Description[]
This Firebird was introduced in 1978 as the Hot Bird in the Flying Colors series in black and with Blackwalls, (bw). It was available in the Thundershift Roarin' Raceway. In 1979 it was gold-plated as part of the Golden Machines 6-Pack. In 1980 it was changed to brown in the basic line for a short run and then changed again to blue. In 1982 it was changed to black again and joined the Hot Ones series. The Captain America also uses this casting. Several paint and tampo variations followed from "glitter black" to metalflake blue. There are also SEVERAL tampo variations over the years.
The original Hot Bird was made in Hong Kong, Malaysia and China. In 2006 a completely new casting was made and produced in both Malaysia and Thailand. This new casting was used from 2006 on. Although very similar to the original, the dimensions of the car differ. The first noticable difference is the size of the shaker scoop on the hood. The new version's shaker is slightly longer than the old. Also, both bases are different. A few other differences are the detail of the rear tail lights and the hood bird tampo. One constant similarity of both models through the years is they have both ALWAYS been all diecast. This Firebird also appeared in Burt Reynold's popular feature film "Smokey And The Bandit."
FUN FACTS
All hood bird tampos of the original Hot Bird have the head facing to the driver side of the car. The collector #469 hood birds are the only ones that face the passanger side.
The very last of the original Hot Birds was produced for the 50' track set. Although it is a Hot Bird, the name written on the base is Pontiac Firebird.
Versions[]
The Hot Bird Has been released in the following versions:
Col # | Year | Series | Color | Tampo | Base Color / Type |
Window Color | Interior Color | Wheel Type | Toy # | Country | Notes / Variations |
Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
32 | 1978 | Flying Colors | Black | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Tan | BW | 2014 | Hong Kong | ||
32 | 1978 | Super Streeters | Black | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Tan | BW | 2014 | Hong Kong | ||
1979 | Golden Machines 6-Pack | Gold plated | Blue & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Tan | BW | 2014 | Hong Kong | 6-pack only | ||
1979 | The Heroes | White | Red & Blue stripes, 'Captain America' on doors | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Red | BW | 2879 | Hong Kong | Named Captain America | ||
1979 | The Heroes | White | Red & Blue stripes, 'Captain America' on doors | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Orange | BW | 2879 | Hong Kong | Named Captain America | ||
1979 | The Heroes | White | Red & Blue stripes, 'Captain America' on doors | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Red | Gold HO | 2879 | Hong Kong | Named Captain America | ||
1980 | Mainline | Brown | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Tan | BW | 2014 | Hong Kong | |||
1980 | Mainline | Blue | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Tan | BW | 2014 | Hong Kong | |||
1982 | The Hot Ones | Black | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Tan | GHO | 2014 | Hong Kong | |||
1982 | The Hot Ones | Black | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Tan | GHO | 2014 | Malaysia | |||
Leo Hot Wheels | Dark Blue | Yellow eagle, Yellow & Orange stripe on roof | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Red | GHO | India | |||||
Leo Hot Wheels | White | Red '80s Firebird graphics | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Red | GHO | India | |||||
Leo Hot Wheels | Red | Yellow & Black Eagle on Hood, Yellow & Black Stripes on Roof | Unpainted / Metal |
Smoke | Red | GHO | India | |||||
Black | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue Tint | Brown | HO | Malaysia | ||||||
1988 | Color Racers | Purple to Red | White Bird on Hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Tan | BW | 7284 | Malaysia | Appears in a Color Racers Single & 3 Pack | ||
1989 | Double Barrel Set | Metalflake Dark Blue | Gray & Orange graphics | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Gray | GHO | Malaysia | Set exclusive | |||
1989 | Double Barrel Set | Metalflake Dark Blue | Gray & Orange graphics | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Gray | UH | Set exclusive | ||||
1989 | Double Barrel Set | Metalflake Dark Blue | Gray & Orange graphics | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Tan | GHO | Set exclusive | ||||
