TEXAS TOY MAN

Toys of Yesterday and Today

Hot Wheels ‘57 Classic T-Bird 1969-Redline

 

This Classic Hot Wheels T-Bird was only manufactured in the USA and came in 18 different colors.  The color of this car is gold.

The ‘57  T-Bird was produced with the following features:

  • Lift- up hood to show engine
  • Engine was metal
  • Metal base
  • Plastic interior
  • Redlines wheels
  • Made in USA
  • Clear windows
  • Produced  in 1969
  • Cut-down windshield
  • Painted red tail lights

 The ‘57 classic T-Bird was one of the better modified original redlines.

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted 4 weeks ago at 8:24 pm.

Add a comment

Custom Fleetside El Camino 1968 – 1969 Redline!

Harry Bradley’s Custom El Camino was the first car he designed for Mattel. It was modeled after his own ‘custom truck’ which he drove to work every day.

This Custom Fleetside El Camino was produced in both the US and Hong Kong. The US version can easily be identified by the mold mark on the black plastic bed cover. Another identifying mark is the very small steering wheel. Below you will find some more design features:

  • Produced in 11 different colors
  • Metal chassis
  • Plastic interior
  • Black roof
  • Black plastic cover on the truck
  • Horizontal taillights (US only)
  • Carburetor pipes extending out of hood
  • Mold mark on truck bed cover (US only)
  • Small steering wheel (US only)
  • Raised dashboard (US only)
  • Redline wheels

This was one of the original ‘redline’ Hot Wheel cars produced by Mattel and still remains a hot collectible today.

If you are looking for a good Hot Wheels book I recommend Tomart’s Price Guide to Hot Wheels. This is my favorite guide book for identifying Hot Wheels.

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted 1 month, 3 weeks ago at 9:24 pm.

Add a comment

Hot Wheels – Mustang Boss Hoss ‘302′ Redline

BOSSThe ‘Boss Hoss’ is a customized chrome Ford Mustang produced by Hot Wheels in both 1970 and 1971. 

The ‘Boss Hoss’ was one of the three models given away with the ‘Hot Wheel Club Kit’.  Unlike other Club Kit cars that were issued,  the Boss Hoss was issued a year earlier than the regular line car.    The complete Club Kit is very hard to find and as such is becoming quite pricey.

This customized Mustang 302 came with the following:

  • Metal base
  • Blue windshield
  • Louvered rear window
  • Brown plastic interior
  • Two black stripes on the back and top
  • RSW (Red stripe wheels)
  • Made in Hong Kong

For additional information on this and other Hot Wheels – I recommend Tomart’s Price Guide to Hot Wheels (see  left side bar for link to Amazon)

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted 3 months ago at 8:40 pm.

Add a comment

Hot Wheels Maserati Mistral

 maserati mistral

 

The Maserati Mistral manufactured in Hong Kong was issued in 1969.

Maserati came with the following:

  • Redline wheels
  • Lift up hood
  • Metal base and engine
  • Blue windshield
  • Sometimes with painted with black roof **

**The black roof models are valued at a higher price, due to the limited amount originally issued.

The Maserati came in nine different colors. Each color also came in a variation with a black roof. In both cases, the interior was made of plastic.

1.  Aqua

2.  Blue

3.  Light Brown

4.  Dark Brown

5.  Green

6.  Olive

7.  Orange

8.  Purple

9.  Red

If you’re looking for current values, I recommend “Tomart’s Price Guide to Hot Wheels” (available in the left sidebar).

I welcome your comments and for more information on Hot Wheels you can visit my site at www.TexasAntiqueMall.com

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted 3 months, 3 weeks ago at 3:54 pm.

Add a comment

The $500 Wheel- HOT WHEELS GMC Motor Home

gmcmotorhome

If you thought wheels for your car were expensive – you should look up the Hot Wheels GMC Motor Home #9645 in your nearest Tomart’s Price Guide to Hot Wheels: Volume 1: 1968 – 1996  This seemingly common vehicle produced by Mattel in 1977 could be a real find IF you find one with RSW (red line wheels) and the seller doesn’t know that the wheels make all the difference.

The orange ‘Palm Beach’ version of the GMC Motor Home with RSW is listed at $500.00. But, if it has the more common Basic Wheel, you can pick one up for around $10.00. The ‘Palm Beach’ variation in the orange color also comes with:

1.  Blue tinted windshield

2.  Metal chassis

3.  Manufactured in Hong Kong (only)

If you are lucky enough to find one of these ‘Palm Beach’ Hot Wheels with RSW, be very careful and check the wheels. Make sure they have not been ‘added on’ to increase the value of what would ordinarily be a common find.

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted 4 months, 1 week ago at 9:40 pm.

Add a comment

Python or Cheetah? 1968 Hot Wheels

python

The original Hot Wheel model called the Cheetah was changed to Python of which only three Cheetah models are known to exist.

The Python car was based on the “Carcraft Magazine Dream Car” designed by Bill Cushenberry. The Python had a medal chassis, exposed metal engine, plastic interior and black metal roof. It was issued in a variety of colors and came with redline wheels. The cars manufactured in Hong Kong had no dashboard and also came with a smaller rear window and larger steering wheel than the cars manufactured in the US. The Hong Kong version also supported the open supercharged engine that sat on the chassis. The body hung over the front and rear chassis as well.

