Custom T-Bird

==Description==
The Custom T-Bird is a Hot Wheels casting, which was designed by Harry Bradley and debuted among the 'Original 16' in 1968. It is based on the real-life 1967 Ford Thunderbird. It features a die-cast body and chassis (base) and an opening hood which reveals a detailed engine. The Cars were packaged with a 'Collector's Button'.
The Custom T-Bird was manufactured in both the USA and Hong Kong production facilities and there are several differences between the two. USA versions were produced with clear glass and silver wheels, while Hong Kong (HK) had blue tinted glass and chrome wheels (all T-Birds came with 'Bearing' style Redline wheels). HK cars had an unpainted bare metal grille, and USA cars had a black painted grille which could be found completely painted black, or with the Thunderbird emblem unpainted. The front fender wells of USA T-Birds are larger and higher cut than their HK counterparts and the cowls are also larger. The Custom T-Bird featured painted rear taillights with USA versions painted in a metallic darker red and HK with a bright flat red. There are several differences between USA and HK bases, most notably the lack of suspension detail and four square holes (to view the bent-axel suspension) on the USA version, there are also multiple variations of the layout and size of the copyright information.
Multiple colored interiors could be found on the Custom T-Bird. USA interiors could be found in White, Tan or Dark Brown and HK interiors in White, Olive & Gray, Gray & Brown, Silver and Brown. Hong Kong cars had a seperate black steering wheel while USA cars had the steering wheel molded into the plastic.
The Custom T-Bird was painted in a wide variety of Spectraflame colors of which there are a handful of hard-to-find and rare versions. All Hong Kong cars and most USA cars came with a black painted roof which simulated the vinyl roof of the real car. USA 'No-Black-Roof' (NBR) cars are fairly uncommon and most notably the Spectraflame Gold NBR with a white interior, which could only be found in 1968 Store Displays.
During the end of the Custom T-Bird's production, the USA casting was modified in preparation for the TNT-Bird. The modified casting featured 'Door Lines' and are very rare.
In 2018, the Custom T-Bird was re-tooled for the HotWheelsCollectors.com Original 16 Series based on the original Hong Kong version.
== USA Versions==
The Custom T-Bird has come out in the following versions:
Year	Series 	Color 	Stickers	Base Color/Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes/Variations 	Photo
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Light Blue	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	Rare 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Blue 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Blue 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	No Black RoofHard to Find 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Aqua 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Aqua 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	No Black RoofHard to Find 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Aqua 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	Door LinesRare 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Green 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	Hard to Find 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Green 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	No Black RoofHard to Find 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Olive 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	Very Rare 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Dark 	RL 	6207 	USA 	No Black RoofRare 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	White 	RL 	6207 	USA 	No Black RoofStore DisplayVery Rare	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	Door LinesRare 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Antifreeze	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	Hard to Find 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Antifreeze	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	No Black RoofHard to Find 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Antifreeze	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	Door LinesVery Rare 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Orange 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	Rare 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Copper 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Red 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	Rare 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Red 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	No Black Roof"Hard to Find 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Purple 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Purple 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	USA 	No Black RoofHard to Find 	
==Hong Kong Versions==
The Custom T-Bird has come out in the following versions:
Year	Series 	Color 	Stickers	Base Color/Type	Window Color 	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Casting#	Country 	Notes/Variations	Photo
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Blue 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	Hong Kong	 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Aqua 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	Hong Kong	 	75px
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Green 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	Hong Kong	Hard to Find 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Olive 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	Hong Kong	Rare 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Copper 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	Hong Kong	 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	Hong Kong	 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Orange 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	Hong Kong	Rare 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Red 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	Hong Kong	 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Creamy Pink	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	Hong Kong	 	
1968	1968 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Purple 	None 	Unpainted/Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Multiple 	RL 	6207 	Hong Kong	Rare 	
==Retooled Versions==
Year	Series 	Color 	Graphics 	Base Color/Types	Window Color 	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes/Variations	Photo
2018	HotWheelsCollectors.com Original 16 	Spectraflame Olive	"BG BAD BRD" California License Plate 	Chrome/Metal 	Tinted (Light Blue)	Cream 	RL 	FCM75	China 	6,000 Produced 	
2018	HotWheelsCollectors.com Original 16 Display Set	Spectraflame Pink 	Black Grille, Tail Lights, Black Rear Panel, Black Roof	Chrome/Metal 	Tinted (Light Blue)	Cream 	RL 	FNC23	China 	1,500 Produced 	
==Gallery==
1968 Custom T-Bird Hong Kong BAse.jpg|Custom T-Bird Hong Kong Base
1968 TBIRD Aqua HK Dark Int.jpg
Custom T-Bird Collector Button.jpg|original Custom T-Bird collector button
==Notes==
*Some guides list Hong Kong Spectraflame Light Blue, this is unconfirmed.
*Early produced Hong Kong Aqua and Gold cars could be found with 'Deep Dish' wheels.
==External Links==
*HotWheelsCollectors.com Original 16: CUSTOM T-BIRD
Category:Licensed Hot Wheels
Category:Harry Bradley Designs
Category:Original 16
Category:1968 Hot Wheels
Category:Ford Vehicles
Category:T-Birds
Category:American Cars
Category:Vehicles with Movable Parts
Category:Muscle Cars
Category:2018 Hot Wheels
Category:Mark Jones Designs
Category:Retooled Versions
Category:HotWheelsCollectors.com Series
Category:Coupes
Category:Two/Three-door Vehicles