Volkswagen Drag Bus
From Hot Wheels Wiki
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Description
The Volkswagen Drag Bus is one of the hottest surprise castings to ever come out of Mattel's factory. Whether you love it or hate it, it turned into a collectors #1 favorite. The Volkswagen Drag Bus designed by Phil Riehlman has his initials, P R, cast into the bottom of the rear differential. This casting when released was the heaviest casting Mattel made, and the most popular.
Versions
The Volkswagen Drag Bus has come out in the following versions:
| Col # | Year | Series | Color | Tampo | Base Color / Type | Window Color | Interior Color | Wheel Type | Toy # | Country | Notes / Variations | Photo |
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| 372 | 1996 | 1996 First Editions 6/12 | Metalflake Blue | Red, Yellow and White tampos, w/"Hot Wheels" logo, "Fahrvergnügen", and "Phils VW Performance Parts" on sides | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Orange | Front Chrome 5SP Rear Chrome 10DOT | 14912 | China | The body is hinged at front of chassis and rests on exhaust at the rear. First appearance of extra large Drag Tires on rear axle |
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| N/A | 1997 | Liberty Promotions for All Tune & Lube | Black | Flames cover both sides | Unpainted / Metal | Red Tint | Yellow | Front Gold 5SP Rear Gold 10DOT | 18665 | China | This was the first VW Drag Bus produced by Liberty Promotions working with Mattel. It was for All Tune and Lube | 
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| N/A | 1998 | Custom Car Designer | Pearl White | none | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Red | Front Chrome 5SP Rear Chrome 10DOT | 19048 | China | Came with the Custom Car Designer CD-ROM | 
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| 372 | 1998 | 30th Anniversary Set | Metalflake Blue | Red, Yellow, and White tampos w/HW logo, "Fahrvergnügen", and "Phils VW Performance Parts" on sides. HW 30th Anniv tampo on the rear wing | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Orange | Front Chrome 5SP Rear Chrome 10DOT | China | This original issue was a carded VW Bus inside a 30th Anniversary Box. The back of the card lists the 30 cars in the set. The only difference from the 1996 issue VW Bus is the "Hot Wheels" tampo on the rear wing | 
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| N/A | 1998 | Liberty Promotions for Jiffy Lube | Yellow | Red and Black tampos on sides with "13" and racing deco | Unpainted / Metal | Red Tint | Black | Front Chrome 5SP Rear Chrome 10DOT | 20961 | China | This was the 2nd VW Drag Bus produced by Liberty Promotions working with Mattel. It was for Jiffy Lube | 
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| N/A | 1998 | Van de Kamp's Promotion | Lime Green | Both sides have Yellow/Orange "Fish-O-Sarus" & Blue "Van-de-Kamp's" tampos. Top has Pink Surfboard w/Blue "Van-de-Kamp's" tampo | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Red | Front Chrome 5SP Rear Chrome 10DOT | 18585 | China | Mail-in promo | 
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| N/A | 1998 | Interactive Collectors Guide | Spectraflame Purple and Black | Unpainted / Metal | Yellow Tint | White | Chrome RL5SP | 20774 | China | Came packaged with the Interactive Collectors Guide CD-ROM | 
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| N/A | 1999 | Malleco Tower Cranes Promotion | Dark Red | Unpainted / Metal | Gold 5SP | 22326 | 
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| N/A | 2001 | Liberty Promotions for Penske Auto Center | Red | Unpainted / Metal | PC5 | 54946 | 
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| 1 | 2002 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 1 #1 | Chrome | Flying Customs Graphics | CDDRR w/ Red Lines | 85506 | 
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| 17 | 2002 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 1 #17 | Chrome | Red and Black pin stripping, 2002 Nationals Convention logo | Redline CDDRR | 85522 | 
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| 18 | 2002 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 1 #18 | Spectraflame Orange | Graphics dedicated to Phil Riehlman w/Nationals logo | Redline CDDRR | 85505 | 1 of 2,000 | 
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| 18 | 2002 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 1 #18 | Spectraflame Orange | Graphics dedicated to Phil Riehlman w/o Nationals logo | Redline CDDRR | 85505 | 1 of 2,712 | |||||
| 19 | 2002 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 1 #19 | Spectraflame Blue | Graphics dedicated to Phil Riehlman | Redline CDDRR | 85504 | 
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| N/A | 2003 | General Mills Wheaties Promotion | Light Blue | "Hot Wheels" & "Wheaties" on sides & top | Chrome / Metal | Blue Tint | Orange | Front 5SP BLING Rear Chrome 10DOT | China | The Chassis, Motor and Exhaust are chrome. Mail-in promo | 
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| N/A | 2003 | General Mills Lucky Charms Promotion | Orange | "Hot Wheels" and "Lucky Charms" on sides and top over small white flames | Chrome / Metal | Clear | Yellow | Front 5SP BLING Rear Chrome 10DOT | China | The Chassis, Motor and Exhaust are chrome. Mail-in promo | 
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| N/A | 2003 | Preferred Series - Volkswagen | Orange and White / | Orange Scallop tampos on side | RR5SP | B2257 | (TRU Mail-In Promo) | 
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| 2003 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 2 - Flying Customs #1 of 4 | Black | RR5SP | B2200 | 
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| 2004 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 3 - Real Riders #6 of 6 | Spectraflame Blue | Real Riders Graphics | Goodyear RR5SP | C6044 | 
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| 4/6 | 2005 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 4 | Spectraflame Purple | Redline RR5SP | 
