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Revision as of 16:14, 12 March 2019


Description

The Beatnik Bandit is a Hot Wheels casting which debuted as part of the first sixteen Hot Wheels ever in the year 1968. 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 an 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 'Collectors 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 'Collectors 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 16 Spectraflame Light Blue None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Beatnik Bandit ltbluL
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Blue None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Beatnik Bandit Blu
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Aqua None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Green None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Photo: Hong Kong Motor Beatnik Bandit GrnR
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Olive None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Lime None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Beatnik bandit antifreeze
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Antifreeze None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon BeatnikBandit
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Yellow None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Hard to Find New Yellow 1
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Gold None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Orange None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Beatnik Bandit Org
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Copper None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Brown None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Red None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Rose None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Beatnik Bandit Red
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Magenta None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Hard to Find Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Creamy 'Lavender' Pink None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Hard to Find Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Hot Pink None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Very Rare HP Bandit
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Purple None Unpainted / Metal Clear White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 USA Uncommon Image Not Available

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 16 Spectraflame Blue  None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong HKBlueBeatnikBandit
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Aqua None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Beatnik Bandit Aqa
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Green None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Olive None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Orange None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Copper None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Red None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 Spectraflame Creamy 'Lavender' Pink None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White, Gray or Dark Brown RL 6217 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1968 Sweet 16 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 None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Green None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Olive None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Lime None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Gold None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Orange None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Beatnik Bandit VinOrgR
- 1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Brown None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Red None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Magenta None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Pink None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1993 25th Anniversary Metallic Purple None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1993 25th Anniversary 8-Car Set Metallic Aqua None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Beatnik Bandit VintLtBluR
- 1994 Vintage Metallic White White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Silver White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Black White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Beatnik-bandit-grey-1994-vintage
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Blue White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Light Aqua White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Dark Aqua White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Light Green White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Dark Green White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Yellow White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Maroon White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Salmon Orange White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 5417 China Image Not Available
- 1994 Vintage Metallic Magenta White Hot Wheels Logo on Rear 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 RL Y1101 China 1,800 Produced RLCO16-BeatnikBandit
- 2013 RLC Rewards Spectaflame Light Green Light Green Swirls Chrome / Metal Clear White Redline RR5SP / Redline Mini RR5SP BLR10 China 8,100 Produced Beatnik Bandit package front
- 2018 HWC Original 16 Display Set Spectraflame Light Purple None Chrome / Metal Tinted (Blue) White RL 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".