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The second year of Hot Wheels production castings included 24 new models designed by Ira Gilford. and the continuation of 15 of the 16 models first released by Mattel in 1968 under the California Custom Miniatures series name designation. The Beatnik Bandit was replaced by the Classic '36 Ford Coupe both in the production casting itself and by the previously used stock number of 6217. (? - needs additional verfication)
The Custom name designation for castings continued in use for the new AMX and Charger based releases. Some of the reviewed sites also designate the Continental Mark III and Police Cruiser as being part of the Custom designation. The base of the Continental does carry the Custom designation above the model name, but the known packaging references and collector buttons do not. The Police Cruiser is noted to only show base designations of Police Cruiser or just Cruiser.
You can also often find the Maserati, Rolls Royce and Mercedes castings identifed as being from the "European" Series. This reference maybe associated with the cars distributed in Great Britain where they are so designated on the card front. (Perhaps a HobbyTalk member/collector from Great Britian can share their experience/knowledge with the early Redlines distributed in the United Kingdom back then with us at some point.)
Another new naming designation of 'Classics' was used for the previously mentioned Ford Coupe as well as the other 3 new Ford models of the Vicky, Woody and '57 T-Bird first released in 1969.
Individual blister packaging shape continued in the same previous year's off centered hanger design with mostly left to right orange to yellow fades being noted and some all orange and a few all yellow background cards noted. (Here again it is not possible to know which year blister packs are actually being shown in the sites and books reviewed as corresponding card backs are (usually) not ever shown with them.) The same red and orange Hot Wheels logo at the top of the card front with the same black Matty Mattel button continues to be used this year.
The new exclusive Grand Prix Series card front were done with a new green back ground in place of the previous orange/yellow offers noted on the card fronts. They also feature a left facing purple Brabham Repco F-1 race car depicted as the main car image graphic for this series of castings. (Notice is made that a real distinction between 1968 castings and 1969 castings is only discernable in those still blistered items (possibly by the noted background color changes), but primarily from the casting lists and stock numbers. Along with other dates or mail in offer information that is printed on the individual card backs.) Ira Gilford is also credited with the development of this series line.
The Lotus and Shelby Turbine and the Indy Eagle from the Grand Prix Series are also the first 3 castings to feature factory application of the Hot Wheels logo decal (convientally located) on the right hand side of the body.
A noted reference to a related Show & Go casting series from 1969 is seen on images of blister packs distributed in Great Britian.
Referenced resources -
http://hotwheels.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_1969_Hot_Wheels
http://www.onlineredlineguide.com/1969.html
http://www.hwredlines.com/menu-grp/hw-69.shtml
http://www.hwprotos.com/menu-grp/hw-69.shtml
http://www.nchwa.com/1969.html
The Elite Redline Guide (2010)
The Custom name designation for castings continued in use for the new AMX and Charger based releases. Some of the reviewed sites also designate the Continental Mark III and Police Cruiser as being part of the Custom designation. The base of the Continental does carry the Custom designation above the model name, but the known packaging references and collector buttons do not. The Police Cruiser is noted to only show base designations of Police Cruiser or just Cruiser.
You can also often find the Maserati, Rolls Royce and Mercedes castings identifed as being from the "European" Series. This reference maybe associated with the cars distributed in Great Britain where they are so designated on the card front. (Perhaps a HobbyTalk member/collector from Great Britian can share their experience/knowledge with the early Redlines distributed in the United Kingdom back then with us at some point.)
Another new naming designation of 'Classics' was used for the previously mentioned Ford Coupe as well as the other 3 new Ford models of the Vicky, Woody and '57 T-Bird first released in 1969.
Individual blister packaging shape continued in the same previous year's off centered hanger design with mostly left to right orange to yellow fades being noted and some all orange and a few all yellow background cards noted. (Here again it is not possible to know which year blister packs are actually being shown in the sites and books reviewed as corresponding card backs are (usually) not ever shown with them.) The same red and orange Hot Wheels logo at the top of the card front with the same black Matty Mattel button continues to be used this year.
The new exclusive Grand Prix Series card front were done with a new green back ground in place of the previous orange/yellow offers noted on the card fronts. They also feature a left facing purple Brabham Repco F-1 race car depicted as the main car image graphic for this series of castings. (Notice is made that a real distinction between 1968 castings and 1969 castings is only discernable in those still blistered items (possibly by the noted background color changes), but primarily from the casting lists and stock numbers. Along with other dates or mail in offer information that is printed on the individual card backs.) Ira Gilford is also credited with the development of this series line.
The Lotus and Shelby Turbine and the Indy Eagle from the Grand Prix Series are also the first 3 castings to feature factory application of the Hot Wheels logo decal (convientally located) on the right hand side of the body.
A noted reference to a related Show & Go casting series from 1969 is seen on images of blister packs distributed in Great Britian.
Referenced resources -
http://hotwheels.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_1969_Hot_Wheels
http://www.onlineredlineguide.com/1969.html
http://www.hwredlines.com/menu-grp/hw-69.shtml
http://www.hwprotos.com/menu-grp/hw-69.shtml
http://www.nchwa.com/1969.html
The Elite Redline Guide (2010)
