Hot Wheels - Car of the Day !!!

[antmnte]

Love em Steve,keep em coming !

[Monster]

Thanks Anthony, not many other posts, but the view count lets me know people are looking.

[Monster]

Turbofire
This Mattel designed car features a rear-opening engine cover and was manufactured only in the United States.

This car is painted in Spectraflame Pink and is the Hot Pink variant.



This one is Spectraflame Lime, called Antifreeze by collectors.



This restored car shows the rear-opening engine cover.



An example in Spectraflame Blue in Blister Pack with an un-punched card.



A Collector's Badge.

[Monster]

Twin Mill
Another one of Mattel's own concept cars, this one features twin exposed engines behind the front wheels and some models were issued with Gold Chrome engines, but surprisingly, that only adds $5 to the price. This model was only manufactured in the United States.

I really liked this model and is one of the few cars that I bought two of ... Red and Aqua.






Dave The Bartender's car in Spectraflame Magenta.



Nice example of mint Blister Pack.



An interesting use of a toy car, someone made a 4GB USB Flash Drive from a later issue Twin Mill, that has an LED on the inside that flashes when in use.




My Collector's Badge.



This model was so popular, that it was one of the few cars that made it onto the Lunch Box made by the King Seely Corporation that was issued in 1969.



It even made the Thermos that was included.

[Monster]

Beach Bomb
One of the most sought-after models in the Hot Wheels line, was the initial rejected design based on the 1968 Volkswagen Microbus, which featured a slender body with yellow & orange surfboards sticking out the rear window and a small sunroof. Speculation is it was rejected because it was too narrow to pass through the Super Chargers that were sold with Mattel track sets. Most of the initial production run was destroyed, with the few remaining pieces being saved by Mattel employees who took them home.

Bruce Pascal purchase a “Transitional” Pink Beach Bomb in the Fall of 2000 for $72,000 which drove interest for the original model to a new level. More than ever, collectors were focusing on the 30 known buses and their value was climbing. BrightVision produced replica's, that allowed collectors to enjoy the original Beach Bomb, while maintaining the value of the originals.










The commonly found version has slots over the back wheels that house the surfboards and a larger, full-length sunroof. Most Collector Buttons picture the rare, version. Both models were manufactured only in Hong Kong.

This Spectraflame Lavander (called Rose by collectors) has the stickers attached.


This model in Spectraflame Blue shows the larger, full length sunroof.



This rear view shows the additional width that designers put in on the later version.



Some reproduction surfboards.



A mint Blister Pack with a model in Spectraflame Green.



A picture of the bottom of a Blister Pack, showing the included "Flower Power" stickers.



The original Collector's Badge.



The rarer second variation Collector's Badge.

[Monster]

Brabham-Repco F1
This model is a replica of the 1967 Brabham BT24 Formula One race car driven by Jack Brabham and features a rear-mounted engine with plastic tail pipes extending beyond the rear of the vehicle and it came with a racing decals sheet. Models with a white interior are rare and are priced 300% higher. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong.

A very nice, near mint car in Spectraflame Purple.



This Spectraflame Green model has some of the decals applied.



Dave The Bartender's car in Spectraflame Aqua with decals.



An original Blister Pack in excellent condition with a Dark Green Enamel paint job and Hot Wheels logo sticker.



Close-up of the bottom of the Blister Pack showing the included race decal sheet that was included.



My Collector's Button.

[Monster]

Chaparral 2G
The Chaparral 2G driven by Jim Hall served as the inspiration for this model and features a white plastic, removable wing and rear-opening engine cover. This model was manufactured both in the United States and Hong Kong, with no significant casting differences.

This car is in Spectraflame Pink and is the "Hot Pink" variant.









My Collector Button.

[Monster]

Ford Mk IV
Mattel based this model on the 1967 Mk IV race car by Ford featuring a rear-opening engine cover and came with a sticker sheet with white circular stickers with a Black "1" in the middle and Black & White colored stripes to be applied by collectors. This model was manufactured in both Hong Kong and the United States with casting differences. The HK model had raised body detail outlines and the US version had indented body detail outlines.

This car in Spectraflame Yellow is a US casting.





This model in Red Enamel is from Hong Kong.



This Spectraflame Orange car shows the rear-opening engine cover and poorly applied sticker.



Cars issued in the original Blister Pack are extremely rare.



The more common Blister Pack, with the Grand Prix Series card.



My Collector's Button.

[Monster]

Indy Eagle
Mattel based this model on the 1967 Eagle-Westlake Indy car driven by Dan Gurney and features an exposed engine with chrome tail pipes in the rear, joined to form a spoiler. This model comes with a decal sheet that has an oval "48" in black, as well as white stripes. Models with a white interior are rare and are priced 300% higher. There was also a Gold Chrome version available. This model was manufactured only in Hong Kong.





An example of the Gold Chrome version that was available.



This Spectraflame Aqua car has the rare black painted base.



My Collector's Button.

[Monster]

Lola GT70
This model was based on the 1968 Lola T70 race car, featuring a rear-opening engine cover and came with a sticker sheet with yellow circular stickers with a black "10" in the middle and matching yellow stripes for the collector to apply. This model was manufactured in both Hong Kong and the United States with casting differences. The HK model had small taillights and poor outline details and the US version had large taillights and clear, deep etched body detail outlines.

