Custom Corvette

==Description==
The Custom Corvette was one of the first cars released in the original 1968 Hot Wheels line-up.
According to lore, because of the fact that Harry Bradley worked for GM shortly before moving to Mattel, he snuck out copies of the blueprints into his cane (he had polio) for the real '68 Stingray and used them as a base for the Hot Wheels model. Since he was a designer there, he knew exactly where to get the materials for designing these new "Hot Wheels" in 1967; when the casting was released, GM "was not happy".
When the first 16 Hot Wheels debuted in the summer of 1968 (the Custom Corvette was one of them), the cat was out of the bag, as Chevrolet's 1968 Corvette was not due out for another few months still. This worked out in a good way, as it created more hype for Chevrolet and the Stingray from both kids and adults alike.
===US vs Hong Kong===
All USA versions had Clear glass, a steering wheel that was inserted in the dashboard and the end of the car was part of the base.
The Hong Kong versions on the other hand had Tinted (Blue) glass, a steering wheel that was part of the interior and the end of the car was part of the body.
Dscn4562.jpg|US in Left is Dull vs HK in Right is Chrome
Dscn4558.jpg|US in Left has the Rear part of the Base, HK in Right has the Rear part of the Body
Dscn4549.jpg|US Interior Left, HK Interior Right
Dscn4550.jpg|....with windows
Dscn4551.jpg|US in Left is Clear vs HK in Right is Blue
Dscn4559.jpg|HK Base (more detail)
Dscn4555.jpg|US Base - HW(R)
Dscn4556.jpg|US Base - HW(TM)
Dscn4557.jpg|US Base - HW (R) Custom Corvette (TM)
Dscn4568.jpg|HK on Left, US on Right
Dscn4548.jpg|All Interior colors; White, Brown, Champagne
for more info check out this Link
The Cars were packaged with a 'Collector's Button'.
==USA Versions==
The Custom Corvette has come out in the following versions (colors are desending in rarity from common to rare):
Year	Series 	Color 	Tampo	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations	Photo
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Red 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Red 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Red 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Red 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Red 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Red 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Olive 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Olive 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Olive 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Green 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Green 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Green 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Blue 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Blue 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Blue 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Rose 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Rose 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	75px
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Rose 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Orange 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Orange 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Orange 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Purple 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Purple 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Purple 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Antifreeze Lime 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Antifreeze Lime 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Antifreeze Lime 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Clear 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Aqua 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Aqua 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Aqua 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Gold 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Gold 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Gold 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Magenta 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Magenta 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Magenta 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Windex Blue 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Windex Blue 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Windex Blue 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Light Blue / Ice Blue	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Light Blue / Ice Blue	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Light Blue / Ice Blue	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Yellow 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Yellow 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Yellow 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Brown 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Brown 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Brown 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	White 	RL 	 	USA 	 	
1968	Sweet Sixteen	Spectraflame Brown 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	 	Champagne 	RL 	 	USA 	exist? 	
==Hong Kong Versions==
The Custom Corvette has come out in the following versions (colors are desending in rarity from common to rare):
Year	Series 	Color 	sticker	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations	Photo
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Red 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	White 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Red 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Brown 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Red 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Champagne 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Olive 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Brown 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Olive 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	White 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Olive 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Champagne 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Blue 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Brown 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Blue 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	White 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Blue 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Champagne 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Aqua 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Brown 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Aqua 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	White 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Aqua 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Champagne 	RL 	 	HK 	exist? 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Green 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Brown 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Green 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	White 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Green 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Champagne 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Purple 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	White 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Purple 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Champagne 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Purple 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Brown 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Brown 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Champagne 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Brown 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	White 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Brown 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Brown 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Orange 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	White 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Orange 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Brown 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Orange 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Champagne 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Gold 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Brown 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Gold 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	White 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Gold 	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Champagne 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Creamy Pink	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Brown 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Creamy Pink	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	White 	RL 	 	HK 	 	
