Hot Wheels Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Hot Wheels Wiki


Description[]

The Beatnik Bandit is a Hot Wheels casting which debuted in 1968 as part of the first sixteen Hot Wheels ever, sometimes known as the 'Sweet Sixteen'. It is based on the custom car built by Ed Roth in 1960.

The real-life Beatnik Bandit was built on a shortened 1950 Oldsmobile chassis and featured a fiberglass custom body, complete with a bubble-top which doubled as both the roof and door. It also featured a unique 'control stick' which operated the acceleration, brakes, steering and gear changes. The car still exists today and is on permanent display at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada.

The original 'Redline Era' version of the Beatnik Bandit was manufactured from 1968 to 1971 in both the USA and Hong Kong factories. There are several differences between USA and 'HK' manufactured cars. USA cars have a clear glass dome and the 'control stick' interior while HK produced vehicles have blue tinted glass and a black steering wheel. USA cars have engines with dual injectors while HK engines have a blower on top. Hong Kong cars have four square openings in the base which show the Bent Axle Suspension, these holes are absent from USA vehicles. Also Hong Kong cars have a slightly larger grille and headlights.

They were painted in various 'Spectraflame' colors, some of which are very hard to find. They could also be found with either a White, Gray or Dark Brown interior. They were packaged with a metal 'Collector's Button'.

In 1993, the Beatnik Bandit was revived for the 25th Anniversary Series, which replicated original 'Redline Era' vehicles, including several colors of each car replicating the original Spectraflame colors. The following year, it was released in the Vintage Series, again in several colors. Both the 25th Anniversary and Vintage releases were packaged with a replica plastic 'Collector's Button'. This casting was used a few times before being retired and again re-tooled for HotWheelsCollectors.com.

In 2002, a more detailed version of the Beatnik Bandit was created, this time including an opening 'bubble-top'. This version was only used once.

USA Versions[]

The Beatnik Bandit has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Year Series Color Sticker Base Color / Type Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Cast # Country Notes / Variations Photo
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Light Blue None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Beatnik Bandit ltbluL
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Blue None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Beatnik Bandit Blu
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Aqua None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA USABeatnikBanditAqua
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Turquoise None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Dark aqua or green beatnik bandit
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Green None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Photo: Hong Kong Motor Beatnik Bandit GrnR
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Olive None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon USABeatnikBanditOlive
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Lime None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Beatnik bandit antifreeze
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Antifreeze None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon BeatnikBandit
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Yellow None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Hard to Find New Yellow 1
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Gold None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon USABeatnikBanditGold
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Orange None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Beatnik Bandit Org
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Copper None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon USABeatnikBanditCopper
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Brown None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon USABeatnikBanditBrown
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Red None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA USABeatnikBanditRed
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Rose None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Beatnik Bandit Red
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Magenta None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Hard to Find USABeatnikBanditMagenta
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Creamy 'Lavender' Pink None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Hard to Find USABeatnikBanditLavender
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Hot Pink None Unpainted / Metal Clear White RL 6217 USA Very Rare HP Bandit
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Purple None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon USABeatnikBanditPurple

Hong Kong Versions[]

The Beatnik Bandit has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Year Series Color Sticker Base Color / Type Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Cast # Country Notes / Variations Photo
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Blue  None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong BeatnikBanditHKBlue
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Aqua None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong 1968 Beatnik Bandit Aqua Hong Kong
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Green None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong HKBeatnikBanditGreen
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Olive None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Hard to Find HKBeatnikBanditOlive
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Orange None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Hard to Find HKBeatnikBanditOrange
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Copper None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong HKBeatnikBanditCopper
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Red None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong HKBeatnikBanditRed
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Creamy 'Lavender' Pink None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Hard to Find HKBeatnikBanditLavender
1968 Sweet Sixteen Spectraflame Purple None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Beatnik Bandit purple

Original Version Gallery[]

