1982 Hot Wheels The Hot Ones Hot Bird Hong Kong-Cast

The Hot Wheels Hot Bird, based on the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with a t-top, was first released in 1978 and is still going strong with over 5 dozen different variations having been produced. I found this playworn Hong Kong casting of the 1982 The Hot Ones release at an estate sale back in April.

Other variations of the Hot Wheels Hot Bird in my collection include the black blackwall version from 1978 and the blue blackwall version from 1980, as well as the Malaysia-cast 1982 variation from the Hot Ones series. It’s probably safe to say that one of the nicer Hot Wheels in my entire collection is the Hot Bird from the 1979 Golden Machines 6-Pack. And then there’s my example of the Captain America Hot Bird, also from 1979.

Hot Wheels | 1982 The Hot Ones | 2014 | Hot Bird | black with orange and yellow trim, blue tint windows, tan interior, unpainted metal base | Hong Kong | gold Hot Ones wheels

Click here to see photos and links to all of the 1982 Hot Wheels in my collection.

1983 Hot Wheels Hot Ones ’80s Corvette

The fourth generation Chevrolet Corvette was produced from 1984 to 1996. It was the first complete redesign of the Corvette since 1963, and though production was intended to begin in 1983, only a handful of prototypes were made due to quality issues and parts delays. New features included all-aluminum suspension and aluminum brake calipers, a one-piece Targa top with no center reinforcement, and an electronic dashboard with LCD speedometer and tach. The C4 was powered by the 350 cu. in. L83 V8 and was initially available with a new 4+3 transmission (a 4-speed manual with automatic overdrive on the top three gears.) This is not my personal favorite Corvette, but the Hot Wheels version is a pretty fun model.

The Hot Wheels ’80s Corvette was first released in 1983 and was produced in about 11 different variations up to 1989. In 1990, it was retooled to have a non-opening hood and approximately another 29 different variations have been made so far. This metalflake gray example from the Hot Ones series is one of three variations from the first year of release and is another of my Wichita eBay scores.

This is the first example of this casting that I’ve added to my collection. Click here to compare to my Majorette Chevrolet Corvette.

The Targa top of the Hot Wheels ’80s Corvette is a painted part of the clear windshield. The model also features a hood that opens to reveal the engine cast into the metal base.

The ’80s Corvette has a two-tone interior and includes an overnight bag stowed in the back.

Hot Wheels | 1983 Hot Ones | 3928 | ‘80s Corvette | metalflake gray with black roof, clear windows, red and tan plastic interior, opening hood, unpainted metal engine, metalflake gray base | Hong Kong | gold Hot Ones wheels

Click here to see photos and links to all of the 1983 Hot Wheels in my collection.

1985 Hot Wheels The Hot Ones Pontiac Fiero 2M4 Malaysia Cast

The Pontiac Fiero, which featured composite panels and hidden headlamps, was the first mid-engine sports car mass-produced by a U.S. manufacturer. It was built by GM for the 1984-1988 model years. Initially powered by a 2.5 L inline 4-cylinder (and later the 2.8 L V6), the Fiero was on Car and Driver‘s Ten Best list and was also named the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500 in 1984.

The Hot Wheels Pontiac Fiero 2M4 made its debut in the 1985 Hot Wheels The Hot Ones series. It has been produced in about 27 variations up to as recently as 2013. This Malaysia-cast version of the 1985 first release is another of my finds in Lamont’s Childhood Collection.

I now have quite a few examples of the Hot Wheels Pontiac Fiero 2M4 in my collection, including a Hong Kong casting from 1985, the 1987 red, white and blue version, a black variation of the Collector #114 from 1991, the green with gold glitter Hot Ones example from 1992, as well as the green with gold glitter Ultra Hots version, also from 1992.

Hot Wheels | 1985 Hot Ones | 7527 | Pontiac Fiero 2M4 | white with red, yellow and black trim, clear windows, black interior, black metal base | Malaysia | gold Hot Ones wheels

1982 Hot Wheels Science Friction and Spacer Racer

Many of the cars that I picked up in Lamont’s Childhood Collection are in poor shape. But these two space-themed Hot Wheels from the early 1980s are models that I don’t yet have in my collection.

The Hot Wheels Science Friction is a Larry Wood-designed unlicensed casting that was first released in the 1978 Classy Customs series and was produced in about 10 different variations up to the 1993 Tattoo Machines (renamed Lightning Storm). This example, from the 1982 Hot Wheels Hot Ones series, has bent guns and radar dish, broken exhaust pipes, worn paint, and is almost entirely missing the yellow, black and red Space Cop tampo.

Click here to see the 1978 Science Friction in my collection, which wore the same paint and tampo, but with blackwalls. I also have another gold Hot Ones variation of Science Friction, the magenta model from 1982.

Hot Wheels | 1982 Hot Ones | 2018 | Science Friction | white with missing “Space Cop” trim, chrome windows and engine, orange plastic radar, light and guns, unpainted metal base | Hong Kong | gold Hot Ones wheels

The Hot Wheels Spacer Racer – another Larry Wood-designed unlicensed casting – was first released in the 1979 Classy Customs series and was produced in about 6 different variations up to 1987. The perfect vehicle for all of your outer-space firefighting needs, this example of the Spacer Racer is from 1982 and is, unfortunately, missing the plastic hose nozzle which mounts on top.

Click here to see the 1979 first-casting of Spacer Racer, which has the same tampo but with red enamel paint.

Hot Wheels | 1982 | 2503 | Spacer Racer | metalflake red with yellow, white, black trim, chrome windows, yellow interior, missing ray gun, chrome plastic base | Malaysia | blackwalls

Click here to see photos and links to all of the 1982 Hot Wheels in my collection.

