January 16, 2019 by marcboz

1978 Hot Wheels

This page lists all of the 1978 Hot Wheels, with a photo of each one that I have in my collection. The name of each car that I have links to a page with more information and photos. As I acquire the remaining cars in the list, I will add photos and links to this page.

NEW CASTINGS

1978 | 2012 | Jaguar XJS | gray with yellow, red & black trim, | HK | bs

1978 | 2013 | ’57 T-Bird | white with red, blue & black trim, round rear side windows | HK | bs

1978 | 2013 | ’57 T-Bird | yellow with red, blue & black trim, round rear side windows | HK | bs

1978 | 2014 | Hot Bird | black with yellow & red trim | HK | bs

1978 | 2015 | Packin’ Pacer | yellow with red, purple and blue trim | HK | bs

1978 | 2016 | A-OK | light green w/olive fenders, “Early Times” trim | HK | bs

1978 | 2017 | Lickety Six | dark blue | HK | bs

1978 | 2018 | Science Friction | white w/ “Space Cop” trim | HK | bs

1978 | 2019 | Highway Patrol | white with “Highway Patrol on sides, “12” on sides | HK | bs

1978 | 2019 | Highway Patrol | white with “Highway Patrol on sides, “12” on sides and top | HK | bs

1978 | 2020 | Stagefright | brown | MY | bs

1978 | 2021 | Race Bait 308 | red, yellow white & blue trim | MY | bs

1978 | 2022 | Baja Breaker | gray with yellow, red & blue trim | HK | bs

1978 | 2023 | Army Funny Car | white w/red & blue trim | HK | bs

REPAINTS AND BASE CHANGES

1978 | 7662 | American Victory | magenta with orange & yellow trim | HK | bs

1978 | 8235 | Jet Threat II | blue with orange & yellow trim | HK | bs

1978 | 9638 | ‘57 Chevy | black with white & yellow trim | HK | bs

1978 | 9647 | ’56 Hi-Tail Hauler | orange with yellow & blue trim, black motorcycles | HK | bs

1978 Oldies But Goodies | 9649 | ‘31 Doozie | orange with tan top, light brown fenders | HK | bs

RESCUE TEAM

1978 | 7650 | Emergency Squad | red with white & yellow trim, blue plastic insert | HK | bs (Could also be found in the 1977 Flying Colors series)

1978 | 7661 | Paramedic | yellow with red & white trim, metal base | HK | bs (Could also be found in the 1977 Flying Colors series)

1978 | 7665 | Chief’s Special | red with white & yellow trim | HK | bs (Could also be found in the 1977 Flying Colors series)

1978 | 9640 | Fire Eater | red, black & yellow trim, blue hose bed, no holes in base | MY | bs (Could also be found in the 1977 Flying Colors series)

Reunited 1966 Matchbox Boat and Trailer

After I found this Lesney Matchbox boat trailer recently at the Wichita Community Market, I went on a search for a boat to make it complete.

I did a similar thing a few years ago when I found a loose Lesney Matchbox Jennings cattle trailer, reuniting it with a Thames Trader cab to make the Major Pack 7.

I did a search on eBay and, sure enough, there were a couple of loose boats. I landed this model, in good shape but with just the right amount of residual grime to match the trailer.

I believe the dull blue boat paired with the black plastic wheels on the trailer makes this the earliest variation of the #9 Boat and Trailer, which was first released in 1966. In 1969, the trailer was given Superfast wheels, and there are about 13 versions of the Boat and Trailer, with differences in boat color and decoration, as well as trailer paint color and wheel type.

The next part of the project was to find a nice tow vehicle. My first thought was to find an old Lesney station wagon, but when I realized that my Lesney Matchbox Land Rover Safari had a tow hook, I decided I already had just what I needed.

January 14, 2019 by marcboz

1998 Hot Wheels 30th Anniversary Flea Market Finds

Through 2018, while I was enjoying finding the various special series celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hot Wheels, I also added to my collection of the 1998 Hot Wheels 30th Anniversary Series. For this series, Hot Wheels chose to reproduce one casting from each of the first 30 years, complete with the original card art. I found this most recent selection at one of my favorite booths at the Wichita Community Market.

The Hot Wheels ’65 Mustang Convertible was first cast in 1984 and makes a fine representative for that year in the 30th Anniversary series. I actually have one of the original release models, as well as a variation from 1991 and an identical version in a 5-pack from 1992.