1993 Retooled Version[]

Col # Year Series Color Tampo Base Color
/
Type
Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Toy # Country Notes
/
Variations
Photo
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Light Blue Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China 25thLightBlueBeatnikBandit
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Magenta Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China 25thMagnetaBeatnikBandit
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Green Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China 25thGreenBeatnikBandit
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Olive Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China 1993 25th Anniversary Beatnik Bandit Olive
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Lime Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Gold Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Orange Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Beatnik Bandit VinOrgR
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Brown Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China 25thBrownBeatnikBandit
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Red Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Pink or Lavender Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Purple Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Aqua Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 10960 China 25th Anniversary 8 Pack Beatnik Bandit VintLtBluR
1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Lime Green Unpainted
/
Metal
Blue tinted White RL 5714 China Is this same as Metallic Green? Image Not Available
1994 Vintage Series Metallic White Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Beatnik Bandit White Vintage
1994 Vintage Series Metallic Silver Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1994 Vintage Series Metallic Black Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Beatnik-bandit-grey-1994-vintage
1994 Vintage Series Metallic Turquoise Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Vintage Beatnik Bandit Turqouise
1994 Vintage Series Metallic Light Aqua \ Dark Green Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1994 Vintage Series Metallic Blue Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1994 Vintage Series Metallic Light Green Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1994 Vintage Series Metallic Yellow Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1994 Vintage Series Metallic Maroon / Burgundy Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1994 Vintage Series Metallic Salmon Orange Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1994 Vintage Series Metallic Magenta Unpainted
/
Metal
Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
1994 FAO Schwarz Gold Collection Metallic Light Blue/Purple White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White Gold RL 12293 China 3,000 Produced Beatnik Bandit FAO
2003 Hall Of Fame - Legends White Orange Swirls Black / Metal Clear Gray White-Wall DDRR B0938 China Beatnik Bandit HoF
2012 HWC.com Original 16 Spectraflame Pink None Chrome / Metal Clear White NCRL Y1101 China 1,800 Produced RLCO16-BeatnikBandit
2013 RLC Rewards Spectraflame Light Green Light green scallops on sides & top, painted taillights Chrome
/
Metal
Clear White & Yellow Redline RR5SP
Redline Mini RR5SP
BLR10 Malaysia 8,100 produced
Base code(s): G36
Blackwall Paul 2013 beatnik
2018 HWC Original 16 Display Set Spectraflame Light Purple None Chrome / Metal Tinted (Blue) White NCRL FNC23 China 1,500 Produced HWC Original 16 Display Set Beatnik Bandit

Retooled Version Gallery[]

2013-card[]

From the back of the 2013-card:

Hot Wheels® proudly presents your 2013 Rewards car. Thank you for being a loyal subscriber during this past year. Produced in limited quantities, you are now the proud owner of this Beatnik Bandit.

Notes[]

  • The Original Redline Era USA Versions could be found with either ® or TM after 'BEATNIK BANDIT' on the base.

See Also[]

External Links[]

The Real Beatnik Bandit[]

Beatnik band


The Beatnik Bandit was designed and built by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and was the second of his creations to tour with the International Championship Auto Shows (ICAS), in the 1960-61 season. The Outlaw was Roth's first ICAS custom, but the Bandit was the first Roth car created by their Show Car Division specifically for the show circuit. The Beatnik Bandit started out as a project car for Rod & Custom magazine. It was built using a 1955 Oldsmobile frame which was shortened, then covered in plaster to create a mold for the all-fiberglass body. The duel-carb blown Oldsmobile engine sits forward of a hand-made custom bubble top created by carefully softening a sheet of plexiglas in a large pizza oven to the point just before it becomes molten.


  • The Bandit's one-arm steering stick, mounted between the gold trimmed white leather seats, also controlled the throttle and shifting of the car. The Beatnik Bandit toured all over the country in the Sixties, and by 1970 had been repainted green. The car was sold to Harrah's in Reno, who restored it back to its original condition. The Beatnik Bandit can currently be seen at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada.
  • I acquired this picture From Ed Roth when he was a guest at a car show in St. Ignace, Michigan. The information is sourced from Ed Roth's book "Hot Rods".
Advertisement