Hot Wheels - Car of the Day !!!

[Monster]

Don't anybody give me crap about the Barbie doll stuff, actually, she's the "Mother" of Hot Wheels !!!

[Monster]

AMX/2
Mattel based this model on the American Motors AMX/2 concept car and it features two louvered panels in the back, which when opened reveal a detailed engine. This model was manufactured only in the United States and was only issued in 1971.

A Spectraflame Rose car in the Blister Pack with a plastic Collector's Button.



The backside of a 1971 Blister Pack card, showing the current line-up of cars.



A close-up of a Spectraflame Purple car in the original Blister Pack with a "rare" metal Collector's Button.



A close-up of a nice Spectraflame Purple car in the original Blister Pack.



A top view.



A Spectraflame Magenta in the original Blister Pack with the much more common plastic Collector's Button.



A very good example of a Spectraflame Magenta car.



This rear view shows the detail of the tail lights, which are like the real car.



A side view clearly outlines the two tabs used to lift the louvered panels in the back, which when opened reveals the engine compartment.





This top view shows the two louvered panels in the back.

[Monster]

Bugeye
This Mattel designed model borrows influences from Mattel's Mantis casting and features a split cockpit with windshields designed to resemble bug eyes. It has an engine in the rear, with a metal hood that comes with or without twin power bulges and was issued through 1972. The Bugeye was manufactured in both the United States and Hong Kong, with the only differences being interior color; the US model was white and the HK car was black.

A Spectraflame Yellow car in the Blister Pack with a plastic Collector's Button.



This Spectraflame Green car is a United States manufactured model, with a white interior.



A rear view showing a smooth hood, without the twin power bulges.



A top view of a played with Hong Kong Spectraflame Pink model, with black interior and the twin power bulges on the rear hood.



A plastic Collector's Button.

[Monster]

Bye-Focal
Mattel stretched out a Dodge Challenger for this model, which features a long blue or clear plastic hood which opens to reveal one of two style of engines. It comes with black and white decals that resemble a pair of glasses with red eyes and the words "BYE FOCAL" on each side of the frames. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong, was issued only in 1971 & 1972 and is one of the models with "Crumbler" bases.

This Spectraflame Pink (Hot Pink) shows the detail of the rear gas filler cap, tail lights and drag link bars.



This Spectraflame Yellow car (which some believe to be even more rare than the Purple) has engine style #1 and a clear plastic hood.



Both these Spectraflame Yellow cars in front have clear hoods with a Spectraflame Olive model with a Blue hood in the rear for color comparison purposes.



This Spectraflame Teal model has the Blue plastic hood.



There are only four Spectraflame Purple Bye-Focal cars known to exist and this collector owns two of them. His two Purple Bye-Focals are the upper two cars and the lower one is Dark Magenta, called "tweeners" by collectors (caused when the paint cans were changed on the spray-paint production line and shot out a "mix" of two colors, which explains the variations of color on some models.



This extremely rare Spectraflame Purple car is listed on FeeBay for only $500,000 !!!
Get it now, in time for Christmas !



The Bye-Focal is one of the models know to have the "crumbler" bases. Some collectors attempt to slow down the rate of decay, by painting over the hairline cracks with markers, paint or fingernail polish as seen in this photo.



This Spectraflame Magenta side view shows the decal detail.



The decal sheet.

[Monster]

Classic Cord
This model from Mattel's 1971 - 1972 line-up is based on the rare 1937 Cord 812, designed by Gordon Buehrig and has a partially exposed engine showing through the hood, an opening hood and a black plastic removable roof. This model was manufactured only in Hong Kong.

This Spectraflame "Hot" Pink car shows all the feature details of the model.







A Spectraflame "Ice" Blue car with the roof removed.



A Spectraflame Green car with the plastic Collector's Button.



A reproduction black plastic roof.

[Monster]

Cockney Cab
Mattel customized an Austin Taxi Cab for this model, which featured an exposed engine with exhaust pipes extending above each front fender, an open door on the passenger side, twin suitcases molded into the interior (which are visible throught the open door). It has a red, white and blue British flag sticker on the trunk, with "COCKNEY CAB" written below the flag in Blue. It was manufactured in both the United States and Hong Kong, with casting differences. The HK car has the trunk outlined and the US model does not have the trunk outlined.