By the way, if you were to find one of these loose, you could tell the difference between it and the original release by the tiny gold 30th Anniversary Hot Wheels logo stamped on it somewhere. On the Mustang, you can see it on the rear fender.

The ’32 Ford Delivery represents the year 1989. I only recently added one of these to my collection when I nabbed a Little Debbie promotional 3-pack on eBay.

Everyone loves the Hot Wheels Purple Passion and there have been around 100 variations released, but this 30th Anniversary replica of the 1990 first release is the first one I’ve added to my collection. I noticed that the whitewall stripe on the tire is narrower than the broad whitewall of the original.

Hot Wheels chose to represent 1995 with Hydroplane. After a decade and about 13 variations, Hydroplane was retired in the 2005 final run series.

Hot Wheels | 18884 | 1998 30th Anniversary | Hydroplane (1995) | metallic blue with Hot Wheels racing trim, gold 30th Anniv. logo on right front

To commemorate 1997, Hot Wheels brought back the Scorchin’ Scooter. In 1998 it was also found as a Treasure Hunt and the casting has since seen over 3 dozen variations.

December 24, 2018December 24, 2018 by marcboz

1985 Hot Wheels Super Cannon and Flea Market Finds

While making a run through the Wichita Community Market last month, I came across a shelf full of cars. Normally I would have passed on some of these, but the man at the booth was determined to make me a deal on the entire lot. We settled on $12 and he was even nice enough to find me some newspaper to wrap them in.

The cleanest of the bunch, with all of its plastic parts intact, is this Hot Wheels Super Cannon. The casting first appeared in 1982 as Megadestroyer 1 and Megadestroyer 2 – merchandising for the movie Megaforce. This model is the first variation of Super Cannon from 1985, with 5 variations to follow. In 1996 it became Enforcer, which is still going strong and can be found in about two dozen more variations.

With its black blackwalls, it makes a nice companion for my 1985 Hot Wheels Tank Gunner.

Hot Wheels | 1985 | 9373 | Super Cannon | olive with light green, brown and tan camouflage | MY | black bs

Earlier this year, I landed a Hot Wheels Malibu Gran Prix on eBay. This one is the identical version from 1982, except that it is even more playworn and was cast in Malaysia rather than Hong Kong.

Hot Wheels | 1982 | 9037 | Malibu Gran Prix | black with red, yellow and blue trim | MY | BW

Someday I’d like to have a nice example of an early blackwall Hot Wheels CAT Forklift in my collection, but this is not it. Although it is the 1981 variation with Cv80 cast into the sides, it is missing both its yellow plastic forks as well as the black plastic roll cage.

The only other Hot Wheels forklift I have in my collection is the Marcus Construction version from 2000 – though I do have a nice Matchbox forklift from my childhood collection.

Hot Wheels | 1981 Hot Wheels Workhorses | 1168 | CAT Forklift | yellow, no tampo, Cv80 in casting, missing plastic cage and forks | MY | bs

Another Hot Wheels casting I’m familiar with is the Rig Wrecker. I have a fun but playworn blackwall version from 1983 as well as the airship tug from my excellent 1994 Blimp & Support Team 5-Pack.

This particular 7-spoke Rig Wrecker is from the 1997 Hot Wheels Auto City 5-Pack, which would have included a Fire Eater, Sheriff Patrol, Mazda MX-5 Miata, and a Peterbilt Dump Truck.

Hot Wheels | 1997 Auto City 5-Pack | 3917 | Rig Wrecker | white with blue, red and yellow tampo, gray plastic tow hook | MY | 7sp

This next item is from the 1966 Matchbox #9 Boat and Trailer – minus the boat, obviously. As soon as I figured out what it was, I was determined to find it a mate. Stay tuned for an update on this soon.

I still have some Playart models from my childhood collection, but I rarely find them around these days. So I was a little surprised with the next three of the lot, which are all Playart. In fact, I have a version of this same fire engine, but on my childhood car, only the cab and base of the model are metal, with the back being red plastic with a chrome plastic insert and a white plastic ladder.

On this flea market version, both of the back parts are diecast, making the whole thing quite a bit heavier than my childhood car. It makes me wonder if the missing ladder would have been diecast as well. Also notice all three of these Playart models have the flower wheels, while some of my childhood Playarts had black wheels with a chrome plastic hub.

Playart | Fire Engine | red with broken windshield and missing ladder | flower wheels

This Playart Cement Mixer is missing the plastic mixer as well as the entire windshield.