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| 133 | 2005 | 2005 Treasure Hunts Series #13 | Black | Orange, Yellow and Blue tampos, with Flames, "Hot Wheels" logo, 10th Anniversary "Treasure Hunt" logo and "1995-2005" | Unpainted / Metal | Redline RR5SP | 
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| 2005 | RLC Thank You | Spectraflame Chrome/Spectraflame Red | Redline RR5SP | J4233 | Only 14,472 produced | 
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| 2005 | Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set | White/Yellow | Snake Racing Scheme | 5SP | 
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| 2005 | Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set | White/Red | Mongoose Racing Scheme | 5SP | 
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| 6/6 | 2006 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 5 | Spectraflame Aqua & Flat White | Ghosted Tribal Flames | Chromed / Metal | B.F. Goodrich RR5SP | C6044 | 
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| 2006 | RLC Thank You | Spectraflame Red | Redline RR5SP | K6448 | Only 13,775 produced | 
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| 223 | 2006 | Mystery Cars #5 | Chrome and Black | Red and Black tampos | RR5SP | 
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| 1/6 | 2007 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 6 | Spectraflame Orange | Black graphic on side, Ghost Flames on side | Chrome / Metal | Tinted | Black | Goodyear RR5SP | L2091 | China | 
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| 1/6 | 2008 | HotWheelsCollectors.com Series 7 | Spectraflame Yellow | Red Packaging Design on Side, 40th Anniversary Logo, Red Line Club logo | Chrome / Metal | Redline RR5SP | L8688 | 
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| M0543 | 2008 | 40 Years of Hot Wheels Set | Matte Blue | Black, Silver and White tampos with "Fahrvergnügen" and Hot Wheels logo on sides | Unpainted / Metal | Front 5SP Rear 10DOT | China | 
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| 2008 | Since '68 Series | Metalflake Dark Green | Silver, Green, Light Green and Yellow flames on sides and top, with "Hot Wheels" logo on sides | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Gray | Front Redline 5SP Rear Redline 10DOT | M1548 | Thailand | 
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| 2008 | Since '68 Series - Mexico Commemorative Edition | Spectraflame Copper | Black Roof | 5SP | P3112 | 
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| 1/4 | 2009 | 2009 Red Line Club Membership | Spectraflame Smoke and White | Police Graphics | Chrome / Metal | RL | Limited to 4,000 | 
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| 2/4 | 2009 | 2009 Red Line Club Membership | Spectraflame Red | Fire Department Graphics | Chrome / Metal | Clear | Black | RL | P2128 | China | Limited to 5,000 | 
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| 3/4 | 2009 | 2009 Red Line Club Membership | Spectraflame Olive and Black | Military Police tampos | Chrome / Metal | Green | RL | Limited to 6,000 | 
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| 4/4 | 2009 | 2009 Red Line Club Membership | Spectraflame Yellow and Black | Taxi tampi | Chrome / Metal | RL | Limited to 7,000 | 
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| 1/4 | 2009 | 23rd Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention | White and Blue | Blue Flames on sides and top | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Chrome | RR5SP | P2195 | Thailand | Limited to 3,000 | 
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Code 3
The Volkswagen Drag Bus has come out in the following Code 3 versions:
| Col # | Year | Series | Color | Tampo | Base Color / Type | Window Color | Interior Color | Wheel Type | Toy # | Country | Notes / Variations | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 2004 | Liberty Promotions Volks-Drag'n | Hot Pink and Florescencet Green | "Volks-Drag'n" and racing stickers on sides, "Ed Pink Racing Enginees" on rear Silver wing | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Orange | Front PC6 Rear 10DOT | Regular Edition of 1500. Silver sideskirts and wing | 
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| N/A | 2004 | Liberty Promotions Volks-Drag'n | Hot Pink and Florescencet Green | "Volks-Drag'n" & racing stickers on sides, "Ed Pink Racing Enginees" on rear White wing | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Orange | Front PC6 Rear 10DOT | Rebel Run Edition of 200. White sideskirts and wing | |||
| N/A | 2009 | Liberty Promotions 9th Collectors Nationals | White | US Flag and "Hot Wheels Nationals" on sides, Washington DC pics on roof | Unpainted / Metal | Blue Chrome | White | Front PC5 Rear 10DOT | Regular Edition of 1300. Blue windows | 
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| N/A | 2009 | Liberty Promotions 9th Collectors Nationals | White | US Flag and "Hot Wheels Nationals" on sides, Washington DC pics on roof | Unpainted / Metal | Red Chrome | White | Front PC5 Rear 10DOT | Rebel Run Edition of 400. Red windows and tampo of Abe Lincoln by rear exhaust pipe | 
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| N/A | 2009 | Liberty Promotions Winter Wagon | Candy Apple Red | White Flames & Snowflakes on sides, White Christmas tree on roof, "Happy Holidays" on rear fin | Unpainted / Metal | Green Chrome | Front GLPC6 Rear GL10DOT all wheels Greenlines | Regular Edition of 1300. Red version | ||||
| N/A | 2009 | Liberty Promotions Winter Wagon | Winter Green | White Flames & Snowflakes on sides, White Christmas tree on roof, "Happy Holidays" on rear fin | Unpainted / Metal | Red Chrome | Red | Front RLPC5 Rear RL10DOT all wheels Redline | Rebel Run Edition of 200. Green version | 
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Gallery
 First Edition |
 Mace Bus |
 LibertyPromotions Jiffy Lube Race Bus Signed by Phil Riehlman in '06 |
 Blue Angels Bus |
 30th Anniv Signed by Phil Riehlman in '06 |
 23rd Hotwheels Collector Convention (2009) carded |
 Signed at the convention in '09 |
 Phil signing at the 2009 Hotwheels Convention |
