Bugeye

Bugeye
Debut series	1971 Hot Wheels
Produced	1971
Designer	Larry Wood
Number	5178

Bugeye was a car which debuted in the 1971 Hot Wheels series. It was manufactured in both the USA and Hong Kong in various Spectraflame colours. It features a lift-open engine compartment which either has scoops or is smooth (all HK cars have scoops). These 1971 releases came packaged with a plastic collectors button. It was also released in 1973 as a Shell Promo, which featured enamel paint. The Bugeye was also manufactured by CIPSA in Mexico, these versions are very hard to find and are usually in poor condition.

USA Versions

USA releases of the Bugeye all have clear glass and white interiors, they could be found with either the Scooped or Smooth engine cover.

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

Col #	Year	Series	Color / Tampo	Base Color	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations	Photo
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Aqua	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Blue	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Light Blue	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Green	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Light Green	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Magenta	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Pink	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Red	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Rose	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Gold	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA	Rare
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Yellow	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Orange	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		USA	Very Rare Pre-Production only

Hong Kong Versions

Hong Kong releases of the Bugeye all have blue tinted glass and dark interiors. They could only be found with the Scooped engine cover.

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

Col #	Year	Series	Color / Tampo	Base Color	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations	Photo
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Aqua	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Blue	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Green	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Light Green	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Magenta	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Purple	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong	Rare
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Red	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1971	1971 Hot Wheels	Spectraflame Yellow	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong

1973 Shell Promo Versions

The Bugeye was released in the 1973 Shell Promotions. These releases used the were manufactured in Hong Kong and as such, had the blue tinted windows and dark interiors just like their 1971 counterparts. As with many 1973 versions, the Bugeye was found with the new-style 'Hole-Through' Redline wheels on the front and the older 'Capped' style Redline wheels on the rear. 

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

Col #	Year	Series	Color / Tampo	Base Color	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations	'Photo
	1973	Shell Promo	Fluorescent Lime	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1973	Shell Promo	Fluorescent Green	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1973	Shell Promo	Fluorescent Pink	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1973	Shell Promo	Enamel Dark Blue	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1973	Shell Promo	Enamel Light Blue	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1973	Shell Promo	Enamel Red	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong
	1973	Shell Promo	Enamel Yellow	Unpainted	Blue tint	Dark	RL		Hong Kong

CIPSA Versions

The Bugeye was manufactured in Mexico by CIPSA. These models are extremely rare and are usually found in poor condition. They have stark white interiors as opposed to the creamier white of the 1971 USA release, the glass is clear but appears to have a very pale blue tint. All known versions have the Scooped engine cover.

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

Col #	Year	Series	Color / Tampo	Base Color	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations	'Photo
	-	-	Enamel Dark Blue	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		Hong Kong
	-	-	Gold	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		Hong Kong
	-	-	Gold	Unpainted	Clear	White	BW		Hong Kong
	-	-	Enamel Light Green	Unpainted	Clear	White	RL		Hong Kong
	-	-	Enamel Light Green	Unpainted	Clear	White	BW		Hong Kong