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. Bases vary from origin= 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 1st 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 on the base says Pontiac Firebird.
Versions
The Hot Bird Has been released in the following versions:
Year | Series | Color | Tampo | Base Color / Type | Window Color | Interior Color | Wheel Type | Cast # | Country | Notes / Variations | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | 1978 Flying Colors | Black | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted Metal | Blue tint | Tan | 2014 | Hong Kong | |||
1979 | Golden Machines | Gold plated | Blue and Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted Metal | Blue tint | Tan | 2014 | Hong Kong | 6-pak only | ||
1980 | 1980 Hot Wheels | Brown | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted Metal | Blue tint | Tan | 2014 | Hong Kong | |||
1980 | 1980 Hot Wheels | Blue | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal | Blue tint | Tan | 2014 | Hong Kong | |||
1982 | Hot Ones | Black | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal | Blue tint | Tan | 2014 | Hong Kong | |||
1982 | Blue | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal | Blue tint | Tan | 2014 | Malaysia | ||||
1982 | Hot Ones | Black | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal | Blue tint | Tan | 2014 | Malaysia | |||
Dark Blue | Yellow eagle, Yellow and Orange stripe on roof | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Red | India | ||||||
White | Red '80s Firebird tampo | Unpainted Metal | Blue tint | Red | India | ||||||
Black | Yellow & Red stripes & Firebird | Unpainted / Metal | Blue Tint | Brown | Malaysia | ||||||
1988 | Color Changers | Purple | White Bird on Hood | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Tan | 7284 | Malaysia | Color Racer 3-Pack | ||
1989 | Double Barrel Stunt Set | Metalflake Dark Blue | Gray and Orange tampo | Unpainted / Metal | Blue tint | Gray | GHO | Malaysia | set only | ||
1989 | Double Barrel Stunt Set | Metalflake Dark Blue | Gray and Orange tampo | Unpainted Metal | Blue tint | Gray | set only | ||||
1989 | Double Barrel Stunt Set | Metalflake Dark Blue | Gray and Orange tampo | Unpainted / Metal | Blue tint | Tan | set only |
Similar Casting
Captain America
Gallery
Collector Number Era 1989
The Hot Bird Has been released in the following versions:
Year | Series | Color | Tampo | Base Color / Type | Window Color | Interior Color | Wheel Type | Cast # | Country | Notes / Variations | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Hot Wheels Collector | Metalflake Blue | White Firebird, Red and Yellow flames on side and hood | Unpainted / Metal | Blue tint | Tan | GHO | Malaysia | |||
1989 | 1989 Hot Wheels Collector | Metalflake Blue | White Firebird, Red and Yellow flames on side and hood | Unpainted Metal | Blue tint | Gray | GHO | Malaysia | |||
1989 | 1989 Hot Wheels Collector | Metalflake Blue | White Firebird, Red and Yellow flames on side and hood | Unpainted / Metal | Tan | UH | |||||
1990 | 1990 Hot Wheels Collector | Black | Yellow firebird on hood, Yellow and Red stripes on roof | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Red | GHO | Malaysia | |||
1990 | 1990 Hot Wheels Collector #37 | White | Blue or Turquoise (1991) and Red stars and Stripes, ALL AMERICAN FIREBIRD in Blue on sides | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Red or Tan | GHO or UH | Malaysia | |||
1991 | 1991 Hot Wheels Collector #37 | White | Blue or Turquoise (1991) and Red stars and 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 | 1992 Hot Wheels Collector | Glitter on Black | no tampo | Unpainted / Metal | Pink tint | Pink | UH | 0462 | Malaysia | ||
1996 | 1996 100th Anniversary of the Automobile Set | Yellow | Black firebird on hood | Black | Clear | Black | PC6 | China | 100th Anniversary of the Auto gift pack | ||
1996 | Pontiac Power Collection Set | Black | Yellow Firebird on hood | Unpainted / Metal | Blue tint | Beige | Gold 5SP | China | K Mart Exclusive, 70th Anniversary of the Pontiac set LE7000 | ||
1996 | 1996 Hot Wheels Collector #469 | Metalflake Gold | No tampos | Unpainted Metal | Gray tint | Beige | 5SP | China | |||
1996 | 1996 Hot Wheels Collector #469 | Metalflake Gold | Black Firebird on hood | Unpainted / Metal | Gray tint | Black | 5SP | China | |||
1997 | 1996 Hot Wheels Collector #469 | Met. Gold | Black Firebird on hood small Purple HW logo | Unpainted / Metal | Gray tint | Black | LW | China | |||
2004 | Hot Wheels Lost Cars of China | Metalflake Red | Black and Gold Firebird | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Gold | RL2 | G5509 | China | ||
2004 | Hot Wheels Lost Cars of China | Metalflake Red | Black and Gold Bird | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Gold | BW | G5509 | China | ||
