Custom Mustang
PRODUCTION RUN: 1968 ~ 1969
Casting Comparison:
The U.S. version of the Custom Mustang has clear windows, tail lights that are cast into the base, a matte black painted front grille, “power bulges” on the hood and the interior was available in assorted colors in which the dash board and steering wheel are molded.
The Hong Kong version has blue tinted windows, tail lights that are cast into the body, an unpainted front grille, “power bulges” on the hood and the interior was available in assorted colors in which there was no dash board and a black steering wheel is inserted through the interior. All Hong Kong castings have the body line (bone line) that runs along the sides from just in front of the rear wheel well to the nose which runs above the front wheel well.
Casting Details:
The early run Hong Kong castings can be found with as many as four “deep dish” wheels. In addition, early Hong Kong castings in red and gold only were produced with open hood scoops, a silver painted engine and the rear panel is painted to match the body color. These are harder to find. Very early run U.S. castings found in blue, gold and red only have chrome U.S. wheels, the rear panel is painted to match the body color and on some examples the body line (bone line) that runs along the sides from just in front of the rear wheel well to the nose, runs above the front wheel well. On the more common U.S. castings, this body line is interrupted by the front wheel well. In addition, early U.S. castings can also be found with a convex or flat fire wall cast into the engine bay. The more common U.S. castings do not have a firewall. Later U.S. castings in medium blue, a darker blue and orange only were produced with blue tinted windows where the rear window is louvered. Usually, the rear panel is painted gloss black only in the middle between the tail lights where the more common rear panel is fully painted matte black. For quite a while it was believed that the louvered rear window Custom Mustang only came with a white interior. In recent years however, a few have been discovered with a dark interior giving the notion that they were either over looked for some time or they are in fact much harder to find then their white interior counterparts.
Note: To date, all Antifreeze Custom Mustangs found with louvered windows have been fakes.
Non-Louvered, Closed Hood Scoop Non-Louvered, Open Hood Scoop
U.S. H.K. H.K. Only
Gold Gold Gold
Blue Red Red/Red Int.
Red Red/Red Int. Red/White Int.
Antifreeze Copper
Copper Green
Aqua Blue
Green Olive Louvered, Closed Hood Scoop
Purple Aqua U.S. Only
Lime Purple Medium Blue
Creamy Pink Orange Orange
Olive Creamy Pink
Rose
Light Blue
Orange
Brown
Watermelon (store display only)
Non-Louvered, Closed Hood Scoop, Matching Painted Tail
U.S. Only
Blue
Gold
Red
U.S. in purple
Custom T-Bird
PRODUCTION RUN: 1968 ~ 1969
Casting Comparison:
The U.S. version of the Custom T- Bird has clear windows, a thinner front grille painted matte black and the interior was available in assorted colors in which the dash board and steering wheel are molded.
The Hong Kong version has blue tinted windows, a thicker unpainted front grille and the interior was available in assorted colors in which there was no dash board and a black steering wheel is inserted through the interior.
Casting Details:
The early run Hong Kong castings can be found with as many as four “deep dish” wheels. Early run U.S. castings can be found with chrome U.S. wheels. In addition, some U.S. castings have been produced without a smooth black roof and are listed below. Later U.S. castings have been found with door lines cast onto the body and are valued higher than those without doorlines. All Hong Kong castings were produced with a smooth black roof and never had door lines. Few early run U.S. examples can be found with full front fenders and small bearing wheels on the front. Note: not all gold white interior versions are a store display as some have been found in sets. The tooling was quickly changed to the much more common thinner fenders and medium bearing wheels on the front.
With Painted Black Roof Without Painted Black Roof
U.S. H.K. U.S. Only
Aqua Aqua Aqua
Copper Gold Blue
Gold Copper Green
Blue Creamy Pink Gold
Purple Blue Purple
Green Green Red
Olive Purple Antifreeze
Red Red Gold/White Int. (store display)
Antifreeze Olive
Light Blue Orange
Orange
U.S. in gold
Custom Volkswagen
PRODUCTION RUN: 1968 ~ 1969
Casting Comparison:
The U.S. version of the Custom Volkswagen has clear windows, a sliding sunroof, metal engine, taller windshield, headlights cast onto the body and the interior was available in assorted colors in which the dash board and steering wheel are molded.
The Hong Kong version has blue tinted windows, a sliding sunroof, chrome plastic engine, shorter windshield, headlights cast onto the base that peer out from holes in the body and the interior was available in assorted colors in which there was no dash board and a black steering wheel is inserted through the interior.