This model is in Dark Green Enamel, with correctly applied stickers.



This car in Spectraflame Brown is a US casting, with large taillights.



This model in Spectraflame Green is from Hong Kong, with small taillights.



This example shows the rear-opening engine cover.



This Blister Pack has a Hong Kong car in Spectraflame Red.



A Collector's Button.

[Monster]

Lotus Turbine
Mattel based this Grand Prix series car on the 1968 Lotus 56 race car, which was driven by Parnelli Jones and Joe Leonard. It was reffered to as the "Wooshmobile" because of its speed. It came with a decal sheet that had black retangle stickers with a white "70" and assorted racing decals. Models with a white interior are rarer and are priced 300% higher and some examples have been found with a black base and are priced 200% higher. This model was manufactured only in Hong Kong.

This nice car in Spectraflame Aqua shows good decal placement.



Here is a near mint example in Spectraflame Green, without decals applied.



Spectraflame Purple was another favorite color of mine.



Spectraflame Blue in a beat-up Blister Pack.



The Collector's Button.

[Monster]

McLaren M6A
Based on the M6A, built and raced by Bruce McLaren , this model features a rear-opening engine cover and came with a decal sheet that had white circular stickers with a black "4" inside. This model was manufactured in both the United States and Hong Kong with casting differences. The US casting had vents of top of fenders, clearly outlined headlights, deeply etched door lines and a vent on the spoiler. The HK casting had no vents of top of fenders, poorly outlined or missing headlights, poorly outlined or missing door lines and no vent on the spoiler.

This US version in Spectraflame Light Green has a clear windshield and you can easily see the fender & spoiler vents, headlights and door lines.





This HK version in Spectraflame Blue has a blue tinted windshield and is missing the fender & spoiler vents and poorly outlined headlights & door lines.





My USA Collector's Badge.



A Hong Kong Collector's Badge.

[Monster]

Shelby Turbine
Mattel based this model on the Carroll Shelby developed turbine-powered race car driven by Mario Andretti and came with a decal sheet that had white circular decals with a black "69" and a white stripe with SHELBY. This model was manufactured only in Hong Kong and cars with a white interior are rare and priced 300% higher.

This model in Spectraflame Blue shows good decal placement.



A Spectraflame Green version.



Top view in Spectraflame Red with blue tinted windshield.



Rear view of a played-with example in Spectraflame Red.



Spectraflame Aqua in the Blister Pack.



A Collector's Badge.

[antmnte]

Very nice Steve! The history lesson makes you appreciate the cars more.

[Monster]

1970
This year proved to be a banner year for Hot Wheels collectors. Mattel added 17 new model cars to the regular line-up, two more cars to the Grand Prix line and introduced two new series; Heavyweights and Spoilers. Both new series were issued on their own specially designed blister cards. Also, Collectors could send in $l and receive a special Hot Wheels Club Kit. During this year they also issued the famous and wildly popular Snake and Mongoose Hot Wheels funny cars.

New 1970 Models
Carabo
Classic Nomad
The Demon
Fire Chief Cruiser
Jack "Rabbit" Special
Mantis
Mighty Maverick
Mod Quad
Paddy Wagon
Peepin' Bomb
Power Pad
Red Baron
Sand Crab
Seasider
Swingin' Wing
Tri-Baby
Whip Creamer
Ferrari 312P (Grand Prix Series)
Porsche 917(Grand Prix Series)

Heavyweights
Heavyweights were a series of "hard-working, fast-moving Hot Wheels trucks" as described in the 1970 Hot Wheels catalog. There were two basic styles of trucks, a one-piece model and a two-piece model. Six Heavyweights were issued this year.

Ambulance
Cement Mixer
Dump Truck
Fire Engine
Moving Van
Tow Truck





Spoilers
The Spoilers series of cars were, in Mattel's words, "drag strip bombs with front and rear airfoils (spoilers), 'blown' engines, super slicks, racing stripes, numbers and sponsors' emblems". If you wanted all six Spoilers that were available from Mattel in 1970, you had to have a Club Kit, which included a special Silver Chrome Boss Hoss Mustang, not available separately.

Heavy Chevy
King 'Kuda
Light My Firebird
Nitty Gritty Kitty
TNT-Bird

Dave The Bartender's Boss Hoss Mustang.



Track Sets
Two track sets that are very popular with today's collectors were also introduced in 1970. The first is the Mongoose and Snake Drag Race Set, featuring the wildly popular Snake and Mongoose Funny cars. These two funny cars were also sold separately on their own specially designed blister cards.

The second set was the Sky Show set, which was issued with a modified Custom Fleetside. In Canada, this set was issued with a ramp-modified Deora. The Aero Launcher Deora was not issued outside of Canada.



Hot Wheels Collector's Club
The kit cost $1 and came in a box which included; a 1970 Hot Wheels Annual newsletter, membership badge, and a special Silver Chrome Spoilers Hot Wheels model, the Boss Hoss Mustang. Later, when they ran out of box kits, they sent out the material in an envelope edition, without the car or button, which arrived separately (some later kits included a Silver Chrome King Kuda or Heavy Chevy instead).

Membership Kit material.