Post by ferrari512s on Dec 22, 2013 0:58:06 GMT -5
To continue this never ending saga regarding the Funny Money I present the following article for discussion purposes.
The "Missing" or "Lost" Redline Heavyweights® Model
From the years 1968 to 1970 Hot Wheels® reigned supreme in the toy die-cast marketplace. Mattel's Hot Wheels® enjoyed unprecedented success and was a retail sensation by breaking records as the number one selling toy. It even won the prestigious title of being honored the best new toy of the year in 1969.
By the year 1971 the sale of Hot Wheels® was beginning to decline. The reason for this unexpected drop in sales was at best unclear and ambiguous. We really don't know...no precise details found... (We could contemplate and generalize why this occurred further in this discussion). Hot Wheels® inventories were starting to stockpile in the production plants, as well as, retail warehouses. Mattel was becoming more than a bit concerned over this sudden shift in consumer spending. At the retail level, distributors were offering Hot Wheels® at reduced prices in an attempt to reduce the excess stock.
At Mattel headquarters many ideas which were on the drawing board for the following year 1972 were now being reconsidered, dropped or curtailed. For starters, the number of Hot Wheels® in the product line was trimmed, the number of metallic spectraflame colors was reduced, the numbers of new models were curtailed and the series concept was abandoned. (What happened to those matching collector's buttons? I really missed those). Furthermore the USA production plant was shut down and all tools and dies and inventories were shipped to Hong Kong. The decline in business at Mattel was considered so serious that eliminating the Hot Wheels® line altogether was discussed. Truly the golden era of Hot Wheels® was coming to an end.
And…more drastic changes would follow in the 1973 season within Hot Wheels® division of toys.
Somehow I strayed off topic…
One Hot Wheels® vehicle that fell victim to the series downsizing was the Armored Car. This new model was eventually titled Funny Money™ by the Hot Wheels namesmith who worked in the marketing department. By all accounts this vehicle Funny Money™ was destined to be one of the Heavyweights® as is evident by the name on the chassis. Furthermore for Mattel engineers and the tool and die makers to go through the trouble of casting the name in the tooling of the chassis meant this decision was planned a year or two in advance.
Here is where this Funny Money™ Heavyweights® series car becomes unclear. The Funny Money™ was never release in the special blister card packaging known as Heavyweights®. Instead it was one of the common seven new cars released in mainline for 1972.
By the way, Funny Money™ was actually copyright and designed in 1970. Larry Wood's sketch designs were completed March 13, 1970 and the Industrial Design Affiliates developed the toolings May 5, 1970. This model was waiting in the wings to be released as one of the Heavyweights® models... but sadly when the curtains rose it was simply one of the seven common models released in 1972. Nonetheless, this was quite a magnificent cast of seven for the year.
However, history has a way of leaving its mark in the sands of time. Vestiges of what Funny Money™ should have been part of "The Heavyweights®" series remains on this vehicle today and will forever be part of Hot Wheels myths and mystery known to us as the lost Heavyweights®.
Remember the base never lies! It is the revealer of truth and wisdom. So never doubt the all powerful omniscient base!
This image is courtesy of me Big Grin
Look more closely at the base...
Even closer...
What do you see now...
Yes, indeed I still see "The Heavyweights®" in embossed lettering on the chassis...only larger and more distinct. Big Grin
The story of the mystery base continues...
In 1974 when Funny Money™ was re-issued again, the base of casting tooling was modified as "THE HEAVYWEIGHTS®" wording was completely removed from the chassis.
This image is courtesy of meBig Grin
And so finally in 1974 Funny Money™ was no longer considered a part of "THE HEAVYWEIGHTS®" series!
It remained in production until 1977 and would be considered the oldest serving member of "THE HEAVYWEIGHTS®" club... if it was part of that club.
Remember, the base never lies! It is your friend and will guide you...
To conclude, by 1974 Funny Money™ was a phantom Heavyweights® no longer...
Then again ""THE HEAVYWEIGHTS®" club was dismantled after 1971 so this is all relative anyway.
And so this ends of another chapter of Hot Wheels history brought to you by those marketing gurus at Mattel!