A US made Spectraflame Light Green taxi (note the smooth trunk).



This Spectraflame Red model clearly shows the two suitcases inside the interior of the open passenger door.



A Hong Kong manufactured Spectraflame Olive car, showing an outlined trunk, with a sticker trying it's hardest to stay attached.



A very hard to find Spectraflame color ... "Emerald" Green.





A reproduction decal sheet.



A (very patheticly poor picture of a) plastic Collector's Button

[Monster]

Crew Car
Commonly reffered to as the "Pit Crew Car" by collectors, this concept racing utility van features an opening trunk which reveals a slide out tool box. It has white stickers on each side with a red Hot Wheels logo and the words "PIT CREW" . It also has blue striped stickers with yellow stars on the hood, roof and trunk. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong, in white enamel paint.



Many collectors often mistake this car as being part of the Heavyweights series, since the Fuel Tanker, Racer Rig and Team Trailer are all part of that series, all four models were issued in white enamel and the Team Trailer's stickers are virtually identical to the ones found on the Crew Car.



This close-up of the front of the car's driver compartment, shows the racing inspired "butterfly" steering wheel.



This rear view, shows the trunk open with the slide out tool box.



A plastic Collector's Button

[Monster]

Grass Hopper
This model borrows styling from Jeep vehicles and features an exposed engine in the front and has a large white plastic roof, which when removed, reveals a second exposed engine in the truck bed. It was manufactured only in the United States and issued only in 1971.

This Spectraflame Rose car clearly shows the canteen and hand-pick that are molded on the drivers side.



This rear view of a Spectraflame Red model has the top removed, to see the rear engine and passenger compartment. Notice the shovel, pry bar and tool bag molded to the right side of the vehicle and gas can attached in back.



A mint Spectraflame Light Green car in the original Blister Pack.



Close-up view of the car.



A reproduction white plastic top.



A plastic Collector's Button

[Monster]

Hairy Hauler
This Mattel designed concept car has a forward opening passenger compartment, which reveals a detailed white plastic interior and a rear-mounted exposed engine with twin exhaust pipes. This model was manufactured only in Hong Kong and was available only in 1971.

This Spectraflame Magenta car is in the original Blister Pack with an "unpunched" card.



A mint Spectraflame Light Green car has a metal Collector's Button, as do the other two examples.



This Spectraflame Yellow car is in the original Blister Pack with an "unpunched" card and a metal Collector's Button.



This Spectraflame Green car has the passenger compartment tilted forward in the open position.



A close-up view of this open Spectraflame Magenta car, shows the white interior.



This top shot of a rare Spectraflame "Salmon" Pink car shows the detail of the rear-mounted engine and twin exhaust pipes.



A metal Collector's Button

[Monster]

The Hood
This Mattel designed model borrows styling cues from the 1970's Stutz Blackhawk and features a partially exposed enigne. The car also has a retractable black plastic sunroof over the front seats and was issued with or without a black painted roof. Models with painted roofs are less common and are priced 150% higher. This car was manufactured in both the United States and Hong Kong with the only difference being the plastic interiors. The US casting had deep outlines in the seat design and in the HK car, the seat design outlines are shallow. This model was issued through 1972.

This Spectraflame Purple car clearly shows an unpainted roof, with the sunroof in the closed postion.



This view of a Hong Kong Spectraflame Light Green model shows the black painted roof variation and the black plastic sunroof over the front seats is retracted in the open position.



A mint Spectraflame Yellow car in the original Blister Pack, signed by Larry R. Wood, the Mattel designer. Note the new Blister Pack design for 1972, with the new Bugeye model under the Hot Wheels logo and the advertisement for Mattel's new Drivin' Gear Control in the bottom right corner.



A reproduction black plastic retractable sunroof.



A plastic Collector's Button

[Monster]

Ice "T"
This is one of several Hot Wheels cars that Mattel based on Monogram model kits that were designed by Tom Daniel. It features an exposed engine in front and a matching yellow plastic removable roof. It has a black truck gate that when lowered, reveals two ice blocks in the back. The roof has the "Ice T" logo molded on the sides, painted black. Mattel issued this model through 1972 and it was manufactured only in Hong Kong in yellow enamel.





This top shot of the car clearly shows the ice blocks in the back bed, with a melted pool of water, behind the raised tailgate.