The US version had a small dashboard, small steering wheel, small front grill and the engine sat on the body casting. Note: The body hung over the front chassis – not in the rear.

If you have any additional information on the Hot Wheel Python, please leave me a comment so I can update my data.

If you’re looking for values of Hot Wheels I would recommend Tomart’s Hot Wheels price guide and if you like vintage toys you might check out my site Texas Antique Mall.com.

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted 5 months ago at 3:06 pm.

1 comment

Hot Wheels “Twinmill” 1969

 

 twinmill

 

Some say that the Twinmill Number 6258 was the first concept car produced. This twin-engine car was designed by Ira Gilford.  His design had two engines  -”chrome plastic”, metal chassis, clear plastic windows and rsw tires.

This production was only manufactured in the United States and came in 16 different colors.  Because they were very so many different color variations of the Twinmill, the value varies greatly.  If you are looking for a value, you will most likely have to get a value out of a good Hot Wheel price guide -Tomart’s Price Guide to Hot Wheels: Volume 1: 1968 – 1996

If you have any questions about Hotwheels or vintage toy please leave a comment and I will answer you with my best opinion. For more on toys please go to my site at www.Texasantiquemall.com and go to David Hot Wheels.

 

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted 5 months, 2 weeks ago at 7:46 pm.

Add a comment

Hot Wheels ‘Moon Ghost’ Sizzler 1978-79

moon ghost
This particular Sizzler was based on the Porsche 924. This car was manufactured in Hong Kong in only 1 color -white- as a Redline. In my opinion, it would have an estimated value of $85-150 in today’s market.

As promised, here is some information on the restoration of old Sizzlers. This was originally in the ‘Hot Wheels Newsletter’ published by Mike Strass, Volume II, Issue 3, Sept-Nov, 1997.

“How to Fix a Sizzler” by Bryan Flood
Important! Make sure you wear glasses and gloves when working with Sizzlers. Battery acid could harm you, wash hands often. Do not use sink. You need a sharp knife or small blade screw driver, plastic buckets or 1 gallon milk tubs with the tops removed. This is definitely best done by adults only!

1. Carefully remove excess plastic holding car together with a sharp knife or screwdriver.

2. Separate chassis from body. Be very careful because car is plastic and could break if you use too much force.
3. Using the knife or screwdriver, remove battery (some batteries are soldered on chassis tab., these need to be cut or de-soldered).
4. Place battery in cold water mixed with baking soda in rinse tub.
5. Remove motor for cleaning.
6. Use Tarn-X brand cleaner to clean chassis. Let it sit in plastic container for 10 minutes then rinse. All work and cleaning should be done in plastic buckets or 1 gallon milk jugs with tops removed.
7. Place motor in Tarn-X for 10 seconds, rinse in cold water, then spray with contact cleaner (you can find it at Radio Shack).
8. When done, dry and dip chassis in olive oil, which will preserve the metal and give the plastic a nice shine, then let it air dry.
9. Use mild detergent to clean body.
10. Put back together, you will probably need a new battery if you want to runt he car. Sizzlers use a Sanyo #N-11AA short battery or for long chassis they use Sanyo #N-50AAA. Shorter length batteries should be good for 50 laps on a Big O track.
Althoug a little dated, this information is very accurate and well worth reading.
  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted 5 months, 3 weeks ago at 10:46 pm.

Add a comment

Hot Wheels American Victory Redline!

americanv2

FYI:

The American Victory was one of the 23 Hot Wheels offered by Mattel in the year-1975.

This unique Hot Wheel – manufactured in Hong Kong – was based on an acutal racer owned by Mr. McLaren. His racer was known as the American Victory. Mattel’s American Victory Hot Wheel model was light blue in color, had Redline tires, a red and white tempo of stars and a number ‘9′ on both sides. Mattel also produced this diecast car with basic wheels.

In my opinion, this AV Hot Wheel in todays market would have a value in the range of $75 – 120 if in Excellent condition. For more pictures and information, visit me at David’s Hot Wheels.

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted 6 months, 1 week ago at 5:52 pm.

Add a comment

Hot Wheels Ice-T Redline

icetea1
FYI:
This Yellow Hot Wheels Ice-T was manufactured in Hong Kong and only produced during the period of 1971 – 1972 .

This uniquely designed Hot Wheel was the brain child of Tom Daniels. He derived his design for the Ice-T from a real show car that he had designed for Monogram.

While the Ice-T Hot Wheels of 1971-72 were only produced in yellow, Mattel did produce other Ice-T cars in 1973 that came in a variety of colors. The original Ice-T of the 1971-72 period all came with a low plastic roof and with the words Ice-T embossed on both sides of the roof. In the rear seat area it had two plastic ice blocks. It also had an exposed metal engine and a black plastic interior. The tires were redlines (RSW).

In my opinion, the value of the original Hot Wheel Ice-T car will be in the range of $150-$200 – if in excelent condition.

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted 6 months, 2 weeks ago at 7:45 pm.

Add a comment