Monday, 12 October 2020

HOT DATES

 

As part of this year's spontaneous and ongoing theme of Hot Wheels collecting,  spurred on by the plentiful availability of loose Hot Wheels at car boot sales and carded cars in shops, here are three more I found this Sunday:

From left to right: Cat-a-Pult, Red Baron and Super Cannon 705th.

In a bid to pick only old models at boot sales I always try to seek out just those loose cars with the dull older metal bases.

I also check for years and go for older years embossed on the bases.

However, what you see on the bases are not necessarily the year of the toy's release. They are usually the copyright dates shown. Many models have been re-released many times in different packs and sets.

There are loads of great Hot Wheels online checklists for beginners like me, so I checked all three of the cars I found.

My Cat-a-Pult has a1998 copyright on its base but its actually from the Heat Fleet 5-Pack version from 2003.


On first impressions the Red Baron was my most exciting find, being a redline classic. Mine wasn't a redline and was branded 'Hot Wheels Vintage' and clearly a re-issue once I got it home. Despite being dated 1968 on its base my version was actually released in the Disney Pixar Toy Story Track Set Version from 2009!


My "HW 705th" camouflage version is actually from 2007, although the car is dated 1982 copyright on the base. 


Have you any ambiguous dates on your Hot Wheels?

5 comments:

  1. Hi there, the buggy was originally released as a tie to the 1982 movie "Mega Force" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJC6mblA9-Q
    It's been re released many times, even as a Star Wars themed version, over the years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, it keeps being reissued. The original release had two versions, the tan with markings one and a pure black one. They went on clearance fairly quickly. I recall getting mine at a KayBee up in Lafeyette Ind.

      Later releases omitted the roof rack of missles and the flip up laser in the back. Nice to see the laser unit is back on that one.

      Delete
    2. Yeah, I was surprised the little rear laser survived too Lance!

      Delete
  2. More about the movie and the toys here:
    http://futurewarstories.blogspot.com/2019/09/military-sci-fi-oddities-megaforce-1982.html
    It's been ages since I watched the movie but I remember it pretty vividly, as a kid in the 80's a friend had the MegaForce game cartridge for his Atari.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fab Edwin, really interesting! I may have to watch the movie now!

      Delete