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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | ||
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. | |
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 | |
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 | The only difference from the 1996 issue VW Bus is the "Hot Wheels" tampo on the rear wing | ||
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 | |
N/A | 1998 | Van de Kamp's Promotion | Lime Green | Both sides have Yellow/Orange "Fish-O-Saurus" and 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 | Packaged on Special Edition (50K) "Fish-O-Saurus" card; Mail-order only | |
N/A | 1998 | Interactive Collectors Guide | Spectraflame Purple and Black | Gold, Black and White "HW 30 years", Interactive" | Unpainted / Metal | Yellow Tint | White | Front RL5SP, Rear 10DOT | 20774 | China | Came packaged with the Interactive Collectors Guide CD-ROM | |
N/A | 1999 | Malleco Tower Cranes Promotion | Dark Red | Unpainted / Metal | Gold 5SP | 22326 | ||||||
N/A | 2001 | Liberty Promotions for Penske Auto Center | Red | Unpainted / Metal | Front Chrome PC5 / Rear 10DOT | 54946 | ||||||
2001 | Liberty Promotions for Penske Auto Center | Black | Silver and Red tampos on sides with "PENSKE AUTO CENTER" | Unpainted / Metal | Black Tint | Red | Front Chrome RR6SP / Rear 10DOT | 54946 | Four colors were released: One in Red, Dark Red, Silver and Black | |||
2001 | Liberty Promotions for Penske Auto Center | Silver | Black and White tampos on sides with "PENSKE AUTO CENTER" | Unpainted / Metal | Black Tint | Front Chrome PC5 / Rear 10DOT | 54946 | Four colors were released: One in Red, Dark Red, Silver and Black | ||||
1 | 2002 | HWC Series 1 #1 | Chrome | Flying Customs graphics | CDDRR w/ Red Lines | 85506 | ||||||
17 | 2002 | HWC Series 1 #17 | Chrome | Red and Black pin stripping, 2002 Nationals Convention logo | Redline CDDRR | 85522 | ||||||
18 | 2002 | HWC Series 1 #18 | Spectraflame Orange | Graphics dedicated to Phil Riehlman w/Nationals logo | Redline CDDRR | 85505 | 1 of 2,000 | |||||
18 | 2002 | HWC Series 1 #18 | Spectraflame Orange | Graphics dedicated to Phil Riehlman w/o Nationals logo | Redline CDDRR | 85505 | 1 of 2,712 | |||||
19 | 2002 | HWC Series 1 #19 | Spectraflame Blue | Graphics dedicated to Phil Riehlman | Redline CDDRR | 85504 | ||||||
N/A | 2003 | General Mills Wheaties Promotion |
Light Blue | "Hot Wheels" and "Wheaties" on sides and top | Chrome / Metal | Blue Tint | Orange | Front 5SP BLING Rear Chrome 10DOT | China | Mail-in promo | ||
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 10DOT | China | Mail-in promo | ||
N/A | 2003 | Preferred Series - Volkswagen | Orange and White / Metal | Orange Scallop tampos on side | RR5SP | B2257 | TRU Mail-In Promo | |||||
2003 | HWC Series 2 - Flying Customs #1 of 4 | Black | RR5SP | B2200 | ||||||||
2004 | HWC Series 3 - Real Riders #6 of 6 | Spectraflame Blue | Real Riders graphics | Goodyear RR5SP | C6044 | |||||||
4/6 | 2005 | HWC Series 4 | Spectraflame Purple | Redline RR5SP | ||||||||
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 | ||||||
2005 | RLC Thank You | Spectraflame Chrome and Spectraflame Red | Redline RR5SP | J4233 | Only 14,472 produced | |||||||
2005 | Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set | White/Yellow | Snake racing scheme | 5SP | ||||||||
2005 | Mongoose and Snake Drag Race Set | White/Red | Mongoose Racing Scheme | 5SP | ||||||||
6/6 | 2006 | HWC Series 5 | Spectraflame Aqua and Flat White | Ghosted tribal flames | Chromed / Metal | B.F. Goodrich RR5SP | C6044 | |||||
