Custom Firebird (1968)
The Custom Firebird was based on the 1967 Pontiac Firebird. The Pontiac counterpart of the Chevy Camaro, the '67 Firebird was another competitor in the U.S. pony car market.
Mattel's Custom Firebird was made at both the US and HK plants. US cars have a clear windshield and can be found with three interior colors: white, dark brown, and gold varying to silver-gray. HK Firebirds have a slightly "trimmer" body and can be found with brown, silver, white, red or blue interiors and a black steering wheel.
HK (red) and US (blue) Custom Firebirds.
Early-production run HK cars were painted in red and blue with a matching color interior. Most HK Firebirds have a blue-tinted windshield although the early run cars have a clear windshield. US cars came with the silver bearing wheels, while HK cars came with chrome bearing wheels. The early run HK cars often have deep dish wheels on the front axle.
Early run HK Firebirds in blue and red. Note the clear glass, front deep dish wheels and interior colors.
A rare late-run casting variation is the presence of door lines on some US Firebirds. This is likely a result of a slight modification of the die tool as a prelude to creating the 1970 Light My Firebird casting that was part of the "Spoilers" series. Most door line Firebirds have brown interiors although gold interiors are often seen in red cars. Perhaps obviously, door line Firebirds are much less common than Firebirds without door lines.
An antifreeze US Custom Firebird with door lines.
The toughest color to find for HK Firebirds is creamy pink. For US Firebirds, the rarest colors are light blue, rose and dark olive.
A rare creamy pink HK Custom Firebird!
For more on the Custom Firebird, visit HotBirdz!
Color chart
Above: "Golden" Olive
Below: US Firebirds in a gradient of shades of olive to brown
From clockwise from bottom right:lighter green olive,green olive,golden olive,chocolate olive,chocolate brown.
Tough color! A US Custom Firebird in brown.
Door line Firebirds in ice blue (L) and red (R).
A beautiful bright blue US Custom Firebird.
A group of US Custom Firebirds.
A rainbow of door line Custom Firebirds!
A red HK Custom Firebird in the original blister pack.
Above: US Custom Firebirds in rose (L) and ice blue (R).
A line up of HK Custom Firebirds!
An orange US Custom Firebird.
Photo & info credits: Dave Hutchinson & Rick Wilson
Additional photo credits: the Redlines Online community
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