Not to be confused with the various “custom” 1:64 scale diecast cars on the market, which many are just simply wheel swaps, there are some actual factory produced “test cars” or “prototype vehicles” that were made by Hot Wheels (Mattel) that featured different options on them besides the assorted components selected for the final designs.
Here’s 2 prototype diecast cars, from the Hot Wheels ’87 Buick Regal GNX (black widow car) series.
These 2 below are the same vehicles, that they created 2 different test wheels for it, but as you’ve seen from the actual mass produced version, these 2 examples were not selected to be used.
1 rim version was a 5 spoke design, the other an 8 spoke style, both made in chrome.
[ see the final production car here: 87 Buick Regal GNX Diecast ]
Note that the vehicle paint/graphic design on these test cars is reversed from the real production car as well.
[ we think they should have used the chrome 5 spoke type shown, instead of the black 5 spoke rim style chosen to be used on the production car. They also should have kept the black paint scheme, as is on these prototypes, as it looks much better in our opinion. But since Hot Wheels used the red color for the car, that’s why they chose the black wheels for it, as it matches up with the black in the stripes on the side of the car ]
Both cars have stamped into it the code “P18” on the base.
(which is slightly different than the method and codes of other prototypes we’ve seen)
Also on the base (this is on all of the diecasts like this, not just test run cars):
’87 Buick Regal GNX
GJR71
2019 Mattel
1186 MJ, 1, ML
Made in Malaysia
These are both listed on ebay by that same Malaysia seller we’ve seen in the past.
(5 spoke currently $49 shipped; 8 spoke $22)
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