Custom Camaro

Custom Camaro
Debut Series	Original Sixteen
Produced	1968 - 1969 (Original) 2003 - Present (Retool)
Designer	Harry Bradley (Original) Brendon Vetuskey (Retool)
Number	6208

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	Color	Roof Color	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations
1968	Spectraflame Blue	Black	Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Blue		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame AntiFreeze	Black	Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Lime	Black	Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Green		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Red	Black	Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Antifreeze		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Medium Blue		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Olive		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Aqua		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Lime		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Purple		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Red		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Rose		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Light Blue		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Creamy Pink		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Copper		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Orange		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Gold		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Spectraflame Dark Brown		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA
1968	Enamel White		Metal	Clear	RL	6208	USA	Prototype

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	Color	Roof Color	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations
1968	Spectraflame Blue	Black	Metal	Blue tint	Blue	RL	6208	HK	Backside Blue
1968	Spectraflame Blue	Black	Metal	Blue tint	Blue	RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Antifreeze	Black	Metal	Blue tint	Dark Green	RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Blue		Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Orange		Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Aqua		Metal	Blue tint	Brown	RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Green		Metal	Blue tint	White	RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Gold		Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Red		Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Olive		Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Purple		Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Copper		Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame		Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Brown		Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Aqua	Black	Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Orange	Black	Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Purple	Black	Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK
1968	Spectraflame Creamy Pink		Metal	Blue tint		RL	6208	HK

2003 Retooled Versions

The Custom Camaro has come out in the following 1/64 scaled versions:

Year	Series	Color	Tampo	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Country	Notes
2003	RLC Ed Watts	Spectraflame Blue
2004	Holiday Rods
2004	Holiday Rods
2004	Holiday Rods
2004	Holiday Rods
2013	HWC.com Original 16	Spectraflame Light Blue							July 9, 2013
2016	HWC.com 14	Spectraflame Dark Orange
2018	HWC.com 16	White	50^th Anniversary Logos				Neo RL		Opening Hood
2018	HWC.com Original 16 Display	Spectraflame Brown	Black Grille, Tail Lights, Black Rear Panel, Black Roof			Tan	Neo RL		Opening Hood
2019	19th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals 2/3	Metallic Pink	Black Roof, Black Stripe on Front with 'JS', Details	Chrome / Metal	Tinted	Black	Pink-Line RR5SP	China	5,000 produced Opening Hood
2019	RLC Membership	Spectraflame Black	Black Grille, Tail Lights, Black Rear Panel, Black Roof	Chrome Chassis + Engine / Metal	Clear	Red w/ Black steering wheel	Neo RL	China	Opening Hood