Kids do eventually grow up and make a home for themselves, but I have come to the conclusion that they never really “move out.” This revelation is nothing new, but it does reverberate with me each time I try to clear out some storage space in my closets. Thirty-six and on his own for the past 15 years, there are still a number of boxes stored at my home which my son has told me repeatedly not to pitch. Yet these things, which seem so near and dear to him, never seem to make it to his house.
Frustration gave way to curiosity during a recent peek into the closet in his old room, and I popped open a couple of boxes. Baseball cards, awards from various sports, his old scuba diving equipment and then the box that changed a work day into a play day — a plastic tub filled with vintage Hot Wheels.
British toy company Lesney Products started the small die cast car craze with the release of the first Matchbox car in 1953. By 1968 the company had standardized its Matchbox car models and sales were booming.
Aware of the success of Lesney’s toy cars, Elliott Handler, the co-founder of Mattel, decided to throw his hat in the ring with a line of American made scale model cars. Against the advice of the company’s board of directors, Handler released 16 castings in 1968. His line of “street rods,” featuring a dark blue custom Camaro, ushered in Mattel’s “red line” series and the beginning of the Muscle Car Era of Hot Wheels (1968-1977).
In 1968 Mattel released 24 new vehicles, including the “Show and Go” series that included the highly collectible Turbo Fire, Splittin’ Image, and Twin Mill. These car were designed at one time by Chrysler designer Ira Gilford, and are considered some of the finest Hot Wheels ever produced. By contrast, the British Matchbox cars were scale models of standard automobiles, but Mattel’s line of “tricked out” muscle cars exemplified the Southern California lifestyle and found favor with both child and adult collectors. By the end of 1969, Hot Wheels had solidified itself as the Number 1 manufacturer of toy cars in the United States.
“Go With the Winner” was the slogan for the 1970 release of 43 new designs. Larry Wood left Ford Motor Company to join Mattel and enhanced the line with a true Hot Wheels classic, the Tri-Baby. Paul Tam’s futuristic cars were a top seller, as were the Evil Weevil, Open Fire, and the rare Double Header.
The year 1971 saw the addition of the heavyweights line of work vehicles including The Scooper, S’Cool Bus, Fuel Tanker and the Waste Wagon. Tracks customized to fit only Hot Wheels cars topped the most popular Christmas toys list and the car doors opened to reveal realistic customized interiors.
A decline in sales in 1972-73 resulted in Mattel adding only ten new designs. Due to low sales, only a few of the molds were kept for reuse, making cars from these years harder to find and more valuable.
The introduction of Hot Wheels’ revolutionary Flying Colors Line (1974-75) with it’s Tampo-printed designs and flashy decals, and the addition of the Super Streets and Super Chromes lines in 1975 and 1976, spurred an increase in sales, but it was not enough to stop the inevitable. Public interest had waned and in 1977 Mattel discontinued the “red line,” ending the muscle car era of the most popular of all collectible toy cars.
Hot Wheels vary greatly in value, so remember these 5 basic rules: 1.Watch for pre-1978 “red line” cars, named for a small red line around the rim of the tire. 2. All Hot Wheels are numbered for easy identification, so know your timelines. 3. Pink and purple cars are rare, making them of higher value. 4. Condition of the car and accessories greatly effects desirability. And 5. value is always greater on an unopened car. Until next time……..Linda
Irvington resident Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for senior and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-429-7887 or lkennett@indy.rr.com