2006 | RLC Thank You | Spectraflame Red | Redline RR5SP | K6448 | Only 13,775 produced | |||||||
223 | 2006 | Mystery Cars #5 | Chrome and Black | Red and Black tampos | RR5SP | |||||||
1/6 | 2007 | HWC Series 6 | Spectraflame Orange | Black graphic on side, Ghost flames on side | Chrome / Metal | Tinted | Black | Goodyear RR5SP | L2091 | China | ||
1/6 | 2008 | HWC Series 7 | Spectraflame Yellow | Red Packaging Design on Side, 40th Anniversary Logo, Redline Club logo | Chrome / Metal | Redline RR5SP | L8688 | |||||
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 | |||||
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 | |||
2008 | Since '68 Series - Mexico Commemorative Edition | Spectraflame Copper | Black Roof | 5SP | P3112 | |||||||
1/4 | 2009 | 2009 Red Line Club Membership | Spectraflame Smoke and White | Police Graphics | Chrome / Metal | RL | Limited to 4,000 | |||||
2/4 | 2009 | 2009 Red Line Club Membership | Spectraflame Red | Fire Department graphics | Chrome / Metal | Clear | Black | RL | P2128 | China | Limited to 5,000 | |
3/4 | 2009 | 2009 Red Line Club Membership | Spectraflame Olive and Black | Military Police tampos | Chrome / Metal | Green | RL | Limited to 6,000 | ||||
4/4 | 2009 | 2009 Redline Club Membership | Spectraflame Yellow and Black | Taxi tampo | Chrome / Metal | RL | Limited to 7,000 | |||||
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 | |
2010 | 3rd Annual Brazil Convention | Pearl White, Green and Pearl Yellow | Green Yellow and White flames, "Brazil Convention 2010" | Chrome / Metal | Tinted | White | Green Chrome RR5SP | R8457 | Thailand | 1/5000 | ||
2013 | Hot Wheels Convencion Mexico 2013 | Green | Flames on sides and Seller Exclusive 2013 | Chrome / Metal | Green Rim RR5SP | 1/50 |
Modified Versions
Col # | Year | Series | Color | Tampo | Base Color / Type | Window Color | Interior Color | Wheel Type | Toy # | Country | Notes / Variations | Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Light Speeders | Yellow | Red stripes on sides | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Red) | None | 5SP | W5926 | Thailand | Base code(s): E18 | ||
2014 | 2014 Color Shifters | Green (cold) / White (warm) | Green flames, White stripes & HW logo on sides | Unpainted / Metal | Tinted (Red) | None | OH5 | BHR40 | Thailand | Base code(s): F44, G12 |
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 Engines" on rear Silver wing | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Orange | Front PC6 Rear 10DOT | Regular Edition of 1500; Silver sideskirts and wing | |||
N/A | 2004 | Liberty Promotions Volks-Drag'n | Hot Pink and Florescencet Green | "Volks-Drag'n" and racing stickers on sides, "Ed Pink Racing Engines" on rear White wing | Unpainted / Metal | Clear | Orange | Front PC6 Rear 10DOT | Rebel Run Edition of 200; White sideskirts and wing | |||
N/A | 2007 | Liberty Promotions Mexico Club Car | Front PC5 Rear 10DOT | Limited to 350 | ||||||||
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 | |||
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 | |||
N/A | 2009 | Liberty Promotions Winter Wagon | Candy Apple Red | White Flames and Snowflakes on sides, White Christmas tree on roof, "Happy Holidays" on rear fin | Unpainted / Metal | Green Chrome | Front GL PC6 Rear GL 10DOT all wheels Greenlines | Regular Edition of 1300; Red version | ||||
N/A | 2009 | Liberty Promotions Winter Wagon | Winter Green | White Flames and Snowflakes on sides, White Christmas tree on roof, "Happy Holidays" on rear fin | Unpainted / Metal | Red Chrome | Red | Front RL PC5 Rear RL 10DOT all wheels Redline | Rebel Run Edition of 200; Green version |