TEXAS TOY MAN

The $500 Wheel- HOT WHEELS GMC Motor Home

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.

Python or Cheetah? 1968 Hot Wheels

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.

Hot Wheels “Twinmill” 1969

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.

Hot Wheels ‘Moon Ghost’ Sizzler 1978-79

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.

Hot Wheels American Victory Redline!

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.

Hot Wheels Ice-T Redline

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.

FYI: Hot Wheels Dump Truck Heavyweights

The Hot Wheels Hong Kong manufactured dump truck was the concept model designed by Ira Gilford.

The dump truck came with a medal chasis in either brown or orange. The lift up dump portion came in two colors – yellow and orange. The dump truck cab had blue tinted windows while the interior was plastic. The trucks were painted in 11 different colors – 10 metallic and 1 enamel. These colors were Metallic: aqua, blue, brown, gold, green, light green, orange, purple, red and yellow. The enamel was white.

The Hot Wheel Heavyweights tires were red striped wheels – better known as redlines.

These Hot Wheels Dump Truck Heavyweights were only produced from 1970 – 1972. In today’s market they would have a value of $45 – 65. The exception to this would be the white enamel dump truck which has a value that soars to $150-200.

Hot Wheels 1967 Custom Mustang Redline

My 1967 Custom Mustang was issued in 1968 and became the hottest sought after Hot Wheel in the market.

Look at what I found – Hot Wheels

Was searching for Hot Wheels this week and I came across a couple of sites that I would like to share with you. Many people are looking for an inexpensive hobby and in my opinion, HOt Wheels is the way to go.

While new Hot Wheels can be purchased at the store typically for under a dollar, Hot Wheels ‘Redlines’ are the most challenging to put in your collection and can be hard to find. And, there are those collectors out there that like to customize their cars. For more information on how some collectors ‘destroy’ to create visit East Volusia News.

For additional pictures of Hot Wheels, I found a good catalog site. Check out ToyCars Inv.

Let The Treasure Hunt Begin!

Don’t forget – with the beginning of the new year January, 2009 – Mattel began issuing the new Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt cars – like the ’55 Chevrolet.

2009 Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt 55′ Chevy « Just JDM 2009 Hot Wheels Super Treasure Hunt 55′ Chevy. Saturday, January 31, 2009 by realmz1. The Treasure Hunt series from Hot Wheels is getting way better. This Super Treasure Hunt 55 Chevy is on point! From the THICK white walls to the flame …