Description[]
The Z-Whiz is a Hot Wheels casting first released in 1977, the last year of the 'Redline Era'. It is based on the Datsun Z Series S30 body style (1969-1978), Datsun 240Z (1969-1973), Datsun 260Z (1974), and the Datsun 280Z (1975-1978). It's name is a play on words with the phrase 'Z Car', referring to the series of cars produced by Datsun with the suffix of 'Z', and the phrase 'Gee Whiz'.
The Z-Whiz also has three international releases from Italy, France and Mexico. The Z-Whiz was the first Japanese Export to be made into a casting in Hot Wheels history. Albeit the first Japanese Car made into a casting, the Datsun Fairlady 2000 is the oldest model of Japanese car made into a casting (as of 2017). The Fairlady 2000 was the predecessor to the Datsun 240Z.
Versions[]
The Z-Whiz has come out in the following versions:
Col # | Year | Series | Color | Tampo | Base Color / Type |
Window Color | Interior Color | Wheel Type | Toy # | Country | Notes / Variations |
Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 1977 | Flying Colors | Grey | Orange, Yellow, Blue stripes on top with 'Datsun Z' on hood | ZAMAC | Blue Tint | Blue tint | RL | 9639 | Hong Kong | ||
5 | 1977 | Flying Colors | Grey | Orange, Yellow, Blue stripes on top with 'Datsun Z' on hood | ZAMAC | Blue Tint | Blue tint | BW | 9639 | Hong Kong | ||
5 | 1977 | Flying Colors | White | Orange, Yellow, Blue stripes on top with 'Datsun Z' on hood | ZAMAC | Blue tint | Blue tint | RL | 9639 | Hong Kong | ||
5 | 1978 | Super Streeters | Grey | Orange, Yellow, Blue stripes on top with 'Datsun Z' hood | ZAMAC | Blue tint | Blue tint | BW | 9639 | Hong Kong | ||
1979 | Golden Machines 6-Pack | Gold Chrome | Orange, White, Blue stripes on top and 'Datsun Z' on hood | ZAMAC | Blue tint | Blue tint | BW | 9639 | Hong Kong | |||
1980 | Mainline | Green | Light Green, White, Black stripes on top and 'Datsun Z' on hood | ZAMAC | Blue tint | Blue tint | BW | 9639 | Hong Kong | |||
1980 | Mainline | Green | Light Green, White, Black stripes on top and 'Datsun Z' on hood | ZAMAC | Blue tint | Blue tint | BW | 9639 | Malaysia | |||
1982 | Mainlines | Dark Blue | Red, Orange, Yellow "15" | ZAMAC | Blue tint | Blue tint | BW | 9639 | Malaysia | |||
1983 | The Hot Ones | Black | White stripe on top with 'Datsun Z' on hood | ZAMAC | Black | Black | BW | 9639 | France | |||
1983 | Speed Machines | Light Green | Orange, Yellow, Blue stripes on top and 'Datsun Z' on hood | Grey / Plastic |
Gray tint | Gray tint | BW | None | ||||
1983 | Speed Machines | Light Green | Red, Yellow, Blue stripes on top and 'Datsun Z' on hood | Grey / Plastic |
Gray tint | Gray tint | BW | None | ||||
1983 | Mainline | Metalflake Green | None | Black / Plastic |
Blue tint | Blue tint | BW | Malaysia | Only sold in Italy | |||
1983 | Mainline | Metalflake Dark Red | None | Black / Plastic |
Blue tint | Blue tint | BW | Malaysia | Only sold in Italy | |||
1984 | Mainline | Dark Green | Red, Yellow, Black stripes on top and 'Datsun Z' on hood | ZAMAC | Blue ting | Blue tint | BW | France | Base says "France" but it was only available in Mexico |
Trivia[]
The Z-Whiz was a first Japanese import to be made by Hot Wheels.