Hot Wheels - Car of the Day !!!

[Monster]

Rocket-Bye-Baby
This Mattel-designed concept car has a large windowed cockpit that sits out on the front nose of the car and a large unpainted metal rocket is mounted to the top of the car. There are also two large air intake covers on each side of the vehicle that are opened by pulling on the black plastic exhaust pipes at the rear of the car. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong and was available in 1971 and 1972.

The views below of a nice Spectraflame Yellow car show the large "arrow" shaped cockpit window.







This side view of a Spectraflame Aqua car shows the low, sleek profile of the vehicle.



The black plastic exhaust pipes at the back of the car are partially pulled out, which will slides back covers on each side of the car, to expose the air intakes.



The front view shows the detail of the cockpit and rocket intake.



A plastic Collector's Button.

[Monster]

Short Order
Mattel's inspiration for this model was the classic design of Ford's 1950's F-100 series pick-up trucks. They stretched the hood and added an exposed engine, shortened the truck bed (an orange plastic truck gate can be extended, doubling the truck bed's length). The model also features a chopped and squared roof. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong and was issued through 1972.

This Spectraflame Red car side shot shows the exhaust headers coming out of the floorboards and louvered hood.



This Spectraflame Green car looks nice at first glance, but it has the floorboard broken off the base casting and a bad paint scuff on the left front roof.





This rear view shows the tail light details molded on the back of the tailgate.



This 1971 Blister Pack with a Spectraflame Aqua car, has had the plastic Collector's Button removed, considerably lowering the collectability and value.



Close-up of Spectraflame Aqua car.



This Blister Pack issued in 1972, has a Spectraflame Yellow car and the plastic Collector's Button.



A reproduction orange plastic tailgate.

[Monster]

Six Shooter
This Mattel-designed concept car has a large centrally located passenger compartment and features twin engines over twin rear axles. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong and was available through 1972.

This near mint example of a Spectraflame Aqua car shows the large, centrally located passenger compartment covered with a blue glass canopy.



These side views of a Spectraflame Magenta car shows the twin engines over twin rear axles ....



What's better than Redlines ? More Redlines !!!



These top views of a Spectraflame Aqua car, show the excellent detail of the passenger compartment interior.





This rear view shows the exquisite detail of the twin engine components.

[Monster]

Special Delivery
Mattel's first mail truck was styled for racing and features two large exposed engines with lots of interwoven exhaust pipes on each side of the car. A large mailbox sits behind the seat over the back axle. This model was issued with four stickers; two red, white & blue stickers with "U.S. MAIL" to be applied to the sides of the mailbox, a black, white & red sticker with lots of guages to be applied at the back of the second engine, and a small square white sticker with a red & blue stripe and the words "SPECIAL DELIVERY" to be applied on the trunk. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong, in only Spectraflame Blue or Spectraflame Light Blue. Similarly, there are two types of Collector's Buttons; a dark blue car and a light blue car.

This near mint example of a Spectraflame Light Blue car shows the large headlamps on the front bumper, Model 'T' style radiator and bench style seat.



The large mailbox behind the seat, makes a perfect backrest.



This view shows the two large exposed engines with interwoven exhaust pipes.



A 1972 issue Blister Pack with Spectraflame Light Blue car and plastic Collector's Button.
Note the 89-cent price sticker and the matching light blue car on the Collector's Button.



Close-up of a Spectraflame Blue car in Blister Pack (note dark blue car on Button).



A partially used, original Decal Sheet.



The plastic Collector's Button with some additional artwork by it's young owner.

[Monster]

Strip Teaser
This Mattel-designed concept car has a passenger compartment with a black plastic interior that sits over the rear axle and a metal lift-up door over the compartment. A large exposed engine with angled exhaust pipes on the left and right sides sits in front of the passenger compartment. This model was issued with two circular stickers with a yellow "7" on a black background for the sides and a large black triangular sticker with a yellow "7" for the nose. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong and was issued in 1971 and 1972.

This near mint example of a Spectraflame Aqua car shows the long nose, large exposed engine and a small, centrally located, open driver's compartment protected by a roll cage.



Close-up of the incredible engine detail.



These side views of a Spectraflame Gold car shows the proper placement of the stickers.





These rear views of Spectraflame Gold and Aqua cars, show the excellent detail of the rear cockpit cover, passenger compartment and black plastic interior.





A Spectraflame Gold car in a 1972 Blister Pack with plastic Collector's Button.



A reproduction black plastic interior, which is easily removed (and lost).

[Monster]

T-4-2
This Mattel concept model is a stylized Model 'T' Ford with two front ends. Each front end features an exposed engine and has a black painted radiator and comes with a black plastic roof. This model has a question mark cast into the door on each side of the vehicle, which designer Larry Wood explained; "the originally proposed name for this model was "Which Way". It was manufactured only in Hong Kong and was available from 1971 to 1972.

These pictures of a near mint example of a Spectraflame Green car shows the identical front ends, the question mark cast into the door and twin exposed engines.





