TEXAS TOY MAN

Hot Wheels Rodger Dodger Redline 1974

 

 

 

 

 

The Rodger Dodger Concept Hot Wheel was first produced by Mattel in 1974 and was manufactured in Hong Kong. Due to its racy look, the Rodger Dodger Hot Wheel quickly became a demand car in the collector diecast market, and as such has been in production since 1974 to the present.

The Rodger Dodger came in many different versions, i.e., color of the car, wheel types, tampos – but the one thing that did not change was the large exposed engine which was the trademark of the Rodger Dodger.

The version pictured here is unique because of a mistake made to the colors of the flames. The flames on the right side of the hood are painted grey instead of the original yellow color that were supposed to be in the flames. So you have a car that has one side yellow; the other side is grey.

The Rodger Dodger pictured here has the following features:

Plum in color

Orange and yellow flames on the roof left side; grey flames on the right side

Exposed metal engine

Black plastic interior

Blue tinted windshield

(RSW) Redlines

Hong Kong embossed on the bottom of the chrome metal chassis

 

To me this is one of the best cars that Mattel designed and produced for the collector market. There are so many versions, each being very unique, so that the collector had many opportunities to have and own a cool Hot Wheel.

Hot Wheels- Dune Daddy Redline

 

This 1975 Dune Daddy Hot Wheel by Mattel was produced in 1975. It was based on and copied the original car designed by Tom Daniel. Mr. Daniel’s concept car was named the ‘Sand Crab’.

Mattel also issued the Dune Daddy (6967) in 1973 and there was a similar casting of this car (6403 – Sand Crab) in 1970. Mattel produced the Dune Daddy in a variety of colors including: dark blue, fluorescent lime green, fluorescent pink, dark green, lemon yellow, light blue, light green, plum, red, yellow, light green, orange, dark blue, and blue. Some of the colors (light green, orange, dark blue and blue) came with tampos in different colors.

• The Dune Daddy picture above has the following manufactured features:

 

Green in color

 

Green, orange and blue flower tampos on hood

 

Redline (RSW) tires

 

Blue tinted windshield

 

Metal chassis and roll bar

 

Black plastic interior

 

Made in Hong Kong

 

Produced in 1975

 

Rear engine exhaust exposed

 

Small front wheels

 

Medium rear wheels

 

With most Hot Wheels, there have been many versions and variations manufactured over the years for the collector, allowing them to seek out their favorite version. When collecting – remember always try to buy mint in the package whenever you’re purchasing Hot Wheels or any other collectible item for that matter.

 

Hot Wheels: State Police Cruiser, 1976

 

 

 

This Olds 442 Police Cruiser is the Hot Wheel ‘muscle-car’ model that had the hood cast shut and the plastic roof in the color light blue. As an interesting sideline, Mattel also produced some similar castings including the Olds 442 in 1971; Chief’s Special in 1975; Maxi Taxi in 1976, and Army Staff Car in 1976.

 

The version pictured here also comes with the yellow and black ‘State Police’ tampo on both doors. There were two other variations of the ‘Police Cruiser 6963′ that came with an opening engine cover, stickers on the side with ‘Police’ (instead of State Police), and red plastic light on top.

 

Note: The ‘State Police’ car models (not pictured) produced in 1973 by Hot Wheel had stickers instead of tampos and was one (1) of only three (3) cars Mattel ever produced with stickers. And if you’re wondering what those other two (2) cars were…. they were the Snake and Mongoose.

 

This 1976 Hot Wheel State Police Cruiser has the following features:

 

• RSW-Redline tires
• The number 12 on both front fenders
• ‘State Police Law Enforcement’ tampo on both doors
• White in color
• Blue plastic roof light
• Blue tinted windshield
• Radar printed on both rear fenders
• Two cast roof-top sirens
• Small front redline tires
• Medium rear redline tires
• Made in Hong Kong
• Plastic chrome chassis
• Cast shut hood
• Black plastic interior

 

As stated, if collecting the Olds 442 style cars, your collection will include not only these three (3) state police cars, but also the others we mentioned above … the Olds 442-BW, Chief’s Special-RSW, Maxi-Taxi-RSW and Army Staff Car-RSW.