#20-11 Bone Shaker

Bone Shaker

The Bone shaker. The latest flagship car for the Hot Wheels brand. Hot Wheels has always embodied and celebrated cool hot rods and custom cars. Flagship car – a car that Mattel / Hot Wheels has actually manufactured into a real-life car that tours to chows and collector events around the United States. In an episode of Jay Leno Garage, a Hot Wheels designer noted that there are 14 such cars. The Bone Shaker is one of those additions. Darth Vader is the latest.

     The Bone Shaker casting has been featured in the Xbox Forza Motorsport video game and is the only car in the id series app to have a different paint job for the app car than the physical casting.  

The Bone Shaker was designed by Larry Wood and was first released in 2006 [1]. Bone shaker is the embodiment of the rat rod styling. A huge skull for a front grill, the skeleton hands holding the headlights in place. No frills interior, just seats and pedals are all you need. There have been a couple different versions of the casting. The main casting has an open roof. There is also a casting with a closed roof. There is a 1:48 scale release. 2018 collectors were treated to a limited run chase version with rubber tires painted like the real-life car and there were only 10000 pieces made, making it extremely rare and expensive when found for sale.

Bone Shaker has been in the main line every year since 2006 and has been featured in most of the Premium line including the 2020 Boulevard set which is a collector favorite (the boulevard sets have premium liveries and real riders with special wheels). There is also a special Batman 5 pack release that has not appeared anywhere else, the Joker Bone Shaker with purple paint and green wheels. Bone Shaker is a simple casting with not too much detail, but it doesn’t need a lot of detail, it is a true rat rod and that is how rat rods are meant to be. Bad to the Bone!!!

The real car is an exact replica (not sure which came first) of the 1:64 version. If you are curious about the specs and more images, check out this short article for more information:

https://hotwheels.mattel.com/explore/HW_50th/en/2011-bone-shaker

(photo courtesy of Google - labeled for reuse)

Take note that the real car is the open top version! There is no doubt that the Bone Shaker, weather in real life or on the pegs, will be sure to entertain and amuse all ages of Hot Wheels fans for many years to come.

Happy Peg Hunting,

Collector Quentin

       

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

[1] Casting information gathered from:

https://hotwheels.fandom.com/wiki/Bone_Shaker   

#20-12 Rodger Dodger

 Rodger Dodger

Its all in the name sometimes. The Rodger Dodger is a great piece of Hot Wheels history. The casting continues to be featured in the mainline including 2020 releases. With some stints out of production, the casting has been around for 21 years! (excluding the out of production years)

     The casting was first released in 1974 [1]. It had a short run up to 1979 and then was re-tooled and re-released in 2000. The re-tooling just brought it up into the new century. However, in 2015 it was re-tooled again and brought the casting closer to reality as the exhaust was relocated from the hood to behind the front wheels and now exits below the front fenders [2]. The versions with the exhaust pipes on the hood is really cool but not sure if I can even imagine being able to see past them!

     Rodger Dodger is another fantastic creation of Larry Wood [3].  The latest release in the mainline (2020) is a gorgeous steam punk livery with gold and silver accents on a matte black paint. This release also has Grey wheels, something fairly new but really adds to the look of the steam punk look. 2019 also saw Rodger Dodger get released in the new id series line up (see my feature in the id series). It is an Amazon exclusive release and has another gorgeous livery in white, black and gold.

  From a collector’s angle, this is a gem. The first releases in the flying colors line are very difficult to track down and there is a very rare blue version of the first release. Rodger Dodger has been featured in several collector convention releases and the coveted treasure hunt line in 2001 and again in 2005 [4].

    

                    

    I personally owned a 1973 Charger SE with a 318. It was a fun, big car. It was no where near the pavement bruiser that the Rodger Dodger represents but I do wish I had though to invest in recreating the Rodger Dodger. I imagine the powerplant would be a 426 or 440 big block. Reminiscing, I remember a lot of fun with this car even though it wasn’t much on power. 70s era chargers have gained a lot of popularity in the real car collector market and seeing one at a car show is always a treat.

                  

Happy Hunting,

Collector Quentin

       

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

Dodge and Charger are copyrights of Fiat FCA LLC.

