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The Enamel White Prototype[]

With most early Redline cars comes some secretive history, with most of them having at least one rare variant, be it the Cheetah Python, the aqua no-sunroof Custom Volkswagen, or the white interior Red Baron. But the history behind the Custom Camaro is a little more in perspective. The Custom Camaro was the very first Hot Wheel to escape the drawing board and be released to the public. The enamel white variant is a prototype, because what designers did with all new cars, is that they coated them with an enamel white or black coat to check for imperfections. Only a few were known to be mistakenly packaged and released to retailers. This car is extremely rare to find at all, let alone in the blister pack. According to Michael Zarnock's "Warman's Hot Wheels Field Guide: 3rd Edition (Values and Identification)", this is the third rarest Hot Wheels car to exist, and has a value of up to $2,500+ loose. The value for it still in the blister pack is immeasurable. No enamel black versions have been found to this day...

Some History[]

In 1967, when Mattel's biggest customer for their product line; J.C. Penney, was approached about the new line of toy cars they were going to release, Mattel salesmen put on a big show racing the cars down tracks. After their demonstration of this new product line, they asked how many would J.C. Penney possibly purchase. It turned out that the number J.C. Penney was willing to purchase exceeded the total production amount Mattel had anticipated. So another manufacturing plant had to be facilitated. Mattel opened a plant in Hong Kong.

By Mattel's account this were the very first Hot Wheels castings made. This does have some strong merit in today's collector's eye. Many years of independent research and study into the history of Hot Wheels have been done, with some very interesting prototypes being discovered.

Description[]

Custom Camaro was one of the first cars released in the 1968 Hot Wheels line-up. The "Original 16" or "Sweet Sixteen" were released in spring of '68. This casting was One of the First in the line-up. Chevrolet had just released a new model during the design stages of the Hot Wheels car, it was the 1967 Camaro. So Harry made one too. It seems both would be a big hit.
Interiors come in assorted colors, with the most interesting, the early Hong Kong casting having matching colors Blue on Blue and Antifreeze on Dark Green.
Early USA bases had the four open hole design, like their counterparts in Hong Kong, but they were a bean shape hole. Known as the Kidney Bean Base. Another version is the tabbed base.
USA cars do not have door-lines, but the Hong Kong casting does. Early Hong Kong has a painted tail, same color as the car. Early Hong Kong cars have deep-dish wheels, some all four, some just the front two. Some have been found with Heavy Chevy windows. It is suggested that no other car has more variations than this car. There was no "series" in 1968. Just the regular line-up. So collector's call it the "Sweet 16" or "Original 16". They were packaged with a 'Collector's Button'.

USA Versions[]

The Custom Camaro has come out in the following 1/64 scaled versions:
Notes: Clear windows, No door lines, flat base with less mechanical detail. Steering wheel is part of the interior mold, silver paint on wheels.
Colors are descending in rarity from common to rare.

Year Series Color Roof Color Base Color
/
Type
Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Toy # Country Notes
/
Variations
Photo
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Blue Black Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Custom Camaro
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Blue Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame AntiFreeze Black Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Lime Black Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Green Metal Clear RL 6208 USA CustomCamaroGrn
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Red Black Metal Clear RL 6208 USA 68 camaro US Red Black roof Flyin Colors
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Antifreeze Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Medium Blue Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Olive Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Aqua Metal Clear RL 6208 USA 68 Camaro US Ice Aqua
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Lime Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Purple Metal Clear RL 6208 USA 68 camaro US Purple Flyin Colors
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Red Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Rose Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Light Blue Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Creamy Pink Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Copper Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Orange Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Gold Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Dark Brown Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Enamel White Metal Clear RL 6208 USA Prototype 9ad4f4c46087ba09b92a1b5d7dee1e33

Hong Kong Versions[]

The Custom Camaro has come out in the following 1/64 scaled versions:
Notes: Blue tinted glass, door lines, four square holes & more detailed base. Steering wheel stuck into the interior, chrome foil on wheels.
Colors are desending in rarity from common to rare.

Year Series Color Roof Color Base Color
/
Type
Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Toy # Country Notes
/
Variations
Photo
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Blue Black Metal Blue tint Blue RL 6208 HK Backside Blue 1968 Custom Camaro HK Backside Blue
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Blue Black Metal Blue tint Blue RL 6208 HK Blue on blue HK flyin colors
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Antifreeze Black Metal Blue tint Dark Green RL 6208 HK 1967 Sweet 16 HK Custom Camaro Antifreeze
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Blue Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Orange Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Orange HK flyin color
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Aqua Metal Blue tint Brown RL 6208 HK 1967 Custom Camaro HK Aqua
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Green Metal Blue tint White RL 6208 HK 1967 Custom Camaro HK Green
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Gold Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Red Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Olive Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Purple Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK 163522 10151516989232500 1120860775 n
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Copper Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Brown Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Aqua Black Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Orange Black Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Purple Black Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available
1968 1968 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Creamy Pink Metal Blue tint RL 6208 HK Image Not Available


Retooled Versions[]

The Custom Camaro was faithfully retooled by Brendon Vetuskey for the 2018 RLC Original 16 Display set first. Note that the first black box Original 16 release from 2013 is the '67 Custom Camaro casting and not this same version of the '68 Custom Camaro redux.

Col # Year Series Color Tampo Base Color
/
Type
Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Toy # Country Notes Photo
2018 RLC Special Edition White Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary Logos Chrome
/
Metal
Blue White NCRL FPN27 China Opening Hood HWC Special Edition Custom Camaro
2018 HWC.com Original 16 Display Set Spectraflame Brown Black Grille, Taillights, Black Rear Panel, Black Roof Chrome
/
Metal
Blue Tan NCRL FNC23 China Opening Hood HWC Original 16 Display Set Custom Camaro
2019 19th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals
2/3
Metallic Pink Black roof & hood scoops; "Camaro" on sides; black stripes across hood & sides with "JS" on either side; 19th Nationals wording on trunk; black rear panel; painted taillights Chrome
/
Metal
Light smoke tint Black Pink Line RR5SP GDF70 China 5,000 produced
Opening hood
Production code(s): 0609 EAA
2019 - 19th Annual Collectors Nationals 2-3 - Custom Camaro - 1364-5000
2019 RLC Membership Spectraflame Black Black Grille, Tail Lights, Black Rear Panel, Black Roof Chrome Chassis + Engine
/
Metal
Clear Red w/ Black steering wheel NCRL GDF89 China Opening Hood 2019 RLC Custom Camaro
2022 RLC Exclusive Spectraflame Shadowchrome Matte black stripes with red outlines on the hood, rear, and sides; “RED LINE CLUB” with “2002” and “2022” on either side of encircled “20” on sides Chrome Chassis + Engine
/
Metal
Tinted Black DDNCRL HGW24 China Regular card with unique toy #, casting is identical on both cards, unknown production numbers Blackwal Paul Custom Camaro
2022 RLC Exclusive Spectraflame Shadowchrome Matte black stripes with red outlines on the hood, rear, and sides; “RED LINE CLUB” with “2002” and “2022” on either side of encircled “20” on sides Chrome Chassis + Engine
/
Metal
Tinted Black DDNCRL HPJ20 China Chase foil card with unique toy #, casting is identical on both cards, unknown production numbers Blackwal Paul Custom Camaro

See also[]

Gallery[]

External Links[]

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