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Description

The Rocket-Bye-Baby is a casting which debuted in the 1971 Hot Wheels range of vehicles. It features a large windshield and an enormous "rocket" on top (it does not seem to be a rocket engine. It looks actually to be a jet engine, since it has an intake at the front). The original 1971 release featured black plastic air brake/intake ducts on the sides which opened when the rear exhaust pipes were pulled out. It was packaged with a plastic 'collectors button'.

As with most cars from the 'Spectraflame Era' (1968-1972), there can be some confusion in colors due to shade differences in the paint. A certain variation which receives sceptisism is the existance of a Spectraflame gold version. Some people believe that these so-called 'Gold' cars are actually just a darker shade of the regular Spectraflame Yellow paint and not a completely seperate color.

Some 1971 produced Rocket-Bye-Baby have been found with a metal fatigue-like condition known as 'crumbling' where the body or chassis develops cracks and literally crumbles into pieces.

The Rocket-Bye-Baby was also released in 1973 as a Shell Promo, a giveaway promotional car handed out to customers at Shell service stations. As with other 1973 cars, it lost its Spectraflame paint which was replaced with enamel paint. To save on cost, the plastic side intake ducts and exhaust were removed and replaced with vents which were cast into the body. 

It was also produced in Mexico by CIPSA using the 1973 casting, these releases are extremely rare and are usually found in poor condition (more information below).

In 2009, the Rocket-Bye-Baby was re-tooled for the HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 8 Neo Classics.

1971 Versions

The Rocket-Bye-Baby has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Year Series Color Stickers Base Color / Type Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Toy # Country Notes / Variations Photo
1971 1971 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Aqua None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White or Gray RL 6186 Hong Kong Rocket Bye Baby Aqua
1971 1971 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Blue None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White or Gray RL 6186 Hong Kong RocketByeBaby1971Blue
1971 1971 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Green None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White or Gray RL 6186 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1971 1971 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Light 'Apple' Green None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White or Gray RL 6186 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1971 1971 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Rose None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White or Gray RL 6186 Hong Kong Rare Image Not Available
1971 1971 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Red None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White or Gray RL 6186 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1971 1971 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Magenta None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White or Gray RL 6186 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1971 1971 Hot Wheels Spectraflame Yellow/Gold None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) White or Gray RL 6186 Hong Kong Image Not Available

1973 Shell Promo Versions

The Rocket-Bye-Baby has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Year Series Color Sticker Base Color / Type Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Toy # Country Notes / Variations Photo
1973 Shell Promo Enamel Dark Blue None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) Black or Silver RL Shell07 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1973 Shell Promo Enamel Light Blue None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) Black, Silver or White RL Shell07 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1973 Shell Promo Fluorescent Pink None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) Black RL Shell07 Hong Kong RocketByeBabyShellPink
1973 Shell Promo Enamel Red None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) Black RL Shell07 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1973 Shell Promo Flourescent Light Green None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) Black RL Shell07 Hong Kong Image Not Available
1973 Shell Promo Enamel Light 'Lemon' Yellow None Unpainted / Metal Tinted (Blue) Black RL Shell07 Hong Kong Rocket Bye Baby YelL

CIPSA Versions

In the early 1970's, the Rocket-Bye-Baby was manufactured by CIPSA in Mexico for the Mexican market using the 1973 Shell Promo casting. These versions differ from the regular versions in a couple of small ways. The interior is a stark white compared to the creamier white of the Hong Kong versions, the glass is clear instead of tinted blue, and the wheels have small 'Capped' redlines on the front and larged 'Capped' Redlines on the rear as opposed to the 'Hole-Through' Redlines of the 1973 Shell Promo or the all large 'Capped' Redlines of the 1971 version. Despite being manufactured in Mexico, they are still marked with 'Hong Kong' on the base.

The Rocket-Bye-Baby has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Color Stickers Base Color / Type Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Country Notes / Variations Photo
Enamel Dark Blue None Unpainted / Metal Clear White RL Hong Kong Image Not Available
Enamel Dark Brown None Unpainted / Metal Clear White RL Hong Kong Image Not Available
Enamel Black None Unpainted / Metal Clear White RL Hong Kong Image Not Available

Re-Tooled Versions

The Rocket-Bye-Baby has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Col # Year Series Color Tampo Base Color / Type Window Color Interior Color Wheel Type Toy # Country Notes / Variations Photo
1/6 2009 HWC.com Series 8 Neo-Classics Spectraflame Anti-Freeze None Chrome-Plated Metal Tinted (Gray) VUM (Chrome) RL P2140 China 6,500 produced Image Not Available
2010 10th Annual Hot Wheels Nationals Convention Spectraflame Pink None Chrome-Plated Metal Clear VUM (Chrome) RL R8424 China Image Not Available
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