Hot Wheels - Car of the Day !!!

[Monster]

Swingin' Wing - Shell Promotion Model Casting Differences
This model was originally issued in 1970 with an adjustable white plastic wing in back, but it was removed for this promotional release and the mounting openings were cast closed, with vents molded in their place. Also, the metal slide-out engine was eliminated, the body opening was cast closed and exhaust pipes were cast into the base.

This 1970 Spectraflame Magenta model shows the white plastic adjustable wing.



This 1973 promotional Light Blue enamel car looks bare in comparison to the original model and should have been renamed, as it no longer has a "Wing" to "Swing".



A close-up of this 1970 Spectraflame Magenta model shows the original, twin tail pipes pulled out, exposing the concealed slide-out rear engine.



This Red enamel promotional car shows the body molded closed in back and the exhaust pipes cast into the metal base.



A Blue enamel model in the original packaging, with a 39-cent "Special" price sticker, what a deal !!!

[Monster]

Twin Mill - Shell Promotion Model Casting Differences
This 1969 Show & Go Series model originally had the base painted the same color as the body, so to save costs and production time, Mattel just left the bases on the promotional cars bare metal.

This 1969 Light Blue Spectraflame model was issued with the bottom base painted the same color as the body.



A bottom view of a 1973 promotional release Yellow enamel Twin Mill, showing the bare metal base.



A base from a 1973 promotional issued Light Blue enamel Twin Mill, with the original 1968 base casting copyright date.



This promotional issue could also have easily benefited from additional cost-saving techniques, that Mattel had already used on the 1973 promotion Splittin' Image model, being just adding a dark black plastic window, eliminating the need for the plastic interior piece.

[Monster]

1974
1974 was another year of change for the Hot Wheels line. The cars continued to be painted in enamel colors, but they were not as bright and had a duller finish. Also, the fluorescent shades were discontinued.

For 1974, the familiar Hot Wheels flame logo was removed from the packaging and was replaced with "Hot Wheels" and "Flying Colors" in large red letters, trimmed in black with a dramatic black shadow on a white background. It featured a blue Heavy Chevy, yellow Baja Bruiser, and an orange Porsche 917 - all sporting the new tampo designs, above a yellow, orange, and red stripe. Later in the year, the red "Flying Colors" portion of the logo was changed to blue.

This Steam Roller came in the first version of the 1974 Blister Pack, with the red "Flying Colors".



An example of the second version of the 1974 Blister Pack, when the "Flying Colors" portion of the logo was changed to blue.



There were 25 models issued in 1974, 24 of which appeared in the regular line-up and one from a Set. Ten models used in 1973 and eight models from the 1968 - 1972 lineups were issued again, in new colors and designs. These were joined by seven brand new castings.

New 1974 Models
Baja Bruiser
Breakaway Bucket
El Ray Special
Rodger Dodger
Sir Rodney Roadster
Steam Roller

"Old Casting" Models Reissued
Alive '55 (Classic Nomad)
Buzz Off (TriBaby)
Carabo
Ferrari 312P
Funny Money
Grass Hopper
Heavy Chevy
Ice 'T'
Mercedes-Benz C111
Paddy Wagon
Police Cruiser (Olds 442)
Porsche 917
Prowler (The Demon)
Rash T (Brabham-Repco F1)
Red Baron
Top Eliminator (Mongoose & Snake)
Volkswagen (Custom Volkswagen)
Winnipeg (Chaparral 2G)

Even with duller paint, the appearances of the cars improved this year, with the introduction of pad applied, painted designs that were applied to the car. These designs are commonly referred to as tampos, named after the company that manufactured the equipment used for this process. Mattel continues to use the tampo process to this day, even with the introduction of new processes for applying decoration.

This year's issue of the Funny Money model, was only issued in Plum enamel and highlights the extensive use of tampo's.