[1] Casting information gathered from:

https://hotwheels.fandom.com/wiki/Rodger_Dodger

#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

https://hotwheels.fandom.com/wiki/3-Window_%2734

#4 Purple Passion

Purple Passion

        

 Lowriders, hot rods. Pinstripes, Velour interiors, flames, side pipes and a pavement pounding V8. Frenched headlights, taillights and door handles. The image I just painted could go 2 different ways and that is why I paused. I know there are pictures but what did you picture as you read that description? Well, to clear the image up a little bit, we are directly focusing our attention on an entire car culture and its implied icon, the Leadsled.

  

             The real-life car it is cast in the likeness of is a 49-51 Mercury Eight. I state it this way because there is no indication, I could find that the casting refers to any particular car, more of a representation that sums up a mixed style of car cultures. Quite possibly a tribute to something the designer (Larry Wood) [1] had witnessed along his journeys. It is an expression of art in automotive form. At car shows, this is always one of the cars that everyone stops at and takes a picture of. When it comes to customizing cars, this one is the original that everyone looks for. It started the craze. Now, it is very rare unless you are at a large-scale car show or maybe in the southern California area to get to see one of these treasures slide on down the road. The “Leadsled” refers to a couple makes of the same time frame (49-51) and refers to the weight of the steel body. The sled portion refers to the style of lowering the car enough so that it  resembles the car sliding down the road rather than driving. The fender skirts also help complete this look. They were not meant to be speed demons; they are meant to ride low and slow and in stylish fashion. I really enjoy seeing these cars at a car show as there is no limit set for the creativity of the builder and there is always a new interpretation of the culture and the elements that make this style such a personalized expression of art and vision. With so much body to work with, it also implies a real dedication of the builder.

                                                                  

         And now, we focus this week on what I like to think is an absolute icon in Hot Wheels. It has been featured so many times that there is something for everyone to have in their collection. The casting is spot on for the image of a decked-out lowrider, hot rod, showstopper. It is cast in the imagery of a 49-50 Mercury Eight. The grill is perfectly detailed. The frenched lights and body molded license plate area are present and the chopped roof just gives this casting the lifestyle it resembles. The side pipes tucked under the rocker panels with what we assume is the flipper style exhaust gates seen on this type of custom. The liveries this car has had also tells a clear story about the casting to the hardened collector. The assortment of paint jobs has included heavily flamed to subtle pinstripes and it pulls off every one with style. Only very rarely has this casting donned a wild paint job. This tells me that there was a level of respect for this automotive style that was meant to remain even into the Hot Wheels culture. The pink version was a mystery car from 2010 [2]. The purple version with the white walls is a first release from 1990. It was also featured as a treasure hunt in the 2005 series and was a 10th anniversary of treasure hunts and bears a special logo on it with real rider tires and beautiful black with red / orange flame job livery.

            The casting remains in the lineup because although there have been several lowrider releases in the A2K (after 2000) years, none of them have stood the test of time when it comes to just cool car to collect and with over 99 versions [3] to find, there is bound to be something to elevate any collection. White wall tires are pretty cool, but I feel like they don’t seem to fit the imagery of a lowrider / hot rod of this type. The Black wall versions are great, and the lace wheel versions are second only to the treasure hunts wheels, not because or rarity or value, just that the real rider wheels fit the image of the hot rod style perfectly. Flame paints have been complimentary to every version and the pinstriping is spot on for the car culture it represents. All in all, this casting has too much to offer and serves as a direct link to an entire car culture that spans several styles. Just the same as it is an expression of art in automotive form, the Purple Passion is an exemplary example of cool cars which is exactly what the Hot Wheels castings are directly founded on.

  

           I started this blog for a similar reason. When I started collecting, it was born out of the love for the self-expression of hot rods. I love cars, I enjoy seeing different interpretations of them and this type of car is just that. If I had a garage full of cool cars, this would be high on the list of one to have so I keep my eye on the pegs when I know it is part of the lineup. I can hear the trumpets and that infamous song playing in the back of my mind as I wind this review down. Slide into the sunset big daddy with that jam a playin….. Low-ri-der.

[1, 2, 3] https://hotwheels.fandom.com/wiki/Purple_Passion website accessed November 2, 2019

As always, although I own the diecast pictured in these posts, all artwork, logos, car names, paint descriptions and wheel descriptions are copyrights of the Mattel toy company.

Mercury is a trademark of the Ford Motor Company.