2005 | 50ft. Track Rolls | Red | Black and Gold firebird | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Gold | RL5SP | H6975 | China | Track Set | |
2006 | Hot Wheels Classics Series 2 24/30 | Spectraflame Black | Black and Gold phoenix on hood | Unpainted Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Tan | BFG5SP | J2780 | Thailand | ||
2006 | Hot Wheels Classics Series 2 24/30 | Chrome | Black and Blue phoenix on hood | Unpainted Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Gray | BFG5SP | J2780 | Thailand | ||
2006 | Hot Wheels Classics Series 2 24/30 | Spectraflame Dark Blue | Black and Gold phoenix on hood | Unpainted Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Tan | BFG5SP | J2780 | Thailand | ||
2006 | Hot Wheels Classics Series 2 24/30 | Spectraflame Red | Black and Silver phoenix on hood | Unpainted Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Black | BFG5SP | J2780 | Thailand | ||
2006 | Hot Wheels Classics Series 2 24/30 | Spectraflame Gold | Black and Red phoenix on hood | Unpainted / Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Black | BFG5SP | J2780 | Thailand | ||
2006 | Hot Wheels Classics Series 2 24/30 | Spectraflame Green | Black and Yellow phoenix on hood | Unpainted / Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Tan | BFG5SP | J2780 | Thailand | ||
2006 | 2006 Hot Wheels | Black | Yellow and Orange flames | Unpainted / Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Red tint | Gray | 7SP | Thailand | |||
2006 | 2006 Hot Wheels | Metalflake Purple | Yellow and Orange flames | Unpainted / Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Black | 5SP | Thailand | |||
2007 | Hot Wheels 10-Pack Exclusive | Pearl White | Unpainted / Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Blue | 5SP | 54886 | Thailand | 10 pack only | ||
2007 | Hot Wheels 10-Pack Exclusive | Flat Black | Unpainted / Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Red | 5SP | 54886 | Thailand | 10 pack only | ||
2007 | Hot Wheels 10-Pack Exclusive | Pearl Yellow | Black and Red stripes on top, Firebird on hood | Unpainted / Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Black | [5SP]] | 54886 | Thailand | 10 pack only | |
2008 | Since '68 Series | Metalflake Blue | Unpainted / Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Beige | RLBW | L2843 | Thailand | |||
2008 | Since '68 Top 40 Set | Black | Smoke | Blue | RLBW | N4608 | |||||
2008 | 40 Years of Hot Wheels Set | Metalflake Brown | Gold Firebird | Unpainted / Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Red tint | Dark Gold | Gold BW | M0543 | Thailand | Wal-Mart Exclusive | |
2008 | 2008 Treasure Hunts | Metalflake Gold | Black Firebird on hood, Black stripes on roof, sides and trunk | Unpainted / Metal or Silver painted, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | clear | black | 5SP | M6971 | Malaysia | ||
2008 | 2008 Super Treasure Hunts | Spectraflame Gold | Black Firebird on hood, Black stripes on roof, sides and trunk | Unpainted / Metal, reads "Pontiac Firebird" | Clear | Black | RR5SP | M6971S | Malaysia | ||
2008 | Hot Wheels Collectors.com Series 7 | Spectraflame Lt. Brown | Red stripe along sides & across top, Red stripes on hood | Unpainted / Metal | Blue | Black | RL | L8684 | China | Opening hood - first time on this casting! | |
2009 | Connect Cars - Arizona | Metalflake Gold | Orange, Yellow and Black graphics, w/"Arizona," "48," and "Grand Canyon State," Black hood with Cattle Skull | Clear | Black | 5SP | |||||
2010 | Race World Volcano 2/4 | Metalflake Blue | Red, Orange, Yellow and Blue flames on sides and hood | Unpainted / Metal | Red Tint | Gray | Red 5SP | R7639 | Malaysia | New base | |
2010 | Race World Volcano 2/4 | Metalflake Red | Orange, Yellow and White flames on sides and hood | Unpainted / Metal | Orange Tint | Black | Orange 5SP | R7639 | Malaysia | Pontiac Firebird on base | |
2011 | 2011 Cars of the Decades | Metalflake Silver | Brown, yellow, orange & red stripes | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted | Black | Gold Chrome LW | V4428 | Malaysia | Opening hood, "Hot Bird" on base | |
2011 | Hot Wheels Garage - GM Garage | Gold | Black Firebird tampos, light details | ZAMAC | Clear | Black | RR | ||||
2012 | The Hot Ones | Yellow | Black Firebird tampos, "TRANS AM" script on body panels | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Black | Chrome BW | W3789 | Thailand | Hot Bird on base | |
2013 |
(Rockford Files) |
Metalflake Gold | Silver trim on front & rear windows, & door handles, Red taillights & '853 OKG' license plate, detailed headlights. | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Gold | WLRR5SP | X8910 | Malaysia | Base Code: F12 |
Race World
On the back of Race World Volcano card
Horsepower: 415
Speed: 150
Acceleration 0-60: 4.9