Mattel · 1968 to 1977 · US release
Hot Wheels Redlines
Redlines is the collectors' name for Mattel's first ten years of Hot Wheels, from the 1968 launch to 1977, after the thin red stripe printed on the tyre walls. Up to 1972 the cars wore translucent Spectraflame paint over polished metal and ran on low-friction wheels that made them much faster on track than rival diecast. Solid enamel colours arrived in 1973, tampo-printed Flying Colors graphics in 1974, and the red stripe was dropped part-way through 1977, which is why the last castings turn up with both wheel types.
221 toys: 221 die-cast, across 11 waves.
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
Super Chromes1976
1977
Original or reissue?
Mattel re-released many early castings in later years, renamed some, and has made numerous modern tributes. Same-name re-releases from the 1973 enamel, 1974 to 1975 Flying Colors and Super Chromes ranges are listed as reissues of the first release. Collector buttons, Sizzlers, Gran Toros, Heavyweights cab variations, playsets and gift-set-only cars are not covered here.
- Beatnik Bandit has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Barracuda has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Camaro has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Corvette has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Cougar has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Eldorado has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Firebird has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Fleetside has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Mustang has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom T-Bird has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Volkswagen has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Deora has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Ford J-Car has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Hot Heap has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Python has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Silhouette has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Brabham Repco F1 has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Chaparral 2G has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Classic '31 Ford Woody has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Classic '32 Ford Vicky has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Classic '36 Ford Coupe has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Classic '57 T-Bird has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom AMX has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Charger has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Custom Continental Mark III has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Ford Mk IV has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Indy Eagle has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Lola GT70 has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Lotus Turbine has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- McLaren M6A has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Shelby Turbine has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Splittin' Image has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Torero has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Turbofire has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Twin Mill has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Volkswagen Beach Bomb has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Ambulance has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Boss Hoss Club Car has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Cement Mixer has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Dump Truck has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Ferrari 312P has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Fire Engine has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Heavy Chevy has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Heavy Chevy Club Car has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- King 'Kuda has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- King 'Kuda Club Car has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Light My Firebird has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Mongoose Funny Car has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Moving Van has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Nitty Gritty Kitty has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Peeping Bomb has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Porsche 917 has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Sky Show Deora has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Sky Show Fleetside has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Snake Funny Car has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- TNT-Bird has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Tow Truck has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Tri-Baby has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Whip Creamer has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Boss Hoss has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Bugeye has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Evil Weevil has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Fuel Tanker has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Mongoose II has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Pit Crew Car has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Racer Rig has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- S'Cool Bus has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Scooper has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Six Shooter has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Snake II has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Snorkel has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Sugar Caddy has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Team Trailer has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Waste Wagon has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Funny Money has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Open Fire has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Rear Engine Mongoose has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Rear Engine Snake has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Double Header has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Mongoose Funny Car has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Police Cruiser has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Snake Funny Car has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Volkswagen has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- P-911 has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- '31 Doozie has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- '56 Hi-Tail Hauler has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- '57 Chevy has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Fire-Eater has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- GMC Motor Home has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Letter Getter has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Odd Rod has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Second Wind has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Show Hoss II has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Spoiler Sport has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- T-Totaller has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Z Whiz has notes on telling an original from a reissue.
- Ferrari 312P is a reissue (1973) of Ferrari 312P.
- Ice T is a reissue (1973) of Ice T.
- Mercedes-Benz 280SL is a reissue (1973) of Mercedes-Benz 280SL.
- Mercedes-Benz C-111 is a reissue (1973) of Mercedes-Benz C-111.
- Paddy Wagon is a reissue (1973) of Paddy Wagon.
- Porsche 917 is a reissue (1973) of Porsche 917.
- Red Baron is a reissue (1973) of Red Baron.
- Carabo is a reissue (1974) of Carabo.
- Funny Money is a reissue (1974) of Funny Money.
- Grass Hopper is a reissue (1974) of Grass Hopper.
- Mighty Maverick is a reissue (1975) of Mighty Maverick.
- Alive '55 (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Alive '55.
- Chevy Monza 2+2 (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Chevy Monza 2+2.
- Gremlin Grinder (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Gremlin Grinder.
- Heavy Chevy (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Heavy Chevy.
- Large Charge (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Large Charge.
- Mighty Maverick (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Mighty Maverick.
- Mustang Stocker (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Mustang Stocker.
- P-911 (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of P-911.
- P-917 (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Porsche 917.
- Prowler (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Prowler.
- Steam Roller (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Steam Roller.
- Super Van (Super Chromes) is a reissue (Super Chromes, 1976) of Super Van.
Values
Loose and carded or boxed copies are valued separately, from the median asking price of current eBay listings for genuine originals (reproductions, reissues, customs, lots and parts left out). Asking prices, not completed sales.
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