| As a Hot Wheels buyer and a collector of vintage | | | | of these cars, (called "Spoilers") such as the: |
| Hot Wheels (known as Redlines, in collector circles) | | | | Heavy Chevy Boss Hoss Nitty Gritty Kitty King Kuda |
| for over 16 years, I've determined my own ways to | | | | Evil Weevil |
| determine the value of Vintage Hot Wheels. | | | | While the Spoilers do not get close to the value of |
| It boils down to putting the Hot Wheels into groups, | | | | the Muscle Cars, there are a few that, when found in |
| based on popularity and rarity and using a price guide | | | | the right color, can command even more than the |
| or eBay to see what current pricing reveals. | | | | Muscle Cars! |
| In this article, I'd like to give a broad overview of | | | | There are other "real" cars that are also popular, such |
| what makes a Redline Hot Wheels car valuable. | | | | as the Custom Volkswagen and the Beach Bomb, |
| Popularity | | | | but that do not fall into the realm of muscle cars. |
| This might remind you of high school days, but in | | | | When it comes to these "real" cars, a typical |
| much the same way that some people were just | | | | collection might contain 10% to 15% of these cars. |
| plain popular and others were not, certain Redlines | | | | Category 2 - Concept Cars |
| are more popular than others and there's no getting | | | | While the late '60s was a period of intense innovation |
| around this. | | | | in the automotive performance market, it was also a |
| We can break the popularity down into three main | | | | time of discovering the world of customization. |
| categories: | | | | Many unusual designs were conceived and created by |
| Category 1 - "Real" cars and muscle cars | | | | the likes of George Barris, Tom Daniels, Harry Bradley |
| Let's face it, the reason most people collect die-cast | | | | and other customizers of the day. |
| cars in general and Hot Wheels in particular is that it | | | | These whimsical and wild concept cars were |
| allows them to live out a fantasy of owning and | | | | sometimes one-off show cars and other times actual |
| driving a lot of cool cars! When it comes to Redline | | | | concept cars produced for the factory. |
| Hot Wheels, this is a powerful draw towards the cars | | | | In either case, they were interesting looks into the |
| that were actually produced by real automobile | | | | future, complete with bubble tops, moving parts, |
| companies in the '60s. | | | | rockets and giant engines. It must be noted that |
| Some collectors may have had the experience of | | | | some "real" cars also fall into this category - typically |
| actually being driven around in a '67 Cougar or a '57 | | | | these are European cars that didn't carry as much |
| Nomad and those little cars represent a fond | | | | excitement as muscle cars. Cars like the Mercedes |
| memory being relived each time the collector looks at | | | | 280 SL or the Maserati Mistral or the Rolls Royce |
| the cars. | | | | Silver Shadow. |
| So, as you'll learn, the real cars tend to sell for more | | | | These represent the second level of popularity and |
| money, simply because people can relate to them on | | | | value when it comes to Redline Hot Wheels. |
| more than one level. | | | | Some of the cars in this category include: |
| Now, within this realm of real cars, there is an even | | | | Silhouette Beatnik Bandit Torero Turbofire Carabo |
| more powerful draw and that is "muscle cars". | | | | Mercedes C-111 |
| Anyone who knows about automotive history | | | | A typical collection would be made up of about 30% |
| realizes that the years 1965 to 1970 were the | | | | of these types of cars. |
| "heyday" years for the American automobile industry | | | | Category 3 - Common cars |
| - there was more innovation and excitement | | | | The common cars are called common because it |
| throughout those years than at anytime before or | | | | seems that more of these were produced and - |
| since. | | | | adding insult to injury, they also happen to have the |
| What caused all the excitement? The muscle car did! | | | | least demand because they are either "ugly" designs |
| A muscle car was basically composed of a big engine | | | | or they are race car designs of the day. (that |
| in an intermediate or small car, which had the effect | | | | happened to be an exciting thing back then, but |
| of moving that car very quickly in a drag race! | | | | nowadays, not so much) |
| Those were the years when performance ruled and | | | | These common cars make up the bulk of most |
| fuel economy was a very distant concern. | | | | collections and do not carry anywhere near the value |
| Well, those heady days of performance engines | | | | that the published price guide attribute to them for |
| roaring and tires screeching were instantly burned into | | | | the above reasons. |
| the minds and hearts of impressionable boys - boys | | | | The cars that fall into this category include both |
| who were too young to be driving yet, but who | | | | concept and race cars such as: |
| could easily replicate the sights, sound and emotions | | | | Paddy Wagon Red Baron Jack Rabbit Special Indy |
| through their Redline Hot Wheels and accompanying | | | | Eagle Brabham Repco F1 Shelby Turbine Lotus |
| track sets. | | | | Turbine Lola GT70 Ford Mk IV McLaren Rolls Royce |
| Well, as those memories were implanted into the | | | | Silver Shadow |
| boys, (who are now men) the muscle cars are | | | | Most collections are made up of about 50% to 60% |
| therefore the most popular type of Redline Hot | | | | of these types of cars. So, as you can see, there is |
| Wheels and that popularity means they are the Rock | | | | a hierarchy of values when it comes to Hot Wheels |
| Stars of the Redline world. | | | | values, mostly based on popularity and demand. |
| A few of the cars that fall into this category include: | | | | There are other determinants of value, of course, |
| Custom Camaro Custom Mustang Custom Cougar | | | | such as the color of a particular car or the rarity |
| Custom Barracuda Custom Dodge Charger Custom | | | | (prototype, FEP or store display) which I will address |
| AMX Olds 442 | | | | in another article. |
| And don't forget the souped up drag race versions | | | | |