Convertables

Convertables was a short-lived series of Hot Wheels cars produced in 1991. Their gimmick was their ability to change color and shape when the cars were put in hot or cold water when color shifted.

Three segments of the Convertables lines were advertised; Wreckers, Hot Rods and Roadsters, of which the Roadsters segment never made it into production. Each had their own gimmick; the Wreckers' roofs would cave in or their hoods pop up, the Hot Rods would have blown engines pop up and the Roadsters would have their canvas tops pop up. The pop-up function was developed by Mattel engineers Keith Hippely and Eric Ostendorff.

Hot Rods

Year	Model name	Color (Hot)	Color (Cold)	Tampo	Base Color / Type	Wheel Type	Country	Number	Photo
1991	Vary Cool	Yellow	Purple	Stripes	Gray / Plastic	BW	Malaysia	3942
1991	Engine-Air	Maroon	Yellow	Flames	White / Plastic	BW	Malaysia	3944
1991	Double Duty	Purple	Yellow	Diagonal lines	Black / Plastic	BW	Malaysia	3945
1991	Shiftin' '50's	Blue	Maroon	Classic designs	White / Plastic	BW	Malaysia	3946

Wreckers

Year	Model name	Color (Hot)	Color (Cold)	Tampo	Base Color / Type	Wheel Type	Country	Number	Photo
1991	Fab Cab	Yellow	Green	"TAXI" on sides	Black / Plastic	BW	Malaysia	3935
1991	Crunch Chief	Purple	Blue	Wavy designs	Black / Plastic	BW	Malaysia	3936
1991	Pick-Up Truck	Orange	Yellow	Checkers	Black / Plastic	BW	Malaysia	3938
1991	Shift Kicker	Red	Yellow	"27" on sides	Black / Plastic	BW	Malaysia	3941

Roadsters

The Roadsters were never released. Nonetheless, the cars were given toy numbers and names. According to a Mattel price list, the cars that were intended to be released were to be named Black Ballet, Formula Fever, Lo-Down Limo and Turnin' T.

In addition, Formula Fever on the packaging which looks similar to Bang-Up Job & Lo-Down Limo looks similar to Mercedes 540K that was never released for the Convertables series.

Year	Model name	Color (Hot)	Color (Cold)	Tampo	Base Color / Type	Wheel Type	Country	Number	Photo
1991	Black Ballet	Yellow	Black	Tiger stripes	Black / Plastic	UH	Malaysia	3947
1991	Formula Fever	White	Black	Futuristic graphics	Black / Plastic	BW	Malaysia	3949
1991	Lo-Down Limo	Pearl White	Black	Flame Logos	Unpainted / Metal	BW	Malaysia	3951
1991	Turnin' T	Yellow	Black	Flame Logos	Silver / Plastic	Matchbox Wheels	Malaysia	3948

Gallery

Planed for 1990 1989©

Planed for 1990

Sealed

Back

Convertables Body Shop set

early + latter cards diff speed points inserts

3944 Engine-Air Early latter card + Diff speed points insert

Standard & LEO