1968	Sweet 16	Spectraflame Creamy Pink	 	Unpainted/Metal 	Blue tint 	Champange 	RL 	 	HK 	exist? 	
==2005 Retooled versions==
The retooled Custom Corvette has come out in the following versions:
Year	Series 	Color 	Tampo 	Base Color/Type	Window Color 	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations	Photo
2005	HWC.com 4 Neo Classics5/6 	Spectraflame Pink 	Pink ghost flames on sides & around hood, corvette emblem on hood and trunk, "DRM CAR" on front & rear California license plates 	Chrome/Metal 	Clear 	Tan 	NCRL 	H2924	China 	11,000 produced 	
2007	RLC Rewards4/4 	White 	Light blue stripes on sides, front, hood, top, & trunk, light blue rear, black "4", RLC logo, & various sponsor logos on sides, Corvette logo on front, "427" on either side of hood scoop", "RLCRWRD" on rear California license plate, painted taillights	Chrome/Metal 	Tinted (Light Blue)	White 	NCRL 	L2120	China 	4,981 produced 	
2018	HWC.com Original 16 Display 	Spectraflame Ice Blue	Black Grille, Tail Lights, Black Rear Panel, Black Roof 	 	 	Blue 	NCRL 	FNC23	 	 	
2019	19th Annual Hot Wheels Nationals Convention	Spectraflame Pink 	White Stripe from hood to rear 	Chrome/Metal 	Tinted (Light Blue)	White 	NCRL 	GDF73	China 	 	
2022	RLC Exclusive 	Spectraflame Black 	Red Stripe from hood to rear 	Chrome/Metal 	Tinted 	Black 	NCRL 	HCK29	China 	 	
==Muky Corvette==
The Muky Toys Co. of Argentina purchased (or illegally acquired) the old tools and dies for this casting when they were retired by Mattel and used them to make their plastic-bodied line of Hot Wheels clones in the 1970's, only sold in the Argentinian market. At first they where all Plastic bodies with Metal bases, but through the years they eventually where all Plastic. Because they where made with cheaper materials, the quality is not the same as the Original Hot Wheels versions as seen in the images below:
mukybox.jpg|Mucky Box
Dscn3014.jpg
Dsc_0915.jpg|Red
Dsc_1013.jpg|Purple
Dsc_1014.jpg|Orange (Grey Windows)
Dsc_1017.jpg|Orange (Black Windows)
Dsc_1018.jpg
Dsc_1107.jpg|Spectraflame Yellow Named "Grand Prix Regal"
Dsc_1108.jpg
Dsc_1326.jpg|Spectraflame Green
Dsc_1011.jpg|Pink (matches car on the Box)
Dsc_0379a.jpg|Lavender
Dsc_0372.jpg|Light Blue
Dsc_5848.jpg|Orange / Black
Dsc_3049.jpg|Silver / Black (Note the new packaging)
Dscn0664.jpg|Ornage
grnmukybp1.jpg|Green (Silver Base)
grnmuky.jpg
grnmuky4.jpg
grnmukybp2.jpg|Green (Black Base)
mukyplasticbase.jpg
orgmukybox.jpg
orgmukys.jpg|Route 66 decal
blkmukys.jpg|Black (Black Base vs Silver Base)
blkmuky2btm.jpg
blkmukybtm.jpg
blkmuky2box.jpg
Dscn4347.jpg
yelblkmuky.jpg|Yellow & Black (all plastic)
yelblkmuky4.jpg
Dsc_1695.jpg|Blue Stripe
Dsc_9006.jpg|Yellow top
Dscn4230.jpg|Yellow
goldmuky.jpg|Gold (Black Hood)