Playart | Cement Mixer | orange and green with missing windshield and mixer | flower wheels

This Playart AEC Routemaster Double-Decker Bus is missing the upper level. This model could be found in a variety of liveries, including a Kentucky Fried Chicken version.

Playart | AEC Routemaster Double Decker Bus | red with missing top level | flower wheels

Another Playart model from my childhood is the Playart Kubelwagen. The only other Playart model I have is an orange Lamborghini Marzal.

This next item is the Zylmex Wheaties Van, which was a mail-in promotional. This custom Dodge van is missing a lot of its paint, its plastic grille, and most of the decorative decals.

Zylmex / Zee Toys | P342 | Wheaties Van (mail-in promo) | brown with missing plastic grille

I also have some Zylmex models from my childhood – a bunch of the M*A*S*H series. You can read more about Zylmex and see some of my other Zee Toys here.

And finally, this last item is a Summer Marauder Can AM Racer, also well-worn and missing its windshield and driver.

Summer | #S8008 | Marauder Can AM Racer | silver with blue, black and red trim, missing windshield and driver

You can see a few of my other Summer models here.

December 18, 2018 by marcboz

1975 Matchbox Cosmobile

Matchbox
1975, collectible, Cosmobile, die-cast, diecast, Superfast
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There is a current posting in another online forum about this car, the 1975 Matchbox Cosmobile, where it is described as a “horrible generic” and an “awful fantasy.” Even the originator of the post has to dig deep to “say something positive” when he admits that he likes the particular shade of blue paint.

I admit, when I was a kid, I preferred more realistic cars. But as I’ve gotten older, I find these fantasy castings really interesting. Put yourself in the designer’s shoes and imagine the challenge of creating a vehicle that’s really cutting edge for the time. Looking back at it now – 43 years later – even though the Cosmobile is obviously supposed to be some kind of futuristic vehicle, the awkward angularity may have only predicted the automotive design of the 1980s (think Chrysler’s K platform or the Toyota Celica Supra). It may not be a classic beauty, but I think it’s an awful lot of fun.

The Cosmobile could be found in upper body paint colors of metallic red, metallic avocado, and metallic blue, with differences in lower body, interior and window colors, creating a total of about 8 different variations. And, by the way, the lines also remind me a little bit of the Stretcha Fetcha from my childhood collection.

December 16, 2018December 17, 2018 by marcboz

1983 Hot Wheels ’31 Doozie

Hot Wheels
'31 Doozie, 1983, collectible, die-cast, diecast, Hot Wheels, whitewalls
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Out running errands on a Saturday back in November, I stopped at an estate sale in the neighborhood. Right away, I found this nice Hot Wheels ’31 Doozie among some other nicknacks on the pay table. I asked them to hold it for me as I looked around the rest of the sale. I enjoyed exploring the beautiful home full of antique furniture and art, and as I looked around I listened as the woman running the sale talked about the homeowner. She said he had been a WWII veteran and then joined the CIA after the war. She said the basement of the house was full of war memorabilia and other very interesting historical items that they were still trying to sort through. I didn’t find any more cars, but I am very happy with this find. And I’m fairly certain it’s the only model in my collection that was owned by a CIA man.

The Hot Wheels ’31 Doozie first came out in 1977, modeled after the 1931 Duesenberg dual-cowl phaeton. I have an early Doozie from my childhood as well as a maroon version from 1986. The casting can be found in about 18 different variations up until the Final Run series from 2003. My whitewall-wearing estate sale find is from the 1983 Extras Series.

Hot Wheels | 1983 Extras Series | #58 | ’31 Doozie | red with brown interior and fenders | MY | WW

December 15, 2018 by marcboz

2018 Hot Wheels Flames ’63 Chevy II

Hot Wheels
'63 Chevy II, Chevrolet, Chevy, collectible, die-cast, diecast, flames, Hot Wheels, HW Flames
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I think I spent most of 2018 looking for this Hot Wheels Flames version of the ’63 Chevy II, a casting which made its debut in 2016. Just before Halloween, I finally found mine at a relatively new (to Wichita) store called 4 Below (similar to a dollar store, with everything $4 or less). In fact they had a pair of them hanging in their small Hot Wheels section, so I was able to choose the cleanest card of the two.

I’m not a huge fan of the PR5 wheel, but the flame and paint combo is pretty sharp. I see there is also a black Kroger exclusive version with blue and yellow flames that looks even more striking, so I’ll be hunting for that one too. My favorite variation so far of the ’63 Chevy II is the 2017 Retro Series version that was a Target exclusive.

The Race Case

My die cast car collection.