Rocket-Bye-Baby

==Description==
The Rocket-Bye-Baby is a casting which debuted in the 1971 Hot Wheels range of vehicles. It features a large windshield and an enormous jet engine on top, as noted by the intake in the front. The original 1971 release featured black plastic air brake/intake ducts on the sides which opened when the rear exhaust pipes were pulled out. It came packaged with a plastic 'Collector's Button'.
As with most cars from the 'Spectraflame Era' (1968-1972), there can be some confusion in colors due to shade differences in the paint. A certain variation which receives sceptisism is the existance of a Spectraflame'Gold' version. Some people believe that these so-called 'Gold' cars are actually just a darker shade of the regular Spectraflame Yellow paint and not a completely separate color.
Some 1971 produced Rocket-Bye-Baby have been found with a metal fatigue known as 'Crumbling' where the body or chassis develops cracks and literally crumbles into pieces.
The Rocket-Bye-Baby was also released in 1973 as a Shell Promo, a giveaway promotional car handed out to customers at Shell service stations. As with other 1973 cars, it lost its Spectraflame paint which was replaced with enamel paint. To save on cost, the plastic side intake ducts and exhaust were removed and replaced with vents which were cast into the body. 
It was also produced in Mexico by CIPSA using the 1973 casting, these releases are extremely rare and are usually found in poor condition (more information below).
In 2009, the Rocket-Bye-Baby was re-tooled for the HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 8 Neo Classics.
==1971 Versions==
The Rocket-Bye-Baby has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:
Year	Series 	Color 	Stickers	Base Color/Type	Window Color 	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country 	Notes/Variations	Photo
1971	Mainline	Spectraflame Aqua 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	White or Gray 	RL 	6186 	Hong Kong	 	75px
1971	Mainline	Spectraflame Blue 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	White or Gray 	RL 	6186 	Hong Kong	 	75px
1971	Mainline	Spectraflame Green 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	White or Gray 	RL 	6186 	Hong Kong	 	75px
1971	Mainline	Spectraflame Light 'Apple' Green	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	White or Gray 	RL 	6186 	Hong Kong	 	
1971	Mainline	Spectraflame Rose 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	White or Gray 	RL 	6186 	Hong Kong	Rare 	
1971	Mainline	Spectraflame Red 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	White or Gray 	RL 	6186 	Hong Kong	 	
1971	Mainline	Spectraflame Magenta 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	White or Gray 	RL 	6186 	Hong Kong	 	
1971	Mainline	Spectraflame Gold 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	White or Gray 	RL 	6186 	Hong Kong	 	
1971	Mainline	Spectraflame Yellow 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	White or Gray 	RL 	6186 	Hong Kong	 	
==1973 Shell Promo Versions==
The Rocket-Bye-Baby has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:
Year	Series 	Color 	Sticker	Base Color/Type	Window Color 	Interior Color 	Wheel Type	Toy # 	Country 	Notes/Variations	Photo
1973	Shell Promo	Enamel Dark Blue 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	Black or Silver 	RL 	Shell07	Hong Kong	 	
1973	Shell Promo	Enamel Light Blue 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	Black, Silver or White	RL 	Shell07	Hong Kong	 	
1973	Shell Promo	Fluorescent Pink 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	Black 	RL 	Shell07	Hong Kong	 	75px
1973	Shell Promo	Enamel Red 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	Black 	RL 	Shell07	Hong Kong	 	
1973	Shell Promo	Flourescent Light Green 	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	Black 	RL 	Shell07	Hong Kong	 	
1973	Shell Promo	Enamel Light 'Lemon' Yellow	None 	ZAMAC 	Tinted (Blue)	Black 	RL 	Shell07	Hong Kong	 	75px
==CIPSA Versions ==
In the early 1970's, the Rocket-Bye-Baby was manufactured by CIPSA in Mexico for the Mexican market using the 1973 Shell Promo casting. These versions differ from the regular versions in a couple of small ways. The interior is a stark white compared to the creamier white of the Hong Kong versions, the glass is clear instead of tinted blue, and the wheels have small 'Capped' redlines on the front and larged 'Capped' Redlines on the rear as opposed to the 'Hole-Through' Redlines of the 1973 Shell Promo or the all large 'Capped' Redlines of the 1971 version. Despite being manufactured in Mexico, they are still marked with 'Hong Kong' on the base.
The Rocket-Bye-Baby has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:
Color 	Stickers	Base Color/Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Country 	Notes/Variations	Photo
Enamel Dark Blue 	None 	ZAMAC 	Clear 	White 	RL 	Hong Kong	 	
Enamel Dark Brown	None 	ZAMAC 	Clear 	White 	RL 	Hong Kong	 	
Enamel Black 	None 	ZAMAC 	Clear 	White 	RL 	Hong Kong	 	
==2009 Re-Tooled Versions==
The Rocket-Bye-Baby has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:
Year	Series 	Color 	Tampo	Base Color/Type 	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes/Variations	Photo
2009	HWC.com 8 Neo-Classics1/6 	Spectraflame Antifreeze	None 	Chrome-Plated/Metal	Clear 	VUM (Chrome) 	NCRL 	P2140	China 	6,500 produced 	‎
2010	10th Annual Nationals Convention	Spectraflame Pink 	None 	Chrome-Plated/Metal	Clear 	VUM (Chrome) 	NCRL 	R8424	China 	 	‎
==Gallery==
RLC 2009 Rocket-Bye-Baby Antifreeze China P2140.jpg|RLC 2009
1971 Rocket-Bye-Baby.JPG
Category:Unlicensed Hot Wheels
Category:1971 Hot Wheels
Category:Bob Lovejoy Designs
Category:Shell Promos
Category:Hot Wheels Original Designs
Category:2009 Hot Wheels
Category:1973 Hot Wheels
Category:2010 Hot Wheels
Category:Vehicles with Movable Parts
Category:Red Line Club
Category:1:64
Category:Hot Wheels Nationals Conventions
Category:10th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Nationals
Category:Promotions
Category:Gas Station Promotionals
Category:Discontinued Vehicles