Casting Details:
The early run Hong Kong castings can be found with as many as four “deep dish” wheels. Some Hong Kong castings have been found with a solid roof ("no sunroof" or NSR). On this version there are no side windows and the interior has a bar that runs vertical on either side of the seat. It has only been found in Japanese and U.K. blister packs and was never released for sale in the U.S. The U.S. always had a sliding sunroof. Some interesting points to note regarding U.S. bases is that the small "c" (copyright) base was the second generation of U.S. Custom Volkswagen bases following the all upper case letters “VOLKSWAGEN” text base. The small "c" base carried over all the characteristics of the fist generation upper case letters base, except for the “VOLKSWAGEN” lettering which only has an upper case “V” followed by all lower case letters. The more common base has a large “C” (copyright) and the word “CUSTOM” is found in all upper case lettering while the word “Volkswagen” is found with only the “V” in upper case and the rest of the letters in lower case.
With Sliding Sun Roof With No Sun Roof (NSR)
U.S. H.K. H.K. Only
Aqua Red Blue
Copper Aqua Aqua
Red Blue Green
Green Green Red
Gold Orange Green Enamel
Orange Copper Orange
Antifreeze Olive Copper
Lime Green Enamel
Brown Purple
Olive Light Blue
Purple
Rose
Creamy Pink
Magenta
Light Blue
Hot Pink
Yellow
U.S. in aqua
Deora
PRODUCTION RUN: 1968 ~ 1969
Casting Comparison:
The U.S. version of the Deora has clear windows, a black painted bed, yellow and orange plastic surfboards inserted through a small opening on the rear window, the front end and louvered headlights cast onto the base and the interior was available in assorted colors in which the dash board and steering wheel are molded.
The Hong Kong version has blue tinted windows, a black painted bed, yellow and orange plastic surfboards inserted through a small opening on the rear window, the front end and smooth headlights cast onto the body and the interior was available in assorted colors in which there was no dash board and a black steering wheel is inserted through the interior.
Casting Details:
The early run Hong Kong castings can be found with as many as four “deep dish” wheels. In addition, early run Hong Kong versions can be found with a partially painted to match base and painted headlight bezels. It is also very common to find the Hong Kong version where the steering wheel is loose inside the cab. By majority, this does not affect value. Some U.S. castings are found where the rear post is un-spun but this does not add a premium to value. There have been some castings found without the rear bed painted matte black but this is attributed to a factory oversight and does not add a premium to value. The Hong Kong version was modified slightly for the Sky Show Track Set in 1970 where an orange ramp is fastened to the rear bed. (Please see the Skyshow Deora for more casting details regarding this version.)
U.S. H.K.
Aqua Antifreeze
Purple Aqua
Antifreeze Gold
Gold Purple
Red Orange
Green
Lime
Blue
U.S. in gold
Ford J-Car
PRODUCTION RUN: 1968 ~ 1971
Casting Comparison:
The U.S. version of the Ford J-Car has clear windows, rocker panels cast on the body, an opening engine cover with louvered vents, an unpainted base and the interior was commonly available in black in which the dash board and steering wheel are molded.
The Hong Kong version has blue tinted windows, rocker panels cast on the base, an opening engine cover where the vents do not have louvers, a painted to match base and the interior was available in black in which there was no dash board and a black steering wheel is inserted through the interior.
Casting Details:
Early Hong Kong castings can be found with a “hidden hinge.” This is the result of the rear engine cover being cast without openings where the engine cover and base hinge together, thus concealing the hinge. With the much more common castings you can see the hinge when looking at the base. Also, a small number of Hong Kong castings have been found with louvered vents and are valued higher than those without. A champagne or light brown colored interior has been found in some U.S. castings which are considered rare and valued higher. Later U.S. castings were produced with a post cast to the engine cover and a stopper cast on the base which prevents the rear engine cover from opening completely. It is believed this was to prevent the engine cover from separating or breaking off from the chassis when opened. There is no premium added to value for this variation. Also, some early run H.K. castings can found with a silver painted engine and are valued higher than those that are not silver painted. The U.S. casting in enamel blue is very sought after and is considered rare. Some of these blue enamel J-Cars have a white undercoat leaving the blue enamel more vibrant. Both U.S. and Hong Kong castings included a sticker sheet with the number “1” and black and white banded strips for the rocker panels.
