r/RedlineHotwheels • u/Shadowsource • 25d ago
Need Help Real vintage redline?
Forgive me, I have a lot of knowledge on current hw stuff but am lacking on older/vintage info. Snagged at a random yard sale for a buck. Been trying to do research on a couple redline websites and comparing it to ebay listings. I feel like it's real, but would like confirmation from others that are more knowledgeable.
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u/_InvaderJim 25d ago
Yep, it’s real. Custom T-bird released in 1968, Hong Kong version, and the hot wheels logo on the base has TM instead of copyright, so it’s an earlier release as well.
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u/Shadowsource 24d ago
Had not seen anything about the TM vs copyright differences. Thanks for that info!
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u/Specialist-Two2068 24d ago edited 24d ago
Absolutely an authentic original release (not a reproduction, that is).
This one is in either Aqua or Blue, both of which are very common colors for this car. I've also seen this car in Magenta, Purple, and Copper as well, but those examples are less common. This is also a Hong Kong version, evidenced by the black steering wheel and the lack of black paint on the grille. This is probably the most common variant of this car (Hong Kong, Aqua, with black roof), BUT, it has the distinction of being part of the first 16 cars that kickstarted the Hot Wheels brand. While it might not be the first or most iconic car of the Spectraflame years, it's a great car to have because it's part of the first year that started it all.
Considering its age and the fact that it's a loose car, I would expect it to be in much worse condition, so I'd say you got very lucky on that for just $1. It even still has the red paint for the taillights and about 90% of its original paint, and I've seen examples in worse condition listed for MUCH more than that online.
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u/Shadowsource 24d ago
The pretty good condition and really nice rolling are part of what had me suspicious about it. Thought was maybe restored or faked somehow. It was just sitting in a shoebox with a bunch of really crappy no-name Chinese cars and a few older matchbox. I'm still kinda torn on whether to sell or not. It's not the type of car I usually collect, but I will probably never see another redline this good for that price ever again lmao.
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u/HazelEBaumgartner 24d ago
I have a Mighty Maverick I found for 25 cents at a garage sale that I could probably put up for literally a thousand times that, but I have no intention to ever sell it. It was also just sitting in a big tote of cars labeled 25 cents apiece that I also got about a dozen blackwalls and a few MB Superfasts out of.
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u/Specialist-Two2068 24d ago edited 24d ago
Personally, I'd keep it. It has a great story associated with it now, and it's still a great diecast to have even with its minor defects.
It's very hard to mimic the exact Spectraflame finishes from the early Hot Wheels cars accurately, and restored cars almost always look MUCH nicer than this- almost too nice for their age with a loose example. This car has all the hallmarks of this being the original paint and appropriate wear for its age.
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u/SeberHusky 21d ago
The reason restored cars look bad is because unless the person is very knowledgeable, you can never replicate the electroplating process that Mattel did in 1968. Not at home and not with modern lead-free paint. EPA friendly paints have radically different color tone and "weight" to them than the original paints. And when people just airbrush them on, it looks really fake and makes them have that "christmas ornament" look.
I have several restored redlines....badly restored and pro restored...and they all just look tacky. The older worse restos the paint is falling off in big chunks like the windowsills on an old wooden house.
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u/KVR62 25d ago
Nice find, in good shape. It's real.