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.

Hot Wheels Redlines toys

1968

1969

1970

TNT-Bird
TNT-Bird

Die-cast · 1970

Seasider
Seasider

Die-cast · 1970

Carabo
Carabo

Die-cast · 1970

Tri-Baby
Tri-Baby

Die-cast · 1970

Mod Quad
Mod Quad

Die-cast · 1970

1971

Snake II
Snake II

Die-cast · 1971

What-4
What-4

Die-cast · 1971

The Hood
The Hood

Die-cast · 1971

T-4-2
T-4-2

Die-cast · 1971

Bugeye
Bugeye

Die-cast · 1971

Ice T
Ice T

Die-cast · 1971

AMX/2
AMX/2

Die-cast · 1971

Olds 442
Olds 442

Die-cast · 1971

Snorkel
Snorkel

Die-cast · 1971

Scooper
Scooper

Die-cast · 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.

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.

Missing a toy?

Add a figure, vehicle or playset we have not listed. We check every one before it goes into the catalogue.