Dscn4342.jpg|Gold
whitemukys.jpg|White
Dscn4346.jpg
Dscn4101.jpg|Red
Dscn4231.jpg
Dscn7562.jpg
Dscn4364.jpg|Red with Green top & Black Hood
Dscn3015.jpg|Red with Blue Top & Black Hood (all Plastic)
Dsc_9464.jpg
Dsc_0204.jpg|Red with Black Hood
Dscn4339.jpg|Magenta
Dscn4103.jpg|Dark Blue
Dsc_9005.jpg|Grey
Dsc_1327.jpg
Dscn4415.jpg
Dsc_1105.jpg|Grey with White Base
Dsc_1106.jpg
Dscn2420.jpg|Silver with Black Windows
Dscn3016.jpg|silver with Blue Windows
Dsc_1329.jpg
Dscn4588.jpg|Yellow with Orange Stripe
Dscn4589.jpg|Blue with Green Stripe
Dscn4591.jpg|Blue with Olive Stripe
Dscn4737.jpg|Blue with Dark Blue Stripe
mukybox1.jpg|Mucky Box Display
mukyboxtop.jpg
mukyboxside.jpg
*Credit to the HWVette site for these Rare images
==Similar Castings==
*Corvette Stingray (1976)
*Corvette Stingray (1996)
== Gallery ==
Dscn8258.jpg|Resin Prototype (hwvette.com)
Dscn8259.jpg
Dscn8260.jpg
Dscn8261.jpg
Dscn8254.jpg|Resin Mold Prototype (hwvette.com)
Dscn8256.jpg
Dscn8255.jpg
Dscn8257.jpg
Dsc_4620.jpg|Enamel Blue Prototype Unriveted (hwvette.com)
Dsc_4621.jpg
Dsc_0377.jpg|Unriveted Prototype (hwvette.com)
Dsc_0378.jpg
Dscn2869.jpg|RLC Prototype (2008 Chigo Nationals Charity Auction) (hwvette.com)
Dscn2870.jpg
Dscn2871.jpg
Custom Corvette September 2020 Newsletter.JPG|Variant Page on a July-September 2020 Newsletter
Custom Corvette HK Collector Button.jpg|original Custom Corvette HK collector button
RLC 2005 Custom Corvette Pink China H2924.jpg|RLC 2005
RLC 2007 Custom Corvette White China L2120.jpg|RLC 2007
RLC 2022 Custom Corvette Black HCK29.jpg|RLC 2022
RLC Exclusive Custom Corvette.jpg
Dscn3824.jpg|"Restored" Custom Corvette Convertible (hwvette.com)
Dscn3830.jpg|"Restored" Custom Corvette Spoilers (hwvette.com)
Dscn3832.jpg|"Restored" Custom Corvette (hwvette.com)
Dscn3836.jpg|"Restored" Custom Corvette (hwvette.com)
Dscn3837.jpg|"Restored" Custom Corvette (hwvette.com)
Dscn3841.jpg|"Restored" Custom Corvette (hwvette.com)
Dscn3827.jpg|"Restored" Custom Corvette (hwvette.com)
Dscn4822.jpg|"Restored" Custom Corvette Racer (hwvette.com)
Dscn3488.jpg|"Restored" Custom Corvette (hwvette.com)
Dsc_7630.jpg|Newsletter Drawing (hwvette.com)
Dscn4313.jpg|Unriveted (not prototype?) (hwvette.com)
olivebp.jpg|Italy Card (hwvette.com)
Dsc_0529.jpg|Free Promo Card (hwvette.com)
Dsc_0382.jpg|Free Promo Card (hwvette.com)
Dsc_0383.jpg|Free Promo Card (hwvette.com)
Dscn5779.jpg|Custom Corvette Drawing Stencil (hwvette.com)
shellcoin.jpg|Custom Corvette Shell Coin (hwvette.com)
==External links==
*HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 4: CUSTOM CORVETTE
*Obscure HW Corvette Fan site that has alot of Rare Corvette Stingray Images
*Online Redline Guide
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