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Tiki Central / Collecting Tiki / Shag HotWheels!

Post #67071 by SugarCaddyDaddy on Wed, Dec 31, 2003 2:47 AM

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ShipWreck~

Actually,

  • Mattel introduced Hot Wheels to the marketplace in 1968, sometimes confused with Matchbox, which introduced their cars in 1953.

  • Mattel's version of the 1959 Cadillac, which is licensed as the '59 Caddy, was introduced to the retail market in 1991.

  • Mattel's '59 Caddy will show a date of 1989 on the bottom of the car. That is the date Mattel LICENSED the body style, which was approved by GM Motors, and actual production was delayed for release to retail stores until 1991.

  • Mattel's '59 Caddy has had the same body style since 1991, but has gone through over 24 different paint styles including different wheel variations for both the regular retail and limited edition markets.

  • The Shag~Vitua's Vessel '59 Caddy is only unique in its paint design only, it comes with a surfboard too, not normally available with the car in regular retail store production.

  • Lastly, "1962 Hot Wheels Cadillac Convertible" is a complete typo. It should technically read '59 Caddy because that is what GM licenses this model as, along with it's name, and all ads and printings of this car are suppose to have the proper name. Yeah, it's a "Cadillac" but, again TECHNICALLY, it's suppose to read " '59 Caddy ".

  • oh, and for your write-in cards for toy business trivia: Mattel now owns both Hot Wheels and Matchbox.

Hope this clears up the confusion.

BTW, if you are wondering how I know: I was a consultant to Mattel for their CDROM compilation of the collectors catalog whereby they took pictures of my personal collection of rare and prototype Hot Wheels and many of my cars were photographed for their catalog. Believe it or not it really wasn't until very recent years that Mattel took interest in the history of their own Hot Wheels. Only a couple of people from 1968 still work there at Mattel, that is why they relied so much on private collectors of rare Hot Wheels (yes, there is such a thing) to help them with their own history. Luckily for them, I was one of the people who actually kept up with their history all along.


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[ Edited by: SugarCaddyDaddy on 2003-12-31 02:50 ]