1989 Hot Wheels Park ‘n Plates ’57 Chevy

The Hot Wheels ’57 Chevy was first released in 1977 and is still going strong with more than 50 variations. A casting variation with an exposed engine was released in 1984 and just under 100 variations of it have been produced. This metalflake red version with black, white and yellow tampo and gold Hot Ones wheels is from the 1989 Park ‘n Plates series. It’s another of my finds from a visit to the Paramount East antique mall during the December holiday break.

Other exposed-engine Hot Wheels ’57 Chevys in my collection include the 1984 first-release, one from the 1992 Classic Collection 5-Pack, and the teal Collector #213 from 1994.

Hot Wheels | 1989 Park ‘n Plates | 2178 | ’57 Chevy (exposed engine) | metalflake dark red with black, white and yellow stripes, yellow tint windows and interior, chrome plastic base | Malaysia | gold Hot Ones wheels

1982 Hot Wheels P-911 Malaysia-cast

The Hot Wheels P-911 was first released in 1975. This popular casting of the iconic Porsche was produced in about three dozen variations up until the 2001 Final Run series. There are a few different variations of the 1982 black model with white, yellow and red 95 tampo; it can be found with blackwalls, gold blackwalls or gold Hot Ones wheels – as well as variations cast in either Hong Kong or Malaysia. I already have the Hong Kong-cast gold Hot Ones version and a Malaysia-cast blackwall variation. Recently I added this very clean Malaysia-cast gold Hot Ones variation, which is another of my Wichita eBay scores.

Other examples of the Hot Wheels P-911 in my collection include an example from the 1977 Super Chromes series, a white model from 1980 and, the Ziploc promo from 1989.

Hot Wheels | 1982 | 7648 | P-911 | black with white, yellow and red trim | Malaysia | gold Hot Ones wheels

Click here to see photos and links to all of the 1982 Hot Wheels in my collection.

1984 Hot Wheels The Hot Ones Thunderbird Stocker

Yes, this car is in rough shape. I wouldn’t have paid money for it on its own; it’s one of the cars from one of the baggies that I picked up during my Black Friday stop at the Paramount Marketplace. But in decent condition, the first release of the Hot Wheels Thunderbird Stocker (from the 1984 The Hot Ones series and wearing Valvoline Racing livery) is a good value. And I don’t have another example in my collection. So, for now, this will have to do.

After that first year, the name of this casting was changed – first to Thunderburner (click here to see a Color Racers version from 1988) and later to Velocitor – and it was released in about 19 different variations. The most recent version from the 2013 Retro Entertainment series was called T-Bird Stocker.

Hot Wheels | 1984 The Hot Ones | 5900 | Thunderbird Stocker | white and dark blue with red, blue and dark blue trim, clear windows, black plastic interior, unpainted metal base | Hong Kong | gold Hot Ones

1983 Hot Wheels The Hot Ones ’80s Firebird Variations

The Hot Wheels ’80s Firebird, based on the real-life third-generation (1982-1992) Pontiac, made its debut in the 1983 The Hot Ones series and can be found in 30 different variations up to 1998. This red, Malaysia-cast model wearing gold Hot Ones wheels from that first year of release is another of my baggie keepers from my Black Friday trip to the Paramount Marketplace. Unfortunately, it’s missing most of the yellow firebird tampo on the hood.

Hot Wheels | 1983 Hot Ones | 3918 | ‘80s Firebird | red with (mostly missing) yellow firebird on hood, tan interior, black plastic base | Malaysia | gold Hot Ones Wheels

A little later on, I scored a slightly better example (at least it has most of the yellow firebird on the hood) through my Wichita eBay friend. It has the same wheels, paint and tampo as the above version, but was cast in Hong Kong.

Hot Wheels | 1983 Hot Ones | 3918 | ‘80s Firebird | red with yellow firebird on hood, tan interior, black plastic base | Hong Kong | gold Hot Ones wheels

Other examples of the Hot Wheels ’80s Firebird in my collection include a black Firebird Formula from 1988 and a colorful variation from 1992.

Click here to see photos and links to all of the 1983 Hot Wheels in my collection.

1983 Hot Wheels Datsun 200SX

The Nissan Silvia was a series of sport coupes based on the Nissan S platform. In the U.S., they were marketed as the Datsun 200SX and produced in three generations from 1975 through 1989. The Hot Wheels casting represents the second-generation 2-door coupe.

The Hot Wheels Datsun 200SX was introduced in 1982 and was only produced in about 7 different variations up to 1985. This nice metalflake gold example from the 1983 Hot Ones series is another of my Wichita eBay scores.

The only other Hot Wheels Datsun 200SX in my collection is the white, Malaysia-cast model from 1982.

The Hot Wheels Datsun 200SX features a hood that opens to reveal the inline 4-cylinder engine. Also notice the headlights that are part of the unpainted metal base and the 5 mph bumpers that are molded with the black plastic interior.

Hot Wheels | 1983 Hot Ones | 3255 | Datsun 200SX | metalflake gold with orange, dark red and yellow trim | MY | gold ho

Click here to find links and photos of all of the 1983 Hot Wheels in my collection.

1985 Hot Wheels The Hot Ones Pontiac Fiero 2M4

The Hot Wheels Pontiac Fiero 2M4 made its debut in the 1985 Hot Wheels The Hot Ones series. It has been produced in about 27 variations up to as recently as 2013. This example from R&S Resale is the Hong Kong-cast 1985 first release (it was also cast in Malaysia with identical paint and tampo.)

Other Hot Wheels Pontiac Fiero 2M4s in my collection include the 1987 red, white and blue version and a green and gold glitter variation from 1992.

Hot Wheels | 1985 The Hot Ones | 7527 | Pontiac Fiero 2M4 | white with red, yellow and black trim | HK | gho