TEXAS TOY MAN

Hot Wheels – ‘The Demon’ by Mattel

This Hot Wheel Redline – ‘The Demon’ – was produced by Mattel from 1970-71. It was based on the original show car ‘Lil Coffin’ . The original car was a ’32 Ford Sedan and when finished was painted an ‘Apple Red’. To read more about the original ‘Lil Coffin’ visit this link.

Mattel’s ‘Demon’ came in varying combinations of colors. The car produced during the 1970-71 period came in 10 different metallic colors: Aqua, Blue, Brown, Green, Lt. Green, Olive, Orange, Purple, Red, and Yellow. In addition to the 10 different body colors, the car also was produced with two (2) different interior colors: Black and White. While the black interior is the more common version, if you are lucky enough to have – or find – one with a white interior, you can expect to have the value of the car double.

Our ‘Demon’ feature here has the following features:

• Produced 1970-71
• Metal chassis
• Blue tinted windshield
• Redline tires (RSW)
• Black interior (plastic)
• Made in Hong Kong
• Black roof (painted)
• Exposed engine
• Metallic Aqua color

Mattel has often based their Hot Wheels on ‘real’ cars driven by ‘real’ people. If you would like to see some pictures of the Lil Coffin as it appeared at a car show in 2008, visit this link.

Red Porsche Turbo 930 Hot Wheel

The Porsche Turbo 930 was introduced to the US market by Mattel in 1991. This introduction included several different versions with the variations including color, tampos, wheels and both style and shade of the windshields.

The Porsche pictured in this post sported the following features:

• Red in color
• BW — basic wheels
• Turbo tempo on both sides
• Porsche 930 on both sides
• Tinted windshield (gray)
• Metal chassis
• Made in Malaysia
• Mattel Inc. 1989 and Hot Wheel trademark embossed on chassis
• Black plastic interior

Even with the ever-changing world we live in, the collecting of Hot Wheels continues to be one of the most active items in the collector market today.

If you are a beginner in collecting Hot Wheels, always remember to ‘buy mint in the package’ whenever possible – new or old. Your interestment with an eye to future value is – and will be – based on condition of your collection.

Tip: Never store your Hot Wheels collection in a place where it can be subjected to high heat and humidity, ie., the attic in your home, garage or non-climate controlled storage building. Doing so will cause the blister packs to turn yellow and become brittle over time…. and you lose value.

Don “The Snake” Prudhomme’s Funny Car

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This U.S. Army sponsored “Funny Car” was manufactured by Hot Wheelsin 1978 – but only in Hong Kong. This car is called a ‘Funny Car’ because of its racing style. One of the more sought after Hot Wheels out there “The Snake” was produced in four different colors:

• White
• Red
• Black
• Blue

The tampos on the sides were printed with “Don ‘Snake’ Prudhomme”.   In addition, Army was also printed on the sides and hood . This Army “Funny Car” came with two different styles of tires. The front tires are basic wheels (bw); the rear tires – while also basic – are large basic wheels (blw).

Some other features you will find on the pictured car are listed below:

• Metal base
• Metal interior
• Lift up body
• Basic wheels front (bw)
• Rear wheels large basic (blw)
• White enamel paint
• Sides and hood tampo
• Made in Hong Kong

There were many versions of the “Funny Car” and having all of them would make a cool collection, if you are willing to take the time to look for them . . . and are able to  find all the different variations.

If you need a good Hot Wheels reference guide, I recommend Tomart’s Price Guide.

PS – For those that collect and enjoy vintage cap guns, I’ve just uploaded a price guide for vintage toy guns – regular-sized, miniatures and a few others that did fit those two categories.  You can check them out from this link – www.txantiquemall.com/toypriceguide.html – visit ‘Cap Guns – Regular’,  ‘Cap Guns – Miniatures’ and ’Cap Guns – Other’.  Thanks!