Post by ferrari512s on Jan 2, 2014 23:12:09 GMT -5
The Mysterious Hot Wheels® 1969 Indy Dinner Cars
By Ferrari512s (a.k.a. Michael Basile)
Let me introduce this article with a photograph of one of these indescribable chrome redline artifacts which I will be delving into details.
Image courtesy of Sid Belzberg
When these redline antiquities first started to circulate on the scene collectors were overwhelmed by the inherent beauty of the chrome metallic appearance. (Basically these look real sharp and it would be nice to own them). The mirror like ornament finish is truly dazzling and not to mention breathtaking! We all contemplated what could these relics be and what is the reasoning behind the release of these redline era die-cast cars? These have never been seen on blistercards, in track sets or any other form of packaging. Perhaps these were the replacement cars you might have received when you joined the Hot Wheels® Club in circa 1970.
(Note, there’s a brief segue here, also known as a dream sequence…)
Hot Wheels® Club Cars
Below is a picture from the back of the Mattel® catalog promoting the Hot Wheels® Club!
Image courtesy of Ferrari512s
For a meager “one dollar” (now that’s just plain lunacy!) you would receive the distinctively cardboard packaged chromed finish Boss Hoss™ Hot Wheels® car enclosed in a translucent petrochemical derivative film, the accompanying distinctive metal collector button sporting the Boss Hoss™ Silver Special car, the 1970 Hot Wheels "Annual" club magazine, a Hot Wheels® logo iron patch, a sheet of Hot Wheels® stickers and last but not least, an official Hot Wheels® membership certificate. Yes all this “paraphernalia” in the Membership Kit from Mattel®. To make this club more enticing to join, there was even a money back guarantee if not satisfied. You got to love this feature! I wonder how many children exercised that option. I definitely kept mine!
The Hot Wheels® annual magazine including in this club kit was simply amazing or should I say extraordinary! There are plenty of prototypes revealed, interviews, product reviews and much more. It sure would be nice to see a redline era catalog like this make a return.
Redliner Magazine Full Year Subscription
Image courtesy of Ferrari512s
Here is a picture of the Hot Wheels Club Kit. Not many collectors know this little factoid…
Eventually an overstock of this item would ensue and the club box kit was available at your local Toronto S.S. Kresges stores. The price tag of $2.99 was substantially more than the club kit was advertised. I was actually surprised to see this exclusive mail in promotion available there and disappointed by the excessive price tag. Could this be the items returned back to Mattel® by unsatisfied customers? I don’t believe we’ll ever discern this answer.
Note, Mattel owned a plant and distribution facility in Toronto that manufactured Hot Wheels® track and accessories during the redline era. Perhaps once the Hot Wheels® Club promotion was over the excess stock was distributed to retailers for the general consumer to purchase.
Image courtesy of Ferrari512s
So to recap, back in circa 1970 Mattel® introduced the Hot Wheels® club promotion! A great endorsement idea for the brand and it was perfect timing for the hottest selling toy at the time. This promotion featured an exclusive Hot Wheels® model never released in retail stores “Boss Hoss Special™” in a chrome plated metallic finish. Mattel® underestimated how popular this promotion was becoming and quickly ran out of their exclusive special car.
Here is a picture showing the reverse side of a Canadian Hot Wheels® blistercard promoting their Club with all the details.
Image is courtesy of Ferrari512s
Plan B
Alternative Hot Wheels® chromed themed cars were quickly offered such as the Heavy™ Chevy and King Kuda™ Spoilers in the exclusive chrome plated finish.
Ah yes, how I remember this well, the Mustang Boss Hoss™ in chromium metallic finish! A pretty good performer on the orange redline track as well. By the way, this model was eventually released in 1971 in spectraflame colors. One of my favorites still to this day!!!
Image courtesy of darkhorsegraphics
One interesting piece of Hot Wheels® history that has gone practically unnoticed is the special chrome cars released for this promotion have been found in Germany and England on blistercard packaging. To acquire these blistercards can range anywhere from $1000 to $3000. Now that’s a remarkable investment!
(Place images here)
Images courtesy of eBay TOYCARCITY
Here is the Heavy Chevy™ all dressed up on chrome as well. How can you go wrong when a GM Camaro is offered! These Hot Wheels® Spoilers™ became one of the more popular series Mattel offered collectors during the redline era of 1968 - 1972. This was one of the alternate Club cars Mattel presented.
