DescriptionEdit

The Baja Bug is a Hot Wheels casting based on the Volkswagen Beetle and designed by Larry Wood. The tool debuted in the 1984 Real Riders Series.

Why "Baja"? Well, the Baja California Peninsula in northwest Mexico is home to the Mexican 1000 off-road race. Baja Bugs were developed in the late 1960s as a home-made alternative to the fiberglass-bodied Meyers Manx beach buggies that excelled in the sandy, hilly terrain. To make a Baja Bug, you take a stock VW Beetle, chop the front and back at an angle, add fill-in panels, trim the fenders, soup up the (now-exposed) engine and put on a set of balloon tires. I'm not sure whether Herbie would approve...

This tool has also gone by the name Baja Beetle and Volkswagen Baja Bug.

VersionsEdit

The Baja Bug has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Col #	Year	Series	Color	Tampo	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes	Photo
	1984	1984 Hot Wheels Real Riders	Yellow	Purple, Yellow and White "Baja Bug" tampos	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Black	RR Gray	5907	Malaysia
	1984	1984 Hot Wheels Real Riders	Yellow	Purple, Yellow and White "Baja Bug" tampos	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Black	RR Gray	5907	Hong Kong
	1984	1984 Hot Wheels Real Riders	Yellow	Purple, Yellow and White "Baja Bug"	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Black	RR White		Malaysia
	1984	1984 Hot Wheels	Yellow	Purple, Yellow and White "Baja Bug"	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Black	BW		Hong Kong
	1984	1984 Hot Wheels	Yellow	Purple, Yellow and White "Baja Bug"	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Black	BW		Malaysia
	1985	1985 Hot Wheels Real Riders	Red	Orange, Yellow and White "Blazin' Bug" tampos	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Red	White Hub RR		Malaysia
	1985	Stamper 3-Pack	Black	Orange, Yellow and White flames and "Blazin' Bug"	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Tan	RR White		Malaysia	Only in Stamper 3-pack
	1987	1987 Hot Wheels	White	"Blazin' Bug" w/Orange and Red flames	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Red	BW		Malaysia
	1987	1987 Hot Wheels Real Riders	White	"Blazin' Bug" w/Orange and Red flame tampos	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Red	RR White		Malaysia
	1990	1990 Hot Wheels	Red	"Blazin' Bug" w/Orange, Yellow and White flames	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Black	BW		Malaysia
	1990	1990 Hot Wheels	Purple	"Blazin' Bug" w/Orange, Yellow and White flames	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Red	BW		Malaysia	International line only
	1990	Heroes on Hot Wheels	Metallic Red	"Blazin' Bug" w/Orange and Yellow flames	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Red	BW		Malaysia
	1990	California Customs	Pink	Purple, Blue, Yellow, Black	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Yellow	RR Yellow		Malaysia
	1990	California Customs	Pink	Purple, Blue, Yellow, Black	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Yellow	BW		Malaysia
223	1993	1993 Hot Wheels	Red with Red Glitter		Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Black	BW		Malaysia
	1995	Track System 5-Pack	White	Multi-Colored Checks and Flames	Pink / Metal	N/A	Red	Gold BW		Malaysia	only in 5-Pack (Plastic Body)
	1995	Track System 5-Pack	White	Multi-Colored Checks and Flames	Pink / Metal	N/A	Red	5SP Gold		Malaysia	only in 5-Pack (Plastic Body)
393	1996	Race Team Series II #2	Metalflake Blue	Hot Wheels Race Team Deco	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	White	5SP		Malaysia
567	1997	Dealers Choice Series #3 of 4	Met. Red	White Black, Ace of Spades	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	White	5SP		Malaysia
694	1998	Tropicool Series #2	White	"Bug'N Taxi" w/Black, Red, Yellow and Green	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Red	5SP		India
694	1998	Tropicool Series #2	White	"Bug'N Taxi" w/Black, Red, Yellow and Green	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Red	5SP big rear wheel		Malaysia
694	1998	Tropicool Series #2	White	"Bug'N Taxi" w/Black, Red, Yellow and Green	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Red	5SP small rear wheel		Malaysia
