Casting : Custom T-Bird
Years of Production
1968-1970
Country of Origin
US and HK
Casting Variations
US vs. HK production, Detailed Below
Doorline model US only
Interior Colors:
US Interior Colors: White/Cream, Champagne and Dark Brown
HK Interior Colors: White/Cream, Silver, Olive-Brown, Orange-Brown, and Light Blue
US - Clear Glass
HK - Blue Glass
Color chart
| US COLORS: |
COMMENTS: |
| aqua |
common |
| blue | common |
| gold | uncommon |
| copper-brown |
uncommon |
| purple | uncommon |
| antifreeze | hard to find |
| antifreeze w/o black roof | hard to find |
| aqua w/o black roof | hard to find |
| blue w/o black roof | hard to find |
| green | hard to find |
| green w/o black roof | hard to find |
| purple w/o black roof | hard to find |
| red w/o black roof | hard to find |
| gold w/o black roof (dark interior) | rare |
| ice blue |
rare |
| red |
rare |
| orange |
rare |
| aqua w/doorlines | rare |
| gold w/doorlines | rare |
| creamy pink |
very rare (does it exist?) |
| olive |
very rare |
| antifreeze w/doorlines |
very rare |
| gold w/o black roof (white
interior) |
very rare; store display |
| HK
COLORS: |
COMMENTS: |
| aqua |
common; some have deep dish wheels |
| gold |
common; some have deep dish wheels |
| copper |
common |
| blue |
common |
| red |
uncommon |
| ice blue |
uncommon |
| creamy pink |
uncommon |
| green | hard to find |
| orange |
rare |
| purple | rare |
| olive |
rare |
Similar Castings:
1970 TNT Bird
Comments:
The Custom T-Bird was based on the 1967 Thunderbird two-door landau.
1967 Thunderbird Landau
The fifth generation 1967 T-Bird was neither a muscle car nor a luxury car and never really found a niche with buyers, especially after the
incredible styles of the '50s. Nevertheless, Mattel did justice to the casting; in some ways, the Hot Wheels version of the car looks even
better than the original full-size version, with its elongated California Custom look.
1968 Custom T-Bird: US (L) : Hong Kong (R)
The body castings of the two versions are quite similar. The fender wells on the US model are a bit larger and the front fender opening is cut higher.
All Custom T-Birds have bearing type wheels.
1968 Custom T-Bird: US (L) : Hong Kong (R)
The cowl on the US version has a larger gap between it and the hood than the Hong Kong version, and the front grille is painted black.
US made models mostly have the black roof but some colors have been found without the roof paint: red, purple, green, antifreeze, and gold.
All Hong Kong colors are known with a flat black painted roof simulating the vinyl roof of the actual car.
No black paint on the grille of the HK version.
1968 Custom T-Bird: US (L) : Hong Kong (R)
The differences between the front and rear of the two of the US and HK versions is not very significant.
1968 Custom T-Bird: US (L) : Hong Kong (R)
The US version of the interior features a steering wheel which is molded as part of the dashboard.
The Hong Kong version has separate steering wheel and lacks a dashboard.
In general, the color of the interior does not greatly impact the value of the Custom T-Bird.
1968 Custom T-Bird: US (L) : Hong Kong (R)
The absence of mechanical detail on the US version is typical. The HK casting includes the typical suspension holes.
1968 Custom T-Bird "Doorline" Variation
A rare late-run casting variation is the presence of door lines on some US Custom T-Birds. This is likely a result of a slight modification of the die tool as a prelude to
the 1970 TNT Bird casting that is part of the "Spoilers" line. The Doorline T-Bird is far less common than the Doorline Firebird and known only in Gold, Aqua and Antifreeze.
1968 NBR Custom T-Bird (No Black Roof)
The NBR Custom T-Bird has been found only in red, purple, green, antifreeze, and gold.
Custom T-Bird in Red
PREPRODUCTION
A few preproduction examples of the Custom T-Bird are known.
1968 Custom T-Bird Store Display
This version of gold with no black roof was supplied in the 1968 Store Display which makes is a quasi-preproduction piece.
The Custom T-Bird is one of the castings for which an "Over Chrome" prototype has been found.
These were specially made for catalog shoots and TV commercials.
1968 Custom T-Bird Un Assembled Raw Zamac
| All |
1968 |
1969 |
1970 |
1971 |
1972 |
1973 |
1974 |
1975 |
1976 |
1977 |
Alphabetical |
| Customs | |
Gran Prix | |
Heavyweights | |
Spoilers | |
Super Chromes | |
Alternate Colors | |
CIPSA | |
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