37 | 1989 | Mainline | Metalflake Blue | White Firebird, Red & Yellow flames on side & hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Tan | GHO | Malaysia | |||
37 | 1989 | Mainline | Metalflake Blue | White Firebird, Red & Yellow flames on side & hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Gray | GHO | Malaysia | |||
37 | 1989 | Mainline | Metalflake Blue | White Firebird, Red & Yellow flames on side & hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Tan | UH | |||||
37 | 1990 | Mainline | Black | Yellow firebird on hood, Yellow & Red stripes on roof | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Red | GHO | Malaysia | |||
37 | 1990 | Mainline | Black | Yellow firebird on hood, Yellow & Red stripes on roof | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Tan | GHO | Malaysia | |||
37 | 1990 | Mainline | White | Blue or Turquoise (1991) & Red stars & Stripes, ALL AMERICAN FIREBIRD in Blue on sides | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Red or Tan | GHO or UH | 2014 | Malaysia | ||
37 | 1990 | Mainline | White | Blue or Turquoise (1991) & Red stars & Stripes, ALL AMERICAN FIREBIRD in Blue on sides | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Red or Tan | HO | Malaysia | |||
37 | 1991 | Mainline | White | Blue or Turquoise (1991) & Red stars & Stripes, "ALL AMERICAN FIREBIRD" in Blue on sides | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Red or Tan | Gold UH | Malaysia | International line only | ||
1990 | Metalflake Silver | Yellow Firebird on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Tan | GHO | Malaysia | Hot Wheels cereal | ||||
1992 | Hot Wheels Collector | Glitter on Black | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Pink tint | Pink | UH | 0462 | Malaysia | |||
1996 | 100th Anniversary of The Automobile in America | Yellow | Black firebird on hood | Black | Clear | Black | PC6 | China | ||||
469 | 1996 | Mainline | Metalflake Gold | None | Unpainted / Metal |
Gray tint | Beige | 5SP | 15978 | China | ||
469 | 1996 | Mainline | Metalflake Gold | Black Firebird on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Gray tint | Black | 5SP | 15978 | China | ||
469 | 1996 | Mainline | Metalflake Gold | Black Firebird on hood small Purple HW logo | Unpainted / Metal |
Gray tint | Black | LW | 15978 | China | ||
1997 | Pontiac Power Collection 3-Car Set | Black | Yellow Firebird on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Blue tint | Beige | Gold 5SP | LE7000 | China | K-Mart Exclusive, 70th Anniversary of the Pontiac set | ||
2004 | The Lost Cars of China | Metalflake Red | Black & Gold Firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Gold | RL2 | G5509 | China | |||
2004 | The Lost Cars of China | Metalflake Red | Black & Gold Bird | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Gold | BW | G5509 | China | |||
2005 | 50 ft. Track Rolls | Red | Black & Gold firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Gold | RL5SP | H6975 | China | Track Set | ||
2006 | Classics (Series 2) 24/30 |
Spectraflame Black | Black & Gold phoenix on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Tan | BF Goodrich 5SP | J2780 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | ||
2006 | Classics (Series 2) 24/30 |
Chrome | Black & Blue phoenix on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Gray | BF Goodrich 5SP | J2780 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | ||
2006 | Classics (Series 2) 24/30 |
Spectraflame Dark Blue | Black & Gold phoenix on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Tan | BF Goodrich 5SP | J2780 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base, sm or lg front wheels | ||
2006 | Classics (Series 2) 24/30 |
Spectraflame Red | Black & Silver phoenix on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Black | BF Goodrich 5SP | J2780 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | ||
2006 | Classics (Series 2) 24/30 |
Spectraflame Gold | Black & Red phoenix on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Black | BF Goodrich 5SP | J2780 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | ||
2006 | Classics (Series 2) 24/30 |
Spectraflame Green | Black & Yellow phoenix on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Tan | BF Goodrich 5SP | J2780 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | ||
198/223 | 2006 | Mainline | Black | Yellow & Orange flames | Unpainted / Metal |
Red tint | Gray | 7SP | J8029 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | |
198/223 | 2006 | Mainline | Metalflake Purple | Yellow & Orange flames | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Black | 5SP | J8029 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | |
