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.

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.

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

1982 Hot Wheels The Hot Ones Mercedes 380 SEL

The Hot Wheels Mercedes 380 SEL was first released in the 1982 The Hot Ones series and has been produced in about 33 different variations up until it was included in the 1999 Final Run series. This metalflake silver model with gold Hot Ones is one of three variations (it was also found with gray paint and gold Hot Ones, or with metalflake silver paint and blackwalls) from that first year of release. It is another one of my R&S Resale finds.

The only other example of the Hot Wheels Mercedes 380 SEL that I have in my collection is the glittery Collector #229 from 1993.

Hot Wheels | 1982 Hot Ones | 3261 | Mercedes 380 SEL | metalflake silver | HK | gho

Click here to see photos and links to my entire collection of 1982 Hot Wheels.

1982 Front Runnin’ Fairmont

This Hot Wheels Front Runnin’ Fairmont from 1982 was the bonus car that I picked up with the Maxi Taxi on eBay. Though I would say the Fairmont is another example of the really bad car design that was prevalent in the late 70s and early 80s, I do like it much better as a Hot Wheels model. The colors and design of the racing deco matched with those gold Hot Ones wheels – it almost makes me want to journey back to 1982. The real Fairmont was short-lived, being replaced in 1983 by the even uglier Ford Tempo. Similarly, there are only about 5 variations of this Hot Wheels casting, including another racing stocker, the Race Ace, that was released in 1986.

1982 | 3257 | Front Runnin’ Fairmont | red with white, yellow, orange and black, tampo | Hong Kong | gho

The Hot Ones: 1982 Torino Stocker and 1984 ’57 Chevy

In 1981 Hot Wheels introduced a new line of cars that they described as the “fastest non-powered metal cars”.  “The Hot Ones” featured a new 6-spoked gold wheel and a thinner axle and the popular series continued until 1986. Though The Hot Ones series was brought back in 2011 and 2012, these are two 1980s originals that I picked up on eBay from the same seller.

The Torino Stocker was first cast in 1975 wearing red paint and the number 23. There is also a version from 1979 that wears the same black paint and tampo as this one, but with blackwalls at the corners. This one is from 1982.

1982 | 7647 | Torino Stocker | black w/ white, yellow, orange trim | HK | gho

The ’57 Chevy was originally released in 1977 and has made dozens of reappearances over the years. This yellow version is from the 1984 The Hot Ones series.

1984 | 9638 | ’57 Chevy | yellow with red and white trim | MY | gho

Other Hot Ones that I have in my collection are the Racing Stocker, Science Friction and, of course, the Hot Bird.