This right side view of a Spectraflame Yellow car shows the exquisite detail of the twin engine components.



Ummm ... the left side ?



This front view of a Spectraflame Lime car, shows the detail of the front grill, headlights, bumper and gas tank.



This very small black plastic piece is required for ....



Cars like these, that are missing the black plastic top.





A Spectraflame Lime (Antifreeze) car with a plastic Collector's Button.

[Monster]

What-4
This Mattel-designed concept car features a ribbed white plastic fin in back and twin exposed engines on each side. It has a cockpit that starts at the front axle and extends into the nose of the car. A surprisingly large number of What-4's appear to have been made with a defective metal and deteriorate with what collectors refer to as "crumblers" disease. It was manufactured only in Hong Kong and was available through 1972.

This near mint example of a Spectraflame Green car shows the large, centrally located passenger compartment covered with a blue glass canopy.



These side views of a Spectraflame Green car shows the twin engines on the side.



These top views of a Spectraflame Green car, show the excellent detail of the ribbed white plastic fin in back.



A 1972 issue Blister Pack with a Spectraflame Blue car.



A Spectraflame Blue car.



A nice bright, clean base, not a "crumbler".

[Monster]

Flyin' Circus Set
The Flyin' Circus set was issued in 1971 and comes with three different planes; Blue, Green & Yellow (the same ones issued is the Sky Show set a year earlier), in addition to two Zopters, Mattel-designed helicopters, one in Blue plastic with a Yellow rotor, one in Yellow plastic with a Blue rotor.



Picture of the set with; an Aero Launcher Fleetside on the special "Trigger" track, the Blue, Green & Yellow planes, the Blue & Yellow turbine Zopters and the Zopter-Port.



The same special Track trigger as the Sky Show to launch the planes in included, but the Flyin' Circus also has a second special track piece, a Zopter-Port. This track piece has an arm stretched across a short piece of track. The arm is attached to a spinner inside a box mounted to the inside of the track. A Zopter is placed on the spinner. As the Aero Launcher passes in front of the arm, the spinner is activated and the Zopter flies into the air.



Each color of plane is a different style, designed for a specific aerial manuever.
The blue plane performs "wild barrel rolls".



The green plane does a "loop-to-loop".



The yellow plane performs "long soaring glides".



The ramp issued with the Flyin' Circus set has two angled ridges in front of the ramp slot. The Flyin' Circus ramp also has two half-moon supports near the base of the ramp to help steady the plane while seated on the ramp. The Flyin' Circus ramp is more difficult to find.

A Spectraflame Red Aero Launcher Fleetside with a Blue Plane.



A Spectraflame Blue Aero Launcher Fleetside with a Yellow Plane.



The two Zopters and Zopter-Port was also issued separately in the Zopter Pak.

[Monster]

Eskimo Pie Promotion
Mattel teamed up with Eskimo Pie this year for a mail-in promotion. For seven wrappers plus 75-cents you could order one of four selected Hot Wheels cars; Olds 442, Jack "Rabbit" Special, Cockney Cab and the Mod Quad.



Strip Action Set
... or for seven wrappers and $2 you could order a Strip Action Set, which contained a Hot Wheels car, matching Collector's Button, five track pieces, four track connectors and a "G" clamp that enabled you to raise one end of the track up high, connecting to table tops or chair backs, for a super-fast, heavy "Gravity" track.







Closeup of the "G" clamp.

[Monster]

Snake vs. Mongoose - Part 2
Mattel continued to sponsor both the Don "Snake" Prudhomme and Tom "Mongoose" McEwen racing teams and in 1971, Mattel introduced the Snake II and Mongoose II funny cars, which were sold separately on special blister cards which showed the new models beneath the Hot Wheels logo. They both feature a metal chassis and body that are hinged at the rear, allowing it to be opened to reveal metal engine, a one-piece black plastic roll cage, and a black plastic folding body support.

An open view of the Mongoose II Funny Car in Spectraflame blue (this model was also issued in Spectraflame light blue).



That year Mattel also introduced the Snake and Mongoose rail dragsters, which were sold in the "Mongoose and Snake Wild Wheelie Set" or as a pair in the "Mongoose & Snake Dragster Pak" (with the same artwork on the "Wild Wheelie Set"). They were never sold separately.

Here is the pair of Rail Dragsters, the Mongoose in blue enamel in front, with the Snake dragster in white enamel, in back.



All models came with the paper stickers that kids could apply to the vehicles to make them resemble the real car. One side sticker was pre-applied at the factory and was placed on the passenger side of the car so it could be seen through the blister.

[Monster]

Wild Wheelie Set
This racing set was issued with 16 track pieces, 4 parachutes, 2 factory sealed Rail Dragster cars (1 Mongoose and 1 Snake), an instruction booklet, decal sheet, a red "staging lane" starting line piece, a blue "drag lights" starter piece and green "finish line" piece.

The original Hot Wheels Wild Wheelie Set box.