835	1998	1998 Hot Wheels	Metalflake Blue	Red, Yellow, and White Hot Wheels logo on sides.	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	White	BW		India	No top tampo
835	1998	1998 Hot Wheels	Red	Red "1" w/Black and Yellow	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Tan	BW big rear wheel		India
835	1998	1998 Hot Wheels	Red	Red "1" w/Black and Yellow	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Tan	BW small rear wheel		India
	1998	Timeless Toys 4-Pack	Red	Purple, Yellow Whitye "The Original UNO"	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Purple	5SP		Malaysia	Toys R Us Exclusive
944	1999	Buggin' Out Series #4 of 4	Metalflake Blue	Yellow, Orange, Black Bug	Unpainted Metal	N/A	Orange	5SP		Malaysia
174	2001	2001 Hot Wheels	Grey	Yellow, Black & Red	Unpainted Metal	N/A	Black	ORSB		Malaysia
207	2002	2002 Hot Wheels	Black	Orange, Yellow flaming on side. "22" Number on side	Unpainted metal	N/A	Red	Red 5SP		Malaysia
	2002	Promo MACE	Yellow, Black & White	"MACE" On side	ZAMAC	N/A	Grey	White GY RR		Malaysia
	2002	Promo MACE	Yellow, Red & White	"MACE" On side	ZAMAC	N/A	Grey	White GY RR		Malaysia
161	2005	2005 Mainline Open Vamp #161	Metalflake Light Blue	Orange, White & Black
161	2005	2005 Mainline Open Vamp #161	Flat Grey	Orange, White & Black. "77" + Baja bug On side	Unpainted Metal	N/A	Blue	OR5SP		Malaysia
185	2005	Kar Keepers	Fluorescent Green	"MC" and "5" tampos on sides	Unpainted Metal	Clear	Black	5SP	J0414	Thailand
185	2005	Kar Keepers	Fluorescent Orange	"MC" and "5" tampos on sides	Unpainted Metal	Clear	Black	5SP	J0414	Thailand
099	2006	2006 Red Line Series #4	Metalflake Red
131	2008	Team Volkswagen	Metallic Red	Black and Silver tampos with number 310 on sides	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	White	5SP	M6905	Malaysia
2/15	2008	Hot Wheels Classics Series 4	Spectraflame Antifreeze	Black and Silver tampos with VW logo on sides	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Gray	5SP	M3656	Thailand	Vintage Series with Button
2/15	2008	Hot Wheels Classics Series 4	Spectraflame Pink	Black and Silver tampos with VW logo on sides	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Gray	5SP	M1859	Thailand
2/15	2008	Hot Wheels Classics Series 4	Spectraflame Blue	Black and Silver tampos with VW logo on sides	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Gray	5SP	M1859	Thailand
2/15	2008	Hot Wheels Classics Series 4	Spectraflame Copper	Black and Silver tampos with VW logo on sides	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Gray	5SP	M1859	Thailand
2/15	2008	Hot Wheels Classics Series 4	Spectraflame Black	Black and Silver tampos with VW logo on sides	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Gray	5SP	M1859	Thailand
N/A	2009	3 Kings Day	Gold	Green, White, Red, Black. Black 09 On Side and hood	Unpainted Metal	N/A	Black	White 5SP		Malaysia
N/A	2009	Volkswagen 5-Pack	Metallic Blue	Orange White and Black "09" racing deco on sides only	Chrome / Plastic	N/A	Red	Orange 5SP		Thailand
5/6	2009	2009 Holiday Rods	Pearl White and Metalic Silver	Red Strip and White Snowflake on hood	Polished Metal	N/A	White	"Happy Holiday 2009" Tampo, RR5SP	R4222	Thailand
5/6	2009	2009 Holiday Rods	Satin Pearl Silver and Metallic Light Olive	Red Strip and White Snowflake on hood	Polished Metal	N/A	Pearl White	"Happy Holiday 2009" Tampo, RR5SP	R4222	Thailand
11/12	2010	Treasure Hunts - Regular	flat black/ yellow	HW Logo and TH on side, detailing	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	yellow	OR5SP	R7456	Malayisia	Issued as Baja Beetle
11/12	2010	Treasure Hunts - Super	flat black/ Spectraflame yellow	HW Logo and TH on side, detailing	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	yellow	ORRR	R7456	Malayisia	Issued as Baja Beetle
214	2011	Thrill Racers: Jungle 4/6	Metallic Teal Blue	Jungle Rally racing deco, "822" Brown mud splashes	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Light Brown	Rust Colored Tires, Bronze OR5SP	T9921	Malaysia
214	2011	Thrill Racers: Jungle 4/6	Red	Jungle Rally racing deco, "822" Brown mud splashes	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Dk. Grey	Rust Colored Tires, Bronze OR5SP	T9964	Malaysia	Base Code(s): D02, D04
	2011	2011 Racing Kits - Baja	Red	Orange, yellow & dark blue tampos, "88", race decos, flames	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Blue	Yellow 5SP		Malaysia

Photo Gallery Edit