This side view of a played-with car, shows the roof top removed with the ice blocks in place and the tailgate raised.



A mint car in the original 1971 Blister Pack with plastic Collector Button.



The 1972 Blister Pack issued card, with the new Bugeye model shown under the Hot Wheels logo (note the price sticker with the .88 stricken through and a 53-cent discount price hand-written).



Some never assembled Ice 'T' parts and cars from the private collection of Mattel Model Shop employee, Victor Selotti (note the white topped Ice 'T' model, which is the 1973-77 issued casting)



A reproduction yellow plastic roof (missing the black painted "Ice T" logo, molded on the sides) and ice blocks (incorrect Sea-Green color).



A close-up view of original, never-installed, Aqua colored ice blocks.



A plastic Collector's Button

[Monster]

Jet Threat
This Mattel designed concept car has a large turbine engine running down the center of the car and there is a cockpit behind the engine with a blue windshield. The engine has an opening that when opened, reveals an orange plastic turbine. There are white stickers with a yellow-to-orange strip and a "15" in a black circle on each side of the car. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong and was part of the Hot Wheels line-up through 1972.



Nice Spectraflame Yellow model from the front shows the massive turbine intake.



This top shot of a Spectraflame Light Green car clearly shows the engine cover open,
revealing the orange plastic turbine.



A rear view of the car shows the turbine jet exhaust and a parachute strapped to the back of the car.



A mint Spectraflame Yellow car in the original 1971 Blister Pack with plastic Collector Button.



A close-up view of an original, never-installed cockpit canope, which is often missing on this model.



A plastic Collector's Button

[Monster]

Mutt Mobile
This Mattel designed concept car has a black plastic gate in the back that opens to reveal two white dogs. It has a white removable plastic roof with "MUTT MOBILE" molded on each side, painted black. The model has an exposed engine that spans the width of the vehicle in front of the passenger compartment. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong and was in the line-up through 1972.

A side view of a "played-with" Spectraflame Blue car, sitting on Mattel's famous "orange" track.



Nice Spectraflame Gold model.



This top shot of a Spectraflame Blue model clearly shows the exposed engine spanning the entire width of the car.



A rear view of the car shows the black plastic gate in the closed position.



This rear view, with the gate open, shows the two white dogs.



Close-up of the dogs, that appear to be a Labrador or Spaniel and a Collie or German Shepherd.



A near-mint Spectraflame Aqua model.



A mint Spectraflame Aqua car in a 1972 Blister Pack with plastic Collector Button
(note the 64-cent price sticker).

[Monster]

Noodle Head
This concept car designed by Mattel has a wide headlight cover in front that opens to reveal two headlights cast in the underside. The model has an exposed engine on each side behind the passenger compartment and lots of exhaust pipes on the trunk. It was manufactured in both the United States and Hong Kong, with no casting differences and was in the line-up through 1972.

A nice example of a Spectraflame Red car.



A beautiful Spectraflame Magenta model, which is one of the rarer colors.



This rear view shows the right exposed engine and the exhaust pipes on the trunk.



A front view of this Spectraflame Green car shows a close-up of the headlight cover.





This top shot of a Spectraflame Green model clearly shows the mass of exhaust pipes in the back of the car, which is where the model derived it's name from.



A mint Spectraflame Red car in an original 1971 Blister Pack with plastic Collector Button.



Close-up of a Spectraflame Red car in the Blister Pack.

[Monster]

Olds 442
Mattel based this model on the 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass "S" 442 two-door hardtop sport coupe. It features an opening hood and detailed engine compartment. There is a black plastic removeable spoiler on the trunk and it came with white stripes for the hood, roof and trunk, with two styles of stars.
It was manufactured only in the United States in 1971 and is very popular with collectors. Models with a black interior are less common and are priced 300% higher than white interiors.

This mint Spectraflame Magenta car never had the decals applied.



The front view shows the detail of the front grill and headlights.



This Spectraflame Red car, shows the now peeling decals, were properly applied.







Since this model is so popular with Collectors, many of the parts are reproduced to allow replacement of damaged or missing pieces. Here is a replacement clear plastic "glass" piece for the Olds 442.



The replacement Decal Sheet.



A replacement black plastic Spoiler Wing.