The Set contents; here we see the red "staging lane" starting line piece, with Big Belter speed control.



A copy of the "Wheels & Wings" 1971 International Collector's Catalog.



The blue "drag lights" starter piece, with the original decal sheet.



The cars, still mint in their factory sealed packaging.







Brand new parachutes !!!



The Finish Line piece, that triggers a checkered flag to raise, when the car passes through.



Nobody's Perfect Warranty and Registration cards and additional decal "sticker" sheets.



No set is complete without the instructions ...

[Monster]

Mongoose II Funny Car
Mattel based this 1971 model on the Plymouth Duster funny car driven by Tom "Mongoose" McEwen, which features a metal chassis and body that are hinged at the rear, allowing it to be opened to reveal the metal engine, a one-piece black plastic roll cage, and a black plastic folding body support. This model was issued in both Spectraflame Blue & Spectraflame Light Blue.

This Spectraflame Blue metal body is hinged open at the rear, revealling the metal engine, one-piece black plastic roll cage, and black plastic folding body support.



This Spectraflame Light Blue car is shown as it came in the Blister Pack, with only the factory applied decal on the passenger door (which is visible through the blister pack).



A blank canvas ... if you have the original decal sheet !!!



In order to make a Hot Wheels car shine, the metal bodies were polished before being painted with a translucent "Spectraflame" color paint. When there are imperfections in the body, discolorations, which collectors call mottle spots, begin to appear beneath the paint job. This model appears to suffer from mottle spots more than any other car in the Spectraflame era.

These pictures of a Spectraflame Blue car, show "mottle" spots in the paint.





A 1993 Anniversary issue Blister Pack.



The real Mongoose II Funny Car driven by Tom McEwen.



This model came with paper stickers kids could apply to the sides, hood, roof, and trunk to make it resemble the real car. Stickers on this model are usually defective, as the adhesive has broken down over the years, discoloring the stickers.

The original Mongoose II decal sheet.

[Monster]

Snake II Funny Car
Mattel based this 1971 model on the Plymouth Barracuda funny car driven by Don "Snake" Prudhomme, which features a metal chassis and body that are hinged at the rear, allowing it to be opened to reveal the metal engine, a one-piece black plastic roll cage, and a black plastic folding body support. It was issued only in White enamel paint.









The open chassis, showing the metal engine, a one-piece black plastic roll cage, and a black plastic folding body support.





The "Snake" model came with paper stickers that kids could apply to the sides, hood, roof, and trunk to make it resemble the real car. One side sticker was pre-applied at the factory and was placed on the passenger side of the car so it could be seen through the blister.



A model kit of the same car.



The rare Snake II plastic Collector's Button.

[Monster]

Mongoose Rail Dragster
Mattel based this 1971 model on the front engine dragster. It features large blackwall tires in back and smaller, black or clear plastic lace wheels in the front. This model and its Snake counterpart were the only models in the Spectraflame era issued without Redlines. It featured a large, exposed engine with curling exhaust pipes on each side in front of the cockpit. This model was not issued with a collector button. It was sold only as part of the Wild Wheelie set, or on a special Dragster Pak with the Snake Rail Dragster. This model was never sold individually.



The model also features a metal, black painted stabilizer in the back with small, clear wheels. When the stabilizer is folded into the model, it performs a wheelie. With the stabilizer down, the model rolls on all four wheels. The Dragster was issued with a small square white paper sticker in front of the cockpit which had "Tom McEwen" and "MONGOOSE I" printed in blue. It had a white wrap around sticker for the body with the Hot Wheels logo in red, and "Tom McEwen" and "MONGOOSE I" printed in blue.
This model was manufactured only in the United States in Blue enamel.

These models show clear front wheels and a packaged parachute.



The real Mongoose I rail dragster, driven by Tom McEwen.

[Monster]

Snake Rail Dragster
Mattel based this 1971 model on a front-engine dragster. It features large blackwall tires in back and smaller, black or clear plastic lace wheels in the front. This model and its Mongoose counterpart were the only models in the Spectraflame era issued without Redlines. It featured a large, exposed engine with curling exhaust pipes on each side in front of the cockpit. This model was not issued with a collector button. It was sold only as part of the Wild Wheelie set, or on a special Dragster Pak with the Mongoose Rail Dragster. This model was never sold individually and was manufactured only in the United States in only White enamel.

This view shows the wheelie bar in the raised position and clear laced front wheels.



The model also features a metal, black painted stabilizer in the back with small, clear wheels. When the stabilizer is folded into the model, it performs a wheelie. With the stabilizer down, the model rolls on all four wheels.



The Dragster was issued with a small square blue paper sticker in front of the cockpit which had "Don Prudhomme" and "Snake I" printed in blue. It had a wrap-around sticker for the body with the Hot Wheels logo in red, and "Don Prudhomme" and "Snake I" printed in yellow.



This shot shows clear front wheels.



Don "Snake" Prudhomme and Tom "Mongoose" McEwen, a most popular rivalry, especially considering they were good friends.