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 | ||
1971 | 1971 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Blue | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6186 | Hong Kong | ||
1971 | 1971 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Green | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6186 | Hong Kong | ||
1971 | 1971 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Light 'Apple' Green | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6186 | Hong Kong | ||
1971 | 1971 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Rose | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6186 | Hong Kong | Rare | |
1971 | 1971 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Red | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6186 | Hong Kong | ||
1971 | 1971 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Magenta | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6186 | Hong Kong | ||
1971 | 1971 Hot Wheels | Spectraflame Yellow/Gold | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | White or Gray | RL | 6186 | Hong Kong |
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 | ||
1973 | Shell Promo | Enamel Light Blue | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | Black, Silver or White | RL | Shell07 | Hong Kong | ||
1973 | Shell Promo | Fluorescent Pink | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | Black | RL | Shell07 | Hong Kong | ||
1973 | Shell Promo | Enamel Red | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | Black | RL | Shell07 | Hong Kong | ||
1973 | Shell Promo | Flourescent Light Green | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | Black | RL | Shell07 | Hong Kong | ||
1973 | Shell Promo | Enamel Light 'Lemon' Yellow | None | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Blue) | Black | RL | Shell07 | Hong Kong |
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 | ||
Enamel Dark Brown | None | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | White | RL | Hong Kong | ||
Enamel Black | None | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | White | RL | Hong Kong |
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 | |
2010 | 10th Annual Hot Wheels Nationals Convention | Spectraflame Pink | None | Chrome-Plated Metal | Clear | VUM (Chrome) | RL | R8424 | China | |