Old Hot Wheels

[a_contemplative_life]

My brother and I were texting about our childhood the other night and the topic turned to slot cars and Hot Wheels. Back in '04 when we had to clean out our childhood home, I saved all of our old Hot Wheels cars because I figured my kids might be interested in them. Now that they've all matured beyond adolescence, these things have returned to a quiet life on a basement shelf, augmented by an armada of new Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars. But the exchange with my brother got me to thinking about them, so I decided to haul them out and see what I really had. I went on-line and discovered there is a whole network/industry built up around collecting, restoring, and buying/selling these things. If you had possessed the foresight to buy some back in '68 and set them aside, you could make yourself a nice little profit! Now I'm thinking maybe I'll tear some of these apart and fix 'em up. Or maybe buy some more to round out a set from 1968. Why? I have no idea, to tell the truth.

So anyway, thought I'd share some pics of my old beat-up, "heavily played with" Hot Wheels from 1968 to 1976 in case they bring back memories of my fellow forum dwellers, who might have some Hot Wheels stories of their own to share...

Alive '55 (1969)


Ferrari 312P (1969) Pretty sure I painted this thing silver when I was a kid.


Formula P.A.C.K. (1973) Does anyone know what "PACK" means? I have no idea.


Funny Money (1970) Always thought this little purple truck was cool.


Heavy Chevy (1969) This is actually my brother's car. I always lusted after it, but he would never sell or trade it for anything. If it were in mint condition, it would be worth a small fortune.


Mongoose Funny Car (1969) Another terrible repaint? I can't remember.


Neet Streeter (1976)


Paddy Wagon (1969) I always loved this thing because it had so much character. Obviously it needs some help.


Pit Crew (1971)


Shelby Turbine (1969) In the best shape, probably because no one liked it very much.


Street Rodder (1975)


The Hood (1971)

[dongregg]

Kool, Daddy-o.

[gkmoberg1]

Got a good collection!

My brother and I went through a bunch of these as well. I have no idea where any of them would be. Yet I certain they'd be beyond saving; we really played hard with them.

[a_contemplative_life]

We had a bunch of HO-scale train buildings which we'd set up on the floor. Get the Hot Wheels & matchboxes out and we were occupied for hours.

[a_contemplative_life]

I ordered some new Hot Wheels to augment my collection, thought I'd share.

Beatnik Bandit


Silhouette


Chill Mill


Olds 442 (Johnny Lightning)


Haulinator


'17 Pagani Huayra Roadster


Futurismo


Speed Slayer


Jet Sweep


Hi-Roller


'67 Pontiac Firebird 400


Rogue Hog


Super Comp Dragster


Shadow Jet


The Demon


'77 Plymouth Arrow Funny Car


Surf 'n Turf


Mig Rig


'62 Chevy Bel Air (Johnny Lightning)


Double Vision


Torpedo Jones


Custom VW Beetle


Astro Funk


'32 Ford Delivery


No Fear Race Car


Super Blitzen

[ltroifanatic]

Great collection.The new ones look really cool.I was more of a Matchbox boy but was always jealous of my cousin because he collected Hot Wheels and they had better and faster wheels.I had a Thunderbirds 2 that I went on many space adventures in.

[dongregg]

Wuh! What an awesome collection!

[a_contemplative_life]

If Eli and Oskar ever invade my house, I will distract them with my collection and sneak out the back!

[Wolfchild]

Mongoose Funny Car (1969) Another terrible repaint? I can't remember.

Doesn't the whole metal shell tilt up from the plastic body underneath? I remember that I had a set of the "The Mongoose" and a blue car, "The Snake". "The Mongoose" was Tom McEwen and "The Snake" was his rival, Don Prudhome, both famous drag racers in the 70's. Hot Wheels capitalized on their rivalry with the set that I had. My brother and I both followed NHRA drag racing into early adulthood, and maybe it all started with those Hot Wheels.

On a side note, I found out that originally it was Don Prudhomme who was called The Snake. Then as the rivalry with Tom McEwen took shape, McEwen acquired the nickname The Mongoose. The NHRA put out the family-friendly story that Don Prudhomme was called The Snake because he was so fast off the line. The real story was that his nickname had absolutely nothing to do with motor sports.

[a_contemplative_life]

These are the cars you make by thinking of (reissues of the '60's originals).





There were other Mongoose/Snake sets that were rail dragsters