Custom Camaro

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

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.

Year	Series	Color	Tampo	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes
2018	RLC Special Edition	White	Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary Logos	Chrome / Metal	Blue	White	NCRL	FPN27	China	Opening Hood
2018	RLC Special Edition	Light blue resin	None	Ivory / Resin	Clear	Ivory	NCRL	FPN62	China	Hand Made Prototype, 250 produced Opening Hood
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
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	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
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
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