With Tan Interior Blue Enamel
U.S. H.K. U.S. Only U.S. Only
Aqua White Enamel Green Blue Enamel
Green Red Purple
Lime Green Blue
Brown Light Blue Antifreeze
Purple
White Enamel
Gold
Orange
Red
Olive
Rose
Blue
Light Blue
Creamy Pink
Antifreeze
Hot Pink
U.S. in green
Hot Heap
PRODUCTION RUN: 1968 ~ 1971
Casting Comparison:
The U.S. version of the Hot Heap has a clear windshield, metal engine, shorter spring box or trunk and the interior was available in assorted colors in which the steering wheel is molded.
The Hong Kong version has a blue tinted windshield, chrome plastic engine, longer spring box or trunk and the interior was available in assorted colors in which a steering wheel is inserted.
Casting Details:
Early U.S. castings have been found with a forward tilting windshield which is attributed to how it was released from the mold during manufacturing. This version sometimes warrants a slight premium added to value versus the more common castings. Contrary to popular belief, the light green U.S. Hot Heap has been found packaged in a blister pack and was not only offered in the Go Team gift pack. Also, early U.S. Hot Heaps can be found with straight exhaust pipes compared to the more common radius pipes. These straight pipes jettison straight out of the base where the radius pipes have a curve.
U.S. H.K.
Blue Blue
Green Green
Red Red
Gold Aqua
Aqua Orange
Orange Purple
Lime Brown
Antifreeze Copper
Olive Creamy Pink
Rose
Purple
Creamy Pink
Light Blue
Copper
Magenta
Light Green
Hot Pink
Yellow
Brown
U.S. in pink
Python
PRODUCTION RUN: 1968 ~ 1971
Casting Comparison:
The U.S. version of the Python has clear windows, a chrome plastic dual carburetor motor that is removable from the body, larger rear window, the front and rear cast onto the base and the interior was available in assorted colors in which the dash board and steering wheel are molded.
The Hong Kong version has blue tinted windows, a super charged chrome plastic motor that is not removable, smaller rear window, the front and rear cast onto the body and the interior was available in assorted colors in which there was no dash board and a black steering wheel is inserted through the interior.
Casting Details:
The early run Hong Kong castings can be found with as many as four “deep dish” wheels. Most all Hong Kong castings were produced with a smooth black roof however some can be found without one and are listed below. In addition, some Hong Kong castings can be found with longer exhaust pipes then the more common shorter version and command an additional premium on value. The U.S. castings were always produced with a smooth black roof and in some cases the black extended down the rear roof posts and wrapped around the rear window. The Python was originally called the Cheetah and very few, very early Hong Kong castings exist with this name and are extremely rare.
With Painted Black Roof Without Painted Black Roof
U.S. H.K. H.K. Only
Blue Blue Blue
Green Green Green
Red Red Red
Aqua Aqua Purple
Purple Purple Orange
Lime Orange
Antifreeze Olive "Cheetah" Base
Gold Copper U.S. H.K.
Olive Creamy Pink Gold Red
Orange
Brown
Rose
Creamy Pink
Light Blue
Hot Pink
Yellow
Magenta
U.S. in light blue
Silhouette
PRODUCTION RUN: 1968 ~ 1971
Casting Comparison:
The U.S. version of the Silhouette has a clear dome over the interior, a chrome plastic dual carburetor motor that is not removable and the interior was available in assorted colors in which the steering wheel is molded.
The Hong Kong version has a blue tinted dome, a super charged chrome plastic motor that is not removable and the interior was available in assorted colors in which a black steering wheel is inserted.
Casting Details:
The early run Hong Kong castings can be found with as many as four “deep dish” wheels. Also, early Hong Kong castings can be found with silver painted headlights. Some are also found where the area that surrounds the side exhaust pipes is cast into the body compared to the more common casting where the surrounding is part of the base. This is also true with early U.S. castings. Both the U.S. and Hong Kong castings were produced with painted to match bases but there are times when the body and base are different shades or different colors entirely. This does not add a premium to value but does make for an interesting variation.
U.S. H.K.
Blue Purple
Green Antifreeze
Red Green
Aqua Blue
Purple Aqua
Orange Red
Lime Purple/Purple Int.
Gold Creamy Pink
Olive
Rose
Antifreeze
Magenta
Yellow
Light Blue
Light Green
Creamy Pink
Hot Pink
Brown
U.S. in orange