Redlines! Fastest Metal Cars In The World!
The "Missing" or "Lost" Redline Heavyweights® Model
From the years 1968 to 1970 Hot Wheels® reigned supreme in the toy die-cast marketplace. Mattel's Hot Wheels® enjoyed unprecedented success and was a retail sensation by breaking records as the number one selling toy. It even won the prestigious title of being honored the best new toy of the year in 1969.
By the year 1971 the sale of Hot Wheels® was beginning to decline. The reason for this unexpected drop in sales was at best unclear and ambiguous. We really don't know...no precise details found... (We could contemplate and generalize why this occurred further in this discussion). Hot Wheels® inventories were starting to stockpile in the production plants, as well as, retail warehouses. Mattel was becoming more than a bit concerned over this sudden shift in consumer spending. At the retail level, distributors were offering Hot Wheels® at reduced prices in an attempt to reduce the excess stock.
At Mattel headquarters many ideas which were on the drawing board for the following year 1972 were now being reconsidered, dropped or curtailed. For starters, the number of Hot Wheels® in the product line was trimmed, the number of metallic spectraflame colors was reduced, the numbers of new models were curtailed and the series concept was abandoned. (What happened to those matching collector's buttons? I really missed those). Furthermore the USA production plant was shut down and all tools and dies and inventories were shipped to Hong Kong. The decline in business at Mattel was considered so serious that eliminating the Hot Wheels® line altogether was discussed. Truly the golden era of Hot Wheels® was coming to an end.
And…more drastic changes would follow in the 1973 season within Hot Wheels® division of toys.
Somehow I strayed off topic…
One Hot Wheels® vehicle that fell victim to the series downsizing was the Armored Car. This new model was eventually titled Funny Money™ by the Hot Wheels namesmith who worked in the marketing department. By all accounts this vehicle Funny Money™ was destined to be one of the Heavyweights® as is evident by the name on the chassis. Furthermore for Mattel engineers and the tool and die makers to go through the trouble of casting the name in the tooling of the chassis meant this decision was planned a year or two in advance.
Here is where this Funny Money™ Heavyweights® series car becomes unclear. The Funny Money™ was never release in the special blister card packaging known as Heavyweights®. Instead it was one of the common seven new cars released in mainline for 1972.
By the way, Funny Money™ was actually copyright and designed in 1970. Larry Wood's sketch designs were completed March 13, 1970 and the Industrial Design Affiliates developed the toolings May 5, 1970. This model was waiting in the wings to be released as one of the Heavyweights® models... but sadly when the curtains rose it was simply one of the seven common models released in 1972. Nonetheless, this was quite a magnificent cast of seven for the year.
However, history has a way of leaving its mark in the sands of time. Vestiges of what Funny Money™ should have been part of "The Heavyweights®" series remains on this vehicle today and will forever be part of Hot Wheels myths and mystery known to us as the lost Heavyweights®.
Remember the base never lies! It is the revealer of truth and wisdom. So never doubt the all powerful omniscient base!
This image is courtesy of me Big Grin
Look more closely at the base...
Even closer...
What do you see now...
Yes, indeed I still see "The Heavyweights®" in embossed lettering on the chassis...only larger and more distinct. Big Grin
The story of the mystery base continues...
In 1974 when Funny Money™ was re-issued again, the base of casting tooling was modified as "THE HEAVYWEIGHTS®" wording was completely removed from the chassis.
This image is courtesy of meBig Grin
And so finally in 1974 Funny Money™ was no longer considered a part of "THE HEAVYWEIGHTS®" series!
It remained in production until 1977 and would be considered the oldest serving member of "THE HEAVYWEIGHTS®" club... if it was part of that club.
Remember, the base never lies! It is your friend and will guide you...
To conclude, by 1974 Funny Money™ was a phantom Heavyweights® no longer...
Then again ""THE HEAVYWEIGHTS®" club was dismantled after 1971 so this is all relative anyway.
And so this ends of another chapter of Hot Wheels history brought to you by those marketing gurus at Mattel!
Redlines! Fastest Metal Cars In The World!