazed by the stunts.
Already a fan of the toy cars thanks to his mother Ligia — a longtime Hot Wheels enthusiast — the boy asked his parents for a car like the ones he saw in the show.
Since the family already had a playful spirit and financial means, they bought a 2013 Mini Cooper S Roadster (valued at R$ 128,259 according to Fipe) and, with a friend’s help, customized it with bright colors and Hot Wheels-inspired decals before giving it to their son.
What started as a bold gift quickly turned into a unique opportunity that completely changed the family’s path. Today, they dedicate themselves to creating content featuring three customized cars.
As soon as it hit the streets, Enrico’s Orange Mini (which he obviously doesn’t drive) grabbed attention. It went viral on TikTok when an influencer from Praia Grande — who didn’t even know Eduardo — recorded the vehicle and described it as “a dream.”
Fame grew quickly, with the car being featured on Hot Wheels fan sites worldwide, attracting influencers from São Paulo eager to create content with it.
Just when the buzz started to cool down, the Mini Cooper was back in the spotlight thanks to Neymar lookalike Eigon Oliveira, who used it to go to a shopping mall in Guarujá, causing a huge stir among fans.
Seeing the success, Eduardo decided to expand the collection. He chose his own Mercedes-Benz GLE (valued at around R$ 230,000) and invested over R$ 150,000 in its appearance, giving it a more rugged look with a Brabus kit. Its new green look earned it comparisons to the Hulk.
Excited, his wife Ligia joined in and received a pink Mini Cooper, officially establishing the “Hot Wheels family.”
The cars alone became attractions wherever they went — whether in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. But the family went further: they created characters with colorful costumes and personalities inspired by the cars. One highlight is “Dulk,” a funny version of the Hulk who stars in street skits with the green Mercedes.
Their popularity grew even more after their cars appeared in music videos by MCs Daniel and Ryan SP, and through collaborations with content creators like Michel Elias (known for recreating Fast & Furious scenes) and Vini Teófilo, who has 7.5 million subscribers on his kids’ channel.
Contrary to what many expected, Mattel — the owner of the Hot Wheels brand — didn’t file any lawsuits but actually supported the family. They were invited to take part in an official event, and according to Eduardo, it was one of the most memorable moments of their journey.
“We went to the event in costume: I was the Hulk, my wife wore a pink jumpsuit and blue shirt. The line for photos with us went around in circles — 100 meters of emotional kids hugging us and saying they loved us. We stayed there for four hours; it was unforgettable,” he recalls.
Since then, the family has been investing even more in their artistic talents, especially Eduardo’s performance as “Dulk,” a character he says has been part of him since childhood. “I’ve always liked playing, mimicking, being goofy. People used to call me crazy — now they call me an artist,” he says.
The fame opened doors to new projects, like a TV show on a local SBT station. Today, the social media content they create provides the family’s livelihood.
“That’s priceless,” says Eduardo, who even turned down a R$ 1 million offer for the green Mercedes — which has already had over R$ 650,000 invested in it.
The next step could be even more symbolic: Mattel is considering launching miniatures of the family’s cars, turning what started as play into real toys. A true fusion of fantasy and reality.
Source and images: UOL / Instagram @minicooper.hotwheelss. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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