Custom T-Bird

Description[]

The Custom T-Bird is a Hot Wheels casting, which was designed by Harry Bradley and debuted among the 'Original 16' in 1968. It is based on the real-life 1967 Ford Thunderbird. It features a die-cast body and chassis (base) and an opening hood which reveals a detailed engine. The Cars were packaged with a 'Collector's Button'.

The Custom T-Bird was manufactured in both the USA and Hong Kong production facilities and there are several differences between the two. USA versions were produced with clear glass and silver wheels, while Hong Kong (HK) had blue tinted glass and chrome wheels (all T-Birds came with 'Bearing' style Redline wheels). HK cars had an unpainted bare metal grille, and USA cars had a black painted grille which could be found completely painted black, or with the Thunderbird emblem unpainted. The front fender wells of USA T-Birds are larger and higher cut than their HK counterparts and the cowls are also larger. The Custom T-Bird featured painted rear taillights with USA versions painted in a metallic darker red and HK with a bright flat red. There are several differences between USA and HK bases, most notably the lack of suspension detail and four square holes (to view the bent-axel suspension) on the USA version, there are also multiple variations of the layout and size of the copyright information.

Multiple colored interiors could be found on the Custom T-Bird. USA interiors could be found in White, Tan or Dark Brown and HK interiors in White, Olive & Gray, Gray & Brown, Silver and Brown. Hong Kong cars had a seperate black steering wheel while USA cars had the steering wheel molded into the plastic.

The Custom T-Bird was painted in a wide variety of Spectraflame colors of which there are a handful of hard-to-find and rare versions. All Hong Kong cars and most USA cars came with a black painted roof which simulated the vinyl roof of the real car. USA 'No-Black-Roof' (NBR) cars are fairly uncommon and most notably the Spectraflame Gold NBR with a white interior, which could only be found in 1968 Store Displays.

During the end of the Custom T-Bird's production, the USA casting was modified in preparation for the TNT-Bird. The modified casting featured 'Door Lines' and are very rare.

In 2018, the Custom T-Bird was re-tooled for the HotWheelsCollectors.com Original 16 Series based on the original Hong Kong version.

USA Versions[]

The Custom T-Bird has come out in the following versions:

Year	Series	Color	Stickers	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Light Blue	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Blue	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Blue	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	No Black Roof Hard to Find
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Aqua	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Aqua	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	No Black Roof Hard to Find
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Aqua	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	Door Lines Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Green	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	Hard to Find
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Green	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	No Black Roof Hard to Find
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Olive	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	Very Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Dark	RL	6207	USA	No Black Roof Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold	None	ZAMAC	Clear	White	RL	6207	USA	No Black Roof Store Display Very Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	Door Lines Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Antifreeze	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	Hard to Find
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Antifreeze	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	No Black Roof Hard to Find
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Antifreeze	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	Door Lines Very Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Orange	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Copper	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Red	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Red	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	No Black Roof "Hard to Find
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Purple	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Purple	None	ZAMAC	Clear	Multiple	RL	6207	USA	No Black Roof Hard to Find

Hong Kong Versions[]

The Custom T-Bird has come out in the following versions:

Year	Series	Color	Stickers	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Blue	None	ZAMAC	Blue tint	Multiple	RL	6207	Hong Kong
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Aqua	None	ZAMAC	Blue tint	Multiple	RL	6207	Hong Kong
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Green	None	ZAMAC	Blue tint	Multiple	RL	6207	Hong Kong	Hard to Find
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Olive	None	ZAMAC	Blue tint	Multiple	RL	6207	Hong Kong	Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Copper	None	ZAMAC	Blue tint	Multiple	RL	6207	Hong Kong
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold	None	ZAMAC	Blue tint	Multiple	RL	6207	Hong Kong
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Orange	None	ZAMAC	Blue tint	Multiple	RL	6207	Hong Kong	Rare
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Red	None	ZAMAC	Blue tint	Multiple	RL	6207	Hong Kong
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Creamy Pink	None	ZAMAC	Blue tint	Multiple	RL	6207	Hong Kong
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Purple	None	ZAMAC	Blue tint	Multiple	RL	6207	Hong Kong	Rare

Retooled Versions[]

Year	Series	Color	Graphics	Base Color / Types	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes
2018	HotWheelsCollectors.com Original 16	Spectraflame olive	"BG BAD BRD" California License Plate	Chrome / Metal	Light blue tint	Cream	NCRL	FCM75	China	6,000 produced Production code(s):
2018	HotWheelsCollectors.com Original 16 Display Set	Spectraflame pink	Black Grille, Tail Lights, Black Rear Panel, Black Roof	Chrome / Metal	Light blue tint	Cream	NCRL	FNC23	China	1,500 produced Production code(s):
2025	Hot Wheels x Kenny Scharf	Metallic teal	Karbombz! style artwork on sides and body, "KENNY SCHARF" on rear white license plate	Chrome / Metal	Light blue tint	White	NCRL	HXD50 JKN09 (signed)	China	Named Kenny Scharf's "ZOOOM!" Custom T-Bird Production code(s): 2884EAA, 2914EAA
2025	Mattel 80th Anniversary Hot Wheels Original 16 Rally Case Set	Spectraflame Ruby Red	Black grille, taillights	Chrome / Metal	Clear	Black		JCP66	China	4,120 sets Opening Hood Production code(s):

Gallery[]

Notes[]

Some guides list Hong Kong Spectraflame Light Blue, this is unconfirmed.
Early produced Hong Kong Aqua and Gold cars could be found with 'Deep Dish' wheels.

External Links[]

HotWheelsCollectors.com Original 16: CUSTOM T-BIRD