This year Mattel reduced the number of paint colors cars were issued in. All cars in the line were issued in only one primary color. However, occasionally a car in a new color would show up on store shelves, but only for a very brief time. Collectors call these cars "alternates" and many of them are very rare. Not all cars appear in alternate colors, though. Some cars will have only one variation, while others may have two or three. Rather than being a coordinated marketing effort to sell more cars, it is likely that cars appear in these alternate colors because workers at the factory were told not to waste paint.

A Light Green Carabo, which was only issued in one other color; Yellow.



Road King Mountain Mining Set
One additional new model was also issued this year, but it was only available in the Road King Mountain Mining play set. The Mountain Mining truck from this set is the rarest model from this year and is difficult to find complete.

The Road King Mountain Mining Set cab was issued only in Yellow enamel (this one is missing the trailer).



The matching 1974 "Flying Colors" Collector's Race Case.

[Monster]

Baja Bruiser
Mattel based this model on a 1956 Ford F-100 series pick-up truck. The roof has been removed and a mid-positioned roll bar added. It has an exposed engine in the front and a full truck bed with tools and gas tanks cast into the bed. The word "MATTEL" is cast in block letters on the gate. Both bumpers are part of the metal base. The Baja Bruiser this year was issued in only Orange and Yellow enamel paint.

This Orange enamel model, shows the original tampo decals, although worn.



The tampo design on this model resembles a stylized American flag. On each side, beginning over the front fender is a field of blue with six white stars. This swirls into four red stripes, printed on a white background as it crosses the door panel and extends to the back fender. In the middle of the stripes is a red "5" in block-style lettering.

In front of the rear fender on each side, below the stripes, are two smaller tampos. The "Firestone" logo appears in red, printed on a white rectangle. Below this is the word "BAJA" printed in blue. Two more tampos are placed behind the rear fender as well. The "CRAGAR" logo appears in blue, printed on a white rectangle. Below this logo is the familiar circular "Ford" logo, printed in blue and white.

This side view highlights the mid-positioned roll bar.



This front view shows nice engine detail and a grill reminiscent of the 1956 Ford F-100 pick-up truck that inspired this model.



The rear view shows the spare tire, tools and gas tanks molded into the truck bed and "MATTEL" embossed across the tailgate.



The base for models this year is plastic that was usually chrome plated.



This Yellow enamel, very played-with car, is an excellent candidate for a restoration project.

[Monster]

Breakaway Bucket
Mattel based this pickup on the 1973 Ford Ranchero, but their model has no front pillars for the roof and the windshield wraps around to form the side windows.



The tampo design for this model consists of yellow panels printed on the hood and roof and a continuous panel that runs along the sides above the back fenders, up behind the windows, over the top of the roof, and down the opposite side in the same pattern. An orange speckled design is printed over the top of each yellow panel. The Breakaway Bucket was released this year in only Blue and Dark Blue enamel paint.





The truck bed features ribs cast into the floor.



An aftermarket reproduction decal sheet for the Breakaway Bucket.

[Monster]

El Rey Special
Mattel based this model on '70s Grand Prix race cars. Its design does not appear to be based on a single car, but a combination of styles that were being built at the time. It features exposed tail pipes in front of each back wheel and a ribbed, metal seat. The El Ray Special was issued in Green, Light Green, Light Blue and Dark Blue enamel paint.

A Green El Ray Special.



The tampo design for this model features yellow interlocking shapes that form panels on the sides, hood, and on top of the air intake manifold. The number "1" appears in red once on each side, on the hood, and on top of the air intake manifold.



A yellow circle with the word "Pennzoil" inside is printed on the hood, beside each wheel. The word Pennzoil is the color of the car and is unreadable on most models. The word "Dunlop" appears in yellow on top of the back wing. In front of each front wheel on the front wing is a yellow circle with "76" in red printed inside. This tampo resembles the "Union 76" logo.

This picture shows the exposed tail pipes in front of the back wheel.



