Post by ferrari512s on Jan 8, 2014 10:50:31 GMT -5
The VW Drag Bus designed by Phil Riehlman in 1995 and initially began such as this resin model...in a yellow mustard color. 
This design is basically the look of the actual Volkswagen Bus.
Another prototype was made and painted in white as shown below.
Both these Volkswagen Bus concept designs were not accepted. Mattel went back to the drawing board since “It wasn’t Hot Wheels® enough,” and Phil came up with this alternative concept design...
This is the pre-production model since it is unpainted.
Finally in 1995 after all the issues of making this model were cleared this was released as the Volkwagen Drag Bus! It was issued in numbers less than 100,000 produced.
The VW Drag Bus is one of the coolest models ever to be issued in the Hot Wheels® line! In 1996 it was released with plenty of fanfare and in limited numbers! It turned out to be the heaviest Hot Wheels® model ever made. Here is an interesting detail not many collectors know. The VW Drag Bus designed by Phil Riehlman has his initials, PR, cast into the undercarriage of the rear differential.
Here is an article issue by Mattel and the RLC regarding the history behind this model.
RLC Article
www.hotwheelscollectors.com/rlconly/news.aspx?news_id=497#.Uq2xSWeA0dU
It was produced again in 1996 however this was extremely limited since it was given only to Mattel Employees in December of 1996. Produced in limited numbers of 1,500 (At least this is what is documented by Matty). Unfortunately this design has been reproduced and it is quite difficult to ascertain an original from a reproduction. Hint, original has a green roll cage and I hope this isn't reproduced either.
Image courtesy of the vettecollection.
It has been released over and over. I believe there are 93 re-issues. I will continue to update the chronology of this model going forward.
In the meantime for a complete listing of all releases check out the link below.
www.nchwa.com/newbusguide.html
Here is another source that lists even more VW Drag Bus releases
www.vettepiratemodelcars.ch/vc/SPECIAL/SPECIALS%20WEB/VC64%20VWa.html
I just wanted to mention this site below owned by Neal Giordano provides "The Definite Guide to Hot Wheels VW Buses".
www.nchwa.com/busgallery.html
The history alone is worth checking it out! Here is a sample of it...
"I often wonder if Phil Riehlman, the designer of the VW Bus casting, had any true idea of the waves that would be made in the Hot Wheels ocean when his creation was released! I can remember the day I was introduced to the VW Bus very clearly: Summertime, 1996. It was a Saturday. I was standing in front of the diecast aisle in Wal*Mart, when I noticed a very cool, blue Volkswagen Bus. As soon as I held it in my hand, I knew it was something special and more than just #6 of 12 in the 1996 First Editions Series. I noticed the weight; this model weighed 4 or 5 times more than regular Hot Wheels, it seemed. Cool blue paint. Vibrant red and yellow logo on the side. I was impressed. Irrelevant in the end; I needed it to add to my 1996 FE Series, so I threw it into the cart, and finished my shopping.
Fast forward, two weeks later. Word on the streets and at the diecast dealers is that the VW Bus is HOT! It immediately begins selling for $10.00 on the secondary markets, and becomes very difficult to find. It hits values anywhere from $25.00+ and peaks at around $100.00 before it becomes impossible to find. Everyone's looking for the Bus! Needless to say, I never saw another one on the pegs, or at retail for that matter.
Little did anyone know at that time that the VW Bus would become a major catalyst in re-igniting the Hot Wheels hobby. Yes, the 1995 New Model Series was a hit, and the "series concept" of numbering the cars and providing a ton of obvious variations certainly drew collectors back in. The new concept of the Treasure Hunt also added a nice twist. But, the hobby was still lacking a workhorse of sorts; something to really put Hot Wheels back onto the map. In comes the 1996 collecting year. Changes are in the wind. The New Model Series is changed to the First Editions Series, and we're introduced to the VW Bus. No one knew it was coming. As a matter of fact, the printing on the reverse of the cards stated that #6 in the 1996 FE Series was something called "Rocket Shot." The FE that never was.
Of course, the Bus wasn't issued in the same quantities as the regular First Editions. It's never been substantiated, but the general consensus is that a quantity of roughly 100,000 buses were issued into the line...."
By Neal Giordano
And there's more...
