Description[]
The Custom Barracuda is a Hot Wheels casting designed by Harry Bradley which debuted in 1968 as part of the first sixteen Hot Wheels ever, sometimes known as the 'Sweet Sixteen'. It is based off the real-life 1967 Plymouth Barracuda.
It was manufactured in 1968 and 1969 at both the USA and Hong Kong factories, with some casting differences between the two countries of origin.
USA manufactured cars have clear glass and Hong Kong (HK) cars have blue tinted glass. USA Barracudas have a detailed interior which includes a dashboard and with a molded in steering wheel while HK cars have a flat piece of plastic representing the dashboard with a separate black steering wheel. USA cars could be found with a white or dark brown interior, while Hong Kong cars could be found with a white, brown-ish/gray, dark brown, silver or purple interior. Purple interiors are usually found in matching purple exterior cars, but have been known to appear (rarely) in Copper and Aqua cars.
The Custom Barracuda features an opening hood which reveals a detailed engine. USA cars have shorter 'power bulges' (hood scoops) and a thinner cowl than their Hong Kong counterparts. Some early HK manufactured cars could also be found with deeper power bulges than usual, these have only been found on Aqua and Purple cars.
Hong Kong cars have a detailed base including four square holes to view the Bent Axle Suspension, these holes are absent from USA built vehicles. There are also several minor base variations involving the size and addition of ™ and © symbols.
Some Custom Barracudas use a mix of parts from both USA and Hong Kong are are referred to as 'Hybrids'. Most 'Hybrid' Custom Barracudas use the USA body, glass and interior with a Hong Kong base. These are much harder to find than standard cars. This oddity was most likely due to material shortages or problems, which required parts to be shipped between factories.
The Custom Barracuda was painted in a variety of Spectraflame colors, some of which are very rare. Unlike most early 'Redline Era' cars, the Custom Barracuda was never manufactured with a black roof. All Custom Barracudas came with delrin 'Bearing' Redline wheels, with some early produced vehicles from Hong Kong sporting 'Deep Dish' wheels on the front. All came packaged with a metal 'Collector's Button'.
In 1970, the Custom Barracuda was significantly modified and renamed King Kuda, and was released in the Spoilers series. Most notably, the King Kuda featured an exposed blown engine, replacing the one under the opening hood. It also came with the addition of prominent front and rear spoilers.
In 2011, the Custom Barracuda was re-tooled for the HotWheelsCollectors.com RLC Membership. This casting appears to be based on the original USA casting. The re-tooled version has been used several times since.
USA Versions[]
The Custom Barracuda 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Light Blue | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Blue | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | ||
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Aqua | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | ||
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Green | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | ||
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Olive Green | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | Very Rare | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Antifreeze | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Gold | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Copper | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Red | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Rose | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | Very Rare | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Creamy 'Lavender' Pink | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Purple | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | USA |
Hong Kong Versions[]
The Custom Barracuda 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Light Blue | None | ZAMAC | Tinted (Blue) | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Blue | None | ZAMAC | Tinted (Blue) | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | ||
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Aqua | None | ZAMAC | Tinted (Blue) | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | ||
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Green | None | ZAMAC | Tinted (Blue) | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | ||
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Olive Green | None | ZAMAC | Tinted (Blue) | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Very Rare | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Copper | None | ZAMAC | Tinted (Blue) | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | ||
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Orange | None | ZAMAC | Tinted (Blue) | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Rare | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Red | None | ZAMAC | Tinted (Blue) | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Creamy 'Lavender' Pink | None | ZAMAC | Tinted (Blue) | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Purple | None | ZAMAC | Tinted (Blue) | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong |
'Hybrid' Versions[]
The Custom Barracuda 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Blue | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Very Rare | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Aqua | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Rare | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Green | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Very Rare | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Antifreeze | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Gold | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Rare | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Orange | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Very Rare | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Rose | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Hard To Find | |
1968 | Sweet Sixteen | Spectraflame Purple | None | ZAMAC | Clear | Several | RL | 6211 | Hong Kong | Hard To Find |
Retooled Versions[]
The Custom Barracuda 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | RLC Membership | Chrome | Red, black, & silver stripe, "Barracuda", & RLC logo on sides; small "PLYMOUTH" on hood; painted headlights & taillight bar | Chrome / Metal |
Clear | Black | NCRL | V0472 | Thailand | 3,000 produced Base code(s): D01 |
|
2011 | RLC Membership | Spectraflame Red | Red, black, & silver stripe, "Barracuda", & RLC logo on sides; small "PLYMOUTH" on hood; painted headlights & taillight bar | Chrome / Metal |
Clear | Black | NCRL | V0473 | Thailand | 3,500 produced Base code(s): D01 |
|
2011 | RLC Membership | Spectraflame Blue | Red, black, & silver stripe, "Barracuda", & RLC logo on sides; small "PLYMOUTH" on hood; painted headlights & taillight bar | Chrome / Metal |
Clear | Black | NCRL | V0474 | Thailand | 4,000 produced Base code(s): D02 |
|
2011 | RLC Membership | Spectraflame Purple | Red, black, & silver stripe, "Barracuda", & RLC logo on sides; small "PLYMOUTH" on hood; painted headlights & taillight bar | Chrome / Metal |
Clear | Black | NCRL | V0475 | Thailand | 4,500 produced Base code(s): D02 |
|
2014 | 14th Annual Hot Wheels Nationals Convention4/4 | Metallic Burgundy | Checkered Flag and Blue Stripes on Side, Black Hood, Convention Logo on Roof | ZAMAC | Clear | Black | RR5SP / Mini RR5SP | BLR35 | Thailand | 1,200 produced Finale car Base code(s): |
|
2016 | HWC.com Series 14 - Real Riders4/4 | Spectraflame Antifreeze | Black Stripe on Side, Black Hood, Bagdes & Details | Chrome / Metal |
Clear | Green | Redline RR5SP / Redline Mini RR5SP | DTH32 | China | 5,000 produced | |
2018 | Original 16 | Spectraflame Blue | Black Grille, Tail Lights | Chrome / Metal |
Tinted (Pale Blue) | Black | NCRL | FPN47 | China | 6,000 produced | |
2018 | HWC.com Original 16 Display | Spectraflame Antifreeze | Black Grille, Tail Lights | Chrome / Metal |
Tinted (Pale Blue) | Cream | NCRL | FNC23 | China | 1,500 produced Production date(s): 1228 EAA |
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- Some releases of the re-tooled King Kuda have been named 'Custom Plymouth Barracuda'. This is a completely different casting.
Similar Castings[]
- King Kuda
- King Kuda (Re-Tool) (Exposed Engine)
- King Kuda (Re-Tool) (Closed Hood)