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 / Variations |
Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Light Blue | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | Rare | |
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Blue | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Blue | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | No Black Roof Hard to Find |
|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Aqua | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Aqua | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | No Black Roof Hard to Find |
|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Aqua | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | Door Lines Rare |
|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Green | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | Hard to Find | |
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Green | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | No Black Roof Hard to Find |
|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Olive | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | Very Rare | |
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Gold | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Gold | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Dark | RL | 6207 | USA | No Black Roof Rare |
|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Gold | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | White | RL | 6207 | USA | No Black Roof Store Display Very Rare |
|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Gold | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | Door Lines Rare |
|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Antifreeze | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | Hard to Find | |
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Antifreeze | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | No Black Roof Hard to Find |
|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Antifreeze | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | Door Lines Very Rare |
|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Orange | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | Rare | |
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Copper | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Red | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | Rare | |
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Red | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | No Black Roof "Hard to Find |
|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Purple | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Multiple | RL | 6207 | USA | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Purple | None | Unpainted / Metal |
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 | Casting# | Country | Notes / Variations |
Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Blue | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Multiple | RL | 6207 | Hong Kong | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Aqua | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Multiple | RL | 6207 | Hong Kong | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Green | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Multiple | RL | 6207 | Hong Kong | Hard to Find | |
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Olive | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Multiple | RL | 6207 | Hong Kong | Rare | |
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Copper | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Multiple | RL | 6207 | Hong Kong | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Gold | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Multiple | RL | 6207 | Hong Kong | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Orange | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Multiple | RL | 6207 | Hong Kong | Rare | |
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Red | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Multiple | RL | 6207 | Hong Kong | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Creamy Pink | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Multiple | RL | 6207 | Hong Kong | ||
1968 | 1968 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Purple | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Multiple | RL | 6207 | Hong Kong | Rare |
Retooled Versions[]
Year | Series | Color | Graphics | Base Color / Types |
Window Color | Interior Color | Wheel Type | Toy # | Country | Notes / Variations |
Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Original 16 | Spectraflame Olive | "BG BAD BRD" California License Plate | Chrome / Metal |
Tinted (Light Blue) | Cream | RL | FCM75 | China | 6,000 Produced | |
2018 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Original 16 Display Set | Spectraflame Pink | Black Grille, Tail Lights, Black Rear Panel, Black Roof | Chrome / Metal |
Tinted (Light Blue) | Cream | RL | FNC23 | China | 1,500 Produced |
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.