Image courtesy of darkhorsegraphics
Another stunning choice is the King Kuda™ in the dazzling chrome finish. This was also an impressive alternative model Mattel® offered collectors of the Club. These two alternative cars were shipped to collectors in a padded envelope rather than the conventional box as shown above.
Image courtesy of darkhorsegraphics
Somewhere along the redline timeline there must have been an overstock of these exclusive club cars. These started to appear in German and (England – unsure about this now, need to check my redline archives to substantiate this) on regular redline blistercards. Yes all three chromed club kit cars have been found on these blistercards abroad.
(show pics of each)
Indy Grand Prix Dinner Cars
So at this time when these Indy cars started to appear there was some speculation these could possibly be rare replacement Hot Wheels® club cars or perhaps one of those early forgotten Mattel® promotions or series that didn’t materialize. Since the numbers found are a limited few, it couldn’t possibly represent these club cars nor could it? Perhaps these could even be prototypes! We as collectors were uncertain until some other vital information was brought forward.
So what are these chrome plated finished Indy cars? The lost promotion theory didn’t sound so unreasonable after all. Nevertheless there has to be some provenance to these since they certainly exist and are proven to be authentic in every possible way.
Some discussions were held with previous Mattel employees for answers and the name John C. Parker, prominently appeared.
John C. Parker is the person actually responsible for this special Indy chrome plated cars project.
The Shelby Turbine in a chrome plated finish. Current owner Bruce Pascal
Image courtesy of Bruce Pascal
Another picture of the Shelby Turbine, this time showing the base with the chrome plated finish. Current owner Bruce Pascal who loves his redline prototypes.
Image is courtesy of Bruce Pascal
The Shelby Turbine in a chrome plated finish owned by Sid Belzberg who is also a collector of redline prototyes.
Image is courtesy of Sid Belzberg
The Shelby Turbine in a chrome plated finish owned by Sid Belzberg.
Image is courtesy of Sid Belzberg
The year of this special promotional giveaway was circa 1969. Mattel decided to honor their major retail purchasers such as K-Mart, J.C. Penney, Woolworths, Sears and others, as well as, Mattel employees by sponsoring a banquet dinner at the 1969 Toy Fair held in New York.
The Brabham Repco F1 in a chrome plated finish. Current owner Ted Gray
Image courtesy of Ted Gray
The Brabham Repco F1 in a chrome plated finish. Current owner Bruce Pascal
Image courtesy of Bruce Pascal
The new Hot Wheels® series segment of cars known as the “Grand Prix” was just released by Mattel® and what an ingenious way to introduce these miniature gems. The open wheeled Indy cars in a never before seen special chrome plated finish were the exclusive prizes at the ball. These models are the Brabham Repco F1, Indy Eagle, Lotus Turbine and Shelby Turbine. Yes indeed, one of these exclusive Hot Wheels® glowing ornaments was placed at each table setting as a present. Who really knows if these Indy miniature trinkets were appreciated at the time? We do know not many have survived or how many were actually produced. Let’s hope others who were part of this gala even reappear so others can be acquired by redline collectors.
The Lotus Turbine in a chrome plated finish.
Courtesy of mystery owner
The Lotus Turbine in a chrome plated finish.
Courtesy of mystery owner
The question remains how many guests were invited to the gala event? By knowing the answer we can ascertain the production records for these special cars. In any case, not many of these have resurfaced through the years for us to register or estimate an accurate number. Nonetheless, these are scarce since so few examples are known to exist. Take note, the Indy Eagle chromed car at this juncture is speculative only but I have my suspicions it exists and will eventually be revealed.
The Indy Eagle in a chrome plated finish.
Courtesy of mystery owner
The Indy Eagle in a chrome plated finish.
Courtesy of mystery owner
Later that same year a chromed gold Indy Eagle was released in a blistercard and available at retail stores. Could this be a hold out from this dinner promotion? Who really knows? This is all speculative on my behalf .
Here is a picture of the Indy Eagle in gold still in the original packaging!
Courtesy of Ferrari512s
Here is a close-up of the Indy Eagle in the gold finish!
Courtesy of Ferrari512s
Since the exceptional chrome plated Indy cars were only obtainable as a gift through this exclusive Mattel® dinner gala the name “Dinner Cars” has become associated with them. This is indeed an appropriate name and fits the description well.
Hope you all enjoyed this brief article on the Dinner Cars. By the way, this was officially the first Mattel exclusive Toy Fair cars released.