2007 | Hot Wheels 10-Pack Exclusive | Pearl White | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Blue | 5SP | 54886 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | |||
2007 | Hot Wheels 10-Pack Exclusive | Flat Black | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Red | 5SP | 54886 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | |||
2007 | Hot Wheels 10-Pack Exclusive | Pearl Yellow | Black & Red stripes on top, Firebird on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Black | 5SP | 54886 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | ||
2008 | Since '68: Top 40 | Metalflake Blue | Blue flames, Firebird on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Beige | Red line BW | L2843 | Thailand | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | ||
2008 | Since '68: Collector Top 40 Set | Black | Blue flames, Firebird on hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Smoke | Blue | Red line BW | N4608 | Base Code(s): | |||
2008 | 40 Years of Hot Wheels Set | Metalflake Brown | Gold Firebird | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Red) | Dark Gold | Gold BW | M0543 | Thailand | Wal-Mart Exclusivereads "Pontiac Firebird" on base Base Code(s): |
||
165/196 | 2008 | Treasure Hunts 5/12 |
Metalflake Gold | Black Firebird on hood, Black stripes on roof, sides & trunk | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | black | 5SP | M6971 | Malaysia | "Pontiac Firebird" on base | |
165/196 | 2008 | Trea$ure Hunt$ 5/12 |
Spectraflame Gold | Black Firebird on hood, Black stripes on roof, sides & trunk | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Black | RR5SP | M6971S | Malaysia | "Pontiac Firebird" on base Base Code(s): |
|
165/196 | 2008 | Trea$ure Hunt$ 5/12 |
Spectraflame Gold | Black Firebird on hood, Black stripes on roof, sides & trunk | Grey/Silver matte / Metal |
Clear | Black | RR5SP | M6971S | Malaysia | "Pontiac Firebird" on base Base Code(s): |
|
2008 | HCW.com Series 7: Neo-Cassics 2/6 |
Spectraflame Brown | Red stripe along sides & across top, two red stripes on hood, painted marker lights & "TRANS AM" on sides, painted taillights, "RLCZARN" on rear California license plate | Chrome / Metal |
Tinted (Blue) | Black | NCRL | L8684 | China | 10,000 produced First time opening hood |
||
2009 | Connect Cars 48/50 |
Metalflake Gold | Orange, Yellow & Black graphics, "Arizona," "48," & "Grand Canyon State," Black hood with Cattle Skull | Clear | Black | 5SP | Malaysia | Base Code(s): | ||||
210/240 | 2010 | Race World: Volcano 2/4 |
Metalflake Blue | Red, Orange, Yellow & Blue flames on sides & hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Red) | Gray | Red 5SP | R7639 | Malaysia | New base Base Code(s): |
|
210/240 | 2010 | Race World: Volcano 2/4 |
Metalflake Red | Orange, Yellow & White flames on sides & hood | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Orange) | Black | Orange 5SP | R7639 | Malaysia | Pontiac Firebird on base Base Code(s): |
|
2011 | Cars of the Decades 18/32 |
Metalflake Silver | Brown, yellow, orange & red stripes | Unpainted / Metal |
Tinted (Smoke) | Black | Gold Chrome LW | V4428 | Malaysia | Opening hood, "Hot Bird" on base Base Code(s): |
||
2011 | Hot Wheels Garage: GM 2/22 |
Gold | Black Firebird graphicss, light details | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Black | RR | Base Code(s): | ||||
2012 | The Hot Ones | Yellow | Black Firebird graphicss, "TRANS AM" script on body panels | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Black | Chrome BW | W3789 | Thailand | Hot Bird on base Base Code(s): E09 |
||
2013 | Retro Entertainment: The Rockford Files | Metalflake Gold | Silver trim on front & rear windows, & door handles, Red taillights & '853 OKG' license plate, detailed headlights. | Unpainted / Metal |
Clear | Gold | White line RR5SP | X8910 | Malaysia | Base Code(s): F12 | ||
249/250 | 2021 | Muscle Mania 9/10 |
Metalflake dark blue | Gold accents, "TRANS AM" on sides, firebird logo on hood | Black / Plastic |
Dark Tint | Black | 5SP | GTB46 | Malaysia | Base code(s): P30, P31, P35, P34 |
Similar Casting[]
Back of cards[]
From the back of the 2008 card: | |||
Born | Birthplace | Designer | Specialty |
---|---|---|---|
1977 | Detroit, Michigan, USA | General Motors | With "modern" square headlights and classic pony car features, this Firebird®, made famous in a Hollywood film, was built for hot pursuits and cross-country racing. |
From the back of 2010 Race World Volcano card | ||
Horsepower | Speed | Acceleration 0-60 |
---|---|---|
415 | 150 | 4.9 |