Follow this link for the full coverage of the history, Mattel Issues, Liberty Issues, Videos, Code 3 VW Buses, Custom Buses and more...
www.nchwa.com/busgallery.html
This design is basically the look of the actual Volkswagen Bus.
Another prototype was made and painted in white as shown below.
Both these Volkswagen Bus concept designs were not accepted. Mattel went back to the drawing board since “It wasn’t Hot Wheels® enough,” and Phil came up with this alternative concept design...
This is the pre-production model since it is unpainted.
Finally in 1995 after all the issues of making this model were cleared this was released as the Volkwagen Drag Bus! It was issued in numbers less than 100,000 produced.
The VW Drag Bus is one of the coolest models ever to be issued in the Hot Wheels® line! In 1996 it was released with plenty of fanfare and in limited numbers! It turned out to be the heaviest Hot Wheels® model ever made. Here is an interesting detail not many collectors know. The VW Drag Bus designed by Phil Riehlman has his initials, PR, cast into the undercarriage of the rear differential.
Here is an article issue by Mattel and the RLC regarding the history behind this model.
RLC Article
www.hotwheelscollectors.com/rlconly/news.aspx?news_id=497#.Uq2xSWeA0dU
It was produced again in 1996 however this was extremely limited since it was given only to Mattel Employees in December of 1996. Produced in limited numbers of 1,500 (At least this is what is documented by Matty). Unfortunately this design has been reproduced and it is quite difficult to ascertain an original from a reproduction. Hint, original has a green roll cage and I hope this isn't reproduced either.
Image courtesy of the vettecollection.
It has been released over and over. I believe there are 93 re-issues. I will continue to update the chronology of this model going forward.
In the meantime for a complete listing of all releases check out the link below.
www.nchwa.com/newbusguide.html
Here is another source that lists even more VW Drag Bus releases
www.vettepiratemodelcars.ch/vc/SPECIAL/SPECIALS%20WEB/VC64%20VWa.html
VW Bus History
I just wanted to mention this site below owned by Neal Giordano provides "The Definite Guide to Hot Wheels VW Buses".
www.nchwa.com/busgallery.html
The history alone is worth checking it out! Here is a sample of it...
"I often wonder if Phil Riehlman, the designer of the VW Bus casting, had any true idea of the waves that would be made in the Hot Wheels ocean when his creation was released! I can remember the day I was introduced to the VW Bus very clearly: Summertime, 1996. It was a Saturday. I was standing in front of the diecast aisle in Wal*Mart, when I noticed a very cool, blue Volkswagen Bus. As soon as I held it in my hand, I knew it was something special and more than just #6 of 12 in the 1996 First Editions Series. I noticed the weight; this model weighed 4 or 5 times more than regular Hot Wheels, it seemed. Cool blue paint. Vibrant red and yellow logo on the side. I was impressed. Irrelevant in the end; I needed it to add to my 1996 FE Series, so I threw it into the cart, and finished my shopping.
Fast forward, two weeks later. Word on the streets and at the diecast dealers is that the VW Bus is HOT! It immediately begins selling for $10.00 on the secondary markets, and becomes very difficult to find. It hits values anywhere from $25.00+ and peaks at around $100.00 before it becomes impossible to find. Everyone's looking for the Bus! Needless to say, I never saw another one on the pegs, or at retail for that matter.
Little did anyone know at that time that the VW Bus would become a major catalyst in re-igniting the Hot Wheels hobby. Yes, the 1995 New Model Series was a hit, and the "series concept" of numbering the cars and providing a ton of obvious variations certainly drew collectors back in. The new concept of the Treasure Hunt also added a nice twist. But, the hobby was still lacking a workhorse of sorts; something to really put Hot Wheels back onto the map. In comes the 1996 collecting year. Changes are in the wind. The New Model Series is changed to the First Editions Series, and we're introduced to the VW Bus. No one knew it was coming. As a matter of fact, the printing on the reverse of the cards stated that #6 in the 1996 FE Series was something called "Rocket Shot." The FE that never was.
Of course, the Bus wasn't issued in the same quantities as the regular First Editions. It's never been substantiated, but the general consensus is that a quantity of roughly 100,000 buses were issued into the line...."
By Neal Giordano
And there's more...
Follow this link for the full coverage of the history, Mattel Issues, Liberty Issues, Videos, Code 3 VW Buses, Custom Buses and more...
www.nchwa.com/busgallery.html