An El Ray Special in Light Green enamel paint.





This top view clearly shows the metal ribbed seat.



A reproduction model of the El Rey Special from the Hot Ones Series, still in the Blister Pack.

[Monster]

Rodger Dodger
Mattel based this all new 1974 casting on the 1973 Dodge Challenger Special Edition two-door coupe. It features a very large exposed engine with side exhaust pipes and was issued in Plum (with both black and white interiors) and Blue enamel paint.



The tampo design features an orange stripe across the nose of the car. This stripe extends into orange flames that run down the center of the hood, over the roof, and onto the trunk. Yellow flames wrap around the engine and trim the orange flames, branching out over the sides of the hood, roof, and trunk.



A nice collector piece, a Plum Rodger Dodger in the original 1974 Blister Pack.



A close-up of a mint Plum car in the original packaging.



The back of the 1974 Blister Pack, listing the other models available.

[Monster]

Sir Rodney Roadster
Mattel based this all-new 1974 casting on the 1970s Lotus Seven S4 roadster. It features a large, exposed engine in the front and a brown removeable plastic roof. The interior is made of metal and is part of the base. The Sir Rodney Roadster model this year was released in Lemon Yellow, Yellow, Orange and Light Green enamel paint.



The tampo design features orange flames painted under, beside, and behind the exposed engine. Additional flames are printed on the trunk.



A front view shows the classic design of the Lotus Seven S4 roadster.



This rear view shows the flames that continue over the vehicle and are printed on the trunk too.



An aftermarket reproduction decal sheet.

[Monster]

Steam Roller
This new casting is based on Cam-Am racers from the early '70s and features an exposed metal engine behind the cockpit. The Steam Roller was issued only in White enamel paint with a tampo design, but one version was released with only three stars in the front stripe and another was issued with seven stars (like the model show below).



The tampo design features a blue stripe that wraps around the cockpit and a red "Hot Wheels" logo printed on the hood. A red stripe wraps around the front of the hood. On each headlight cover is a white number "3." Three white stars appear in the stripe on the nose of the car. A blue star with a white number "3" inside is printed behind the engine.



There are four additional automotive logos - two printed over each fender. "Firestone" and "AC" logos are over one fender, printed in red. The other fender sports "Champion" and "Gulf" logos that appear in red, white, and blue.





A mint car in the original first version of the 1974 Blister Pack, with a 67-cent price sticker.



The back of the original packaging, listing the models available.



A close-up view of the top of the vehicle in the blister pack, which clearly shows it to be a 3-star car.

[Monster]

1975
The Hot Wheels line doubled in size in 1975. All 24 models from 1974 were continued and were joined by 24 additional models, most of which were new castings (Mattel recycled three more castings from previous years for this year's "new" models).

The blisterpack changed again this year, but only slightly. The size of the blister was reduced from 4-1/2" x 7" to 4-1/4" x 6-1/2". The blister has been the same size ever since, although its artwork has changed several times throughout the years.

An example of the 1975 Blister Pack, with a Porsche Carrera model in White enamel, with a 79-cent price sticker from Target.



New 1975 Models
American Victory
Backwoods Bomb
Chevy Monza 2+2
Emergency Squad
Gremlin Grinder
Gun Slinger
Large Charge
Monte Carlo Stocker
Motocross I
Paramedic
Porsche Carrera / P-911
Ramblin' Wrecker
Ranger Rig
Sand Drifter
Street Eater
Super Van
Torino Stocker
Tough Customer
Vega Bomb

The Tough Customer was only issued in Olive enamel and is the first tank to appear in the Hot Wheels line-up.



