Tri-Baby (1970)
The Tri-Baby was one of several concept cars Mattel introduced in 1970 and represented legendary designer Larry Wood´s first contribution to the Hot Wheels line. The 1971 International Collector´s Catalogue refers to the Tri-Baby as a "one-of-a-kind SHOW & GO special"
Although there is no real car behind the Tri-Baby, some Italian styling elements cannot be denied, especially the front design and the mid-engine arrangement that was popular at the time. A two-seat cockpit is located behind a long flat front hood with simulated flip-up headlights and intake louvers. The rear of the car is dominated by an opening engine cover with black louvers.
A rear view of a rose US Tri-Baby showing the painted engine louvers.
The engine cover can be opened forward until it stands vertically to reveal a detailed chrome engine compartment with three turbine engines and long exhaust pipes. As a result, the German Hot Wheels catalogues from 1971-1973 refer to the car as the "Tri Engine" and "Tri Engine 33"!
A view of those turbine engines: '74 Buzz Off (L), US Tri-Baby (C), and HK Tri-Baby (R).
As with many of the 1970 concept cars, the Tri-Baby was manufactured at both the US and HK production facilities. There are slight differences between the two versions.
US cars have clear windows, white interior and a body that leads to the rear of the car. HK cars have blue-tinted windows, dark or white interior and a slightly shorter body. HK cars with the white interior are much harder to find.
Four HK Tri-Babies with white interiors and blue-tinted window "glass".
The Tri-Baby was produced in various spectraflame colours. All came with capped wheels, large size on the rear, medium size on front. Due to its low center of gravity, the Tri-Baby was very popular for downhill racing on the orange track!
The Tri-Baby was packaged with either a plastic or metal button.
Production of the Tri-Baby was discontinued at the end of 1971. The casting reappeared in 1973 as the Buzz-Off and was manufactured in several different versions through 1977. The casting has never reappeared although Larry Wood recently said "... it would be fun to update it and do the Tri-Baby II."
Color chart
| US COLORS: |
COMMENTS: |
| blue |
common |
| hot pink |
common |
| light ("apple") green |
common |
| magenta | common |
| rose | common |
| red | uncommon |
| salmon | uncommon |
| yellow |
uncommon |
| green |
hard to find |
| aqua |
rare |
| HK
COLORS: |
|
| blue/dark interior | common |
| green/dark interior | common |
| light green/dark interior | common |
| red/dark interior | uncommon |
| yellow/dark interior | uncommon |
| magenta/dark interior | hard to find |
| red/white interior |
hard to find |
| yellow/white interior | hard to find |
| aqua/dark interior |
hard to find |
| blue/white interior | very hard to find |
| light green/white interior | very hard to find |
A rare aqua US Tri-Baby.
An impressive group of HK (top row) and US (bottom row) Tri-Babies.
Bruce Pascal's prototype US red TriBaby (L). Note that the interior is missing.
A nice pair of Tri-Babies in blue (HK) and yellow (US).
Photo & info credits: Robert Bowker, Werner Heidecke, Gary Nabors, Bruce Pascal
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