Friday, January 17, 2020

#20-05 - 3 Window 34



3 Window 34
        
A picture-perfect example of a classic Hot Rod. There are many examples throughout Hot wheels history. It has been featured 70 times and was last featured in 2013. [1] The casting is modeled after 34 ford. A Popular Hot Rod for the late 60s and then again in the late 80s including that now famous bright red hot rod featured in a music video on MTV. The rock band ZZ Top brought this style of Hot Rod to the mainstream as the members were and presumably still are avid hot rod collectors. Shortly after that, everyone seemed to have an interpretation of this timeless classic. Hot Wheels is always in tune with the automotive scene and cast this classic very nicely...



The 3 window 34 casting was released in 1980. Some of the highlights for this casting are: [1]
-          - 1984 & 1985 releases in the Real Rider series snatch these up when you can, they are hard to find for sale and fetch premiums.
-          - 1987 release with a similar decal as the video car from ZZ top.
-          -  2 features in the Treasure hunt line (1998 & 2005)
-          - Featured in the Classic Line (1988 & 1989)
-          -   Featured in the 2009 Larry’s Garage series (a higher end line to celebrate the works of Larry Wood – Hot wheels designer)



Did I mention collectors? Well, with over 70 different releases to hunt down, this one can either be a collector dream piece or nemesis if you are trying to get them all. They are however easy to find at a good price so building a collection of the 3 window 34 is quick and easy but finding every version can be daunting.







This is a great casting for any Hot Rod collection. It has all the lines and looks of a nicely done street scene hot rod. A visible V8 with air scoop popping through the hood mildly. The base provides front and rear bumpers to be cast in solid metal and well detailed to add to the look. The rumble seat compartment is cast in as well as a sunroof. The fenders are plastic and are molded in a color found in the decals or the color of the body. Wheels vary with release, 5 spokes or blackwalls look the part but real riders and some of the higher end wheel treatments look really make this casting look great.  The grill and headlight assembly are part of the engine casting, making the headlights unusually sturdy for a plastic piece that hangs out in space. Because of the way they are molded, finding one in played with condition but still all together is easy.



The metal base provides some weight to the casting which makes this one good on track, but the body lines make it difficult to use with track boosters. A 50s diner scene alongside some of the other hot rods in the hot wheels line would make for a great looking diorama (hmmm). My collection features a couple of these gems but they are mostly older / earlier releases, so they stay in the packaging for now. With the addition of newer and more modernized releases like the 32 Ford and the addition of rat rod castings, the 3 window 34 could be phasing out soon so collectors might need to look at this one closer.




As a rock music fan, the 80s had many different styles happening in the car scene. I was just getting started in the Hot Wheels collecting hobby but my focus was more on muscle cars and exotics at the time. When the ZZ top music video hit MTV and I witnessed the car, I was immediately captivated and began taking interest in this era or style of Hot Rods. It was a style that quickly swept the car scene. Every car show and cruise in would have a new interpretation of this style of hot rod. The style and interest have faded some, moving toward the rat rod styling. However, every now and then, one of these iconic hot rods still show up at a car show and the crowds gather. If they are done well, they are captured on cell phones throughout the car show.
This is also the make and model of the car stolen by Bonny and Clyde in which they were eventually "caught" in. Hot Wheels and Mattel tend to stay away from representing this type of vehicle history and respect is given for not glorifying darker parts of automotive history. However, I didn’t want to overlook that fact for the real cars history. Although, a Bonny and Clyde edition with bullet holes would be a cool collectors piece.



Bountiful peg hunting fellow collectors and happy days to those who just chose to read along my rambles about my collection of Hot Wheels. Leave a comment while you are here and see next week with some very cool issues.

Thank you all,
Collector Quentin…



I own the actual diecast pictured in these posts. However, all packaging artwork, Mattel or Hot Wheels logos, paint descriptions and wheel descriptions in regard to the Hot Wheels versions are copyrights of the Mattel toy company.


Ford is a trademark of the Ford Motor Company.

[1] Casting information gathered from

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