"Old Casting" Models Re-issued
Alive '55 (Classic Nomad)
Baja Bruiser
Breakaway Bucket
Buzz Off (TriBaby)
Carabo
Chief's Special (Police Cruiser)
Dune Daddy (Sand Crab)
El Ray Special
Ferrari 312P
Funny Money
Grass Hopper
Heavy Chevy
Ice 'T'
Mercedes-Benz C111
Mightly Maverick (Street Snorter)
Mustang Stocker (Boss Hoss)
Paddy Wagon
Police Cruiser (Olds 442)
Porsche 917
Prowler (The Demon)
Rash T (Brabham-Repco F1)
Red Baron
Rodger Dodger
Sir Rodney Roadster
Steam Roller
Top Eliminator (Mongoose & Snake)
Volkswagen (Custom Volkswagen)
Warpath (Xploder)
Winnipeg (Chaparral 2G)

The Mustang Stocker was the Boss Hoss casting with new paint (issued in White or Yellow enamel only), with a racing tampo design, but different color sets for each car color.



Mattel introduced plastic bases for the cars this year and in a brilliant cost-cutting move, created several castings that shared one common base. The bodies from some of these models were reused for other cars with the addition of a camper shell, truck bed, or new interior. Sometimes, it just took a new paint scheme to make the casting "new." Mattel managed to create the appearance that the line was made up of more new models than it really was. In reality, nine of the new models issued this year were made up of these assorted pieces (Backwoods Bomb, Emergency Squad, Gun Slinger, Motocross I, Paramedic, Ramblin' Wrecker, Ranger Rig, Street Eater, and Super Van).

The bottom of this Super Van, shows the new plastic base and the lack of a model name, since this base was shared with the Paramedic.



There was another very noticeable change to the lineup this year. Most of the muscle cars and concept designs were gone. These were replaced with normal looking cars, including a van, two rescue vehicles, and two pickup trucks. America was not buying the flashy muscle cars anymore since gas was now a dollar a gallon, and the Hot Wheels line reflected these changes. This meant little to kids, however. Cars were selling well enough to keep the line going, but kids were still not collecting them with the passion they had just a few years earlier.

The Super Van was issued in Dark Blue, White, Plum and Black enamel paint, but each color used a different tampo design.



This year, Mattel introduced the first two motorcycles to appear in the official Hot Wheels lineup, the Motocross I and the Street Eater. Mattel had previously issued diecast motorcycles in a separate series called RRRumblers, but those models were never part of the Hot Wheels line. Mattel would not issue another motorcycle in the Hot Wheels lineup until 1997, when the Scorchin' Scooter was introduced.

A Street Eater model in Yellow.

[Monster]

American Victory
Mattel based this model on a McLaren-style race car. It features a metal interior and an exposed metal engine behind the cockpit. In another cost-cutting move for Mattel, some models such as this one came with plastic rather than metal bases. The tampo design resembles a stylized American flag, The tampo has a blue field with five white stars. Red and white stripes flow behind the blue field and turn into flames over the back wheel. The number "9" is centered in the field of stripes and is the color of the car.
It was issued only in Light Blue enamel.

[Monster]

Backwoods Bomb
This model is a generically styled pickup truck and has a white plastic removable camper shell. The base is made of chromed plastic and in another cost-cutting move, this base was designed to be used with other castings in the lineup, such as the Super Van and Emergency Squad.



The tampo design features a yellow stripe that runs the length of the car along the top over each side. In the portion of the stripe under the camper shell, the words "KEEP ON CAMPING" are cut out of the stripe and are the color of the car. A green stripe runs the length of the car along the bottom on each side. A green panel, trimmed in blue with a yellow block insert fills in the space between the two stripes and the front and back wheels.



The Backwoods Bomb was issued only in Light Blue enamel paint this year.



A close-up view of the white plastic removable camper shell.



The new base this year is made of chromed plastic and was designed to be used with other castings, which is why the model name is not molded into the casting.



A Backwoods Bomb in a Blister Pack.

[1956NY150]

[Monster]

BluLightening, Earl and Mint Julep ?

[70chevyC-10]

and that's 200wins to the left of BluLightning