On Line Redline Guide-Classic '36 Forde Coupe

Casting : Classic '36 Forde Coupe

Years of Production:

1970-1971

Country of Origin:

US Only

Casting Variations:

Number of Buttons on the Rumble Seat

Interior and Glass:

Three (3) different colored interiors.
* White is common
* Dark is less common
* Champagne is uncommon

Clear Glass

Paint Colors and Variations:

US COLORS:	COMMENTS:
blue	common
aqua	common
green	common
lime	common
gold	common
red	common
orange	uncommon
purple	uncommon
antifreeze	uncommon
rose	uncommon
hot pink	hard to find
brown	hard to find
magenta	hard to find
light blue	hard to find
copper	hard to find
olive	rare
yellow	rare
light (apple) green	rare
ice blue	rare

Other versions of same Casting:

1974 Flying Colors Neet Streeter
1977 Super Chromes Neet Streeter

Discussion:

The Classic '36 Forde Coupe, released in 1969 is one of the four new models of classic cars released as the "Classics" series.

Classic '36 Forde Coupe

Mattel's version of the '36 Ford Coupe is based on the 1936 Ford 3-window Coupe (as opposed to the 5-window Coupe, which had two windows on each side).
The Coupe was a popular model in it's time featuring a V-8 engine and a rear rumble seat for additional riders. The '36 Coupe also is a favorite of
restorers and customizers of classic cars and can be seen at auto shows in some very interesting configurations.

Hot Wheels Classic '36 Forde Coupe in Purple

The Hot Wheels rendition of the classic Ford is an accurate replica of the actual car with customization limited to the overall stance of the car resulting from the use of large
wheels in the rear and small ones in front. Made only in the US factory, '36 Ford Coupes feature clear windows, a black-painted roof, and an opening rumble seat in the rear.
This is clearly not the case as rumble seats with no buttons are by far the most common varaiation

Classic '36 Forde Coupe Rumble Seat - No buttons!!

Of specific interest to collectors is the number of "seat buttons" present on the rumble seat. According to a former Mattel employee,
the factory used the number of seat buttons as an identifier for each cavity in the mold used to make the interior parts. His
recollection was that there were cavities for nine seat backs in the mold. Therefore, all nine should be present in equal numbers.

Classic '36 Forde Coupe, Front and Rear

The only detail paint on the car is the orange/red paint on the tail lights.

Classic '36 Forde Coupe with White Interior

The interior is found in three colors: white, bronze (or tan, or champagne), and dark brown. White tends to be be the most popular color.

Classic '36 Forde Coupe Base

The base reveals straight pipes from the V8 engine that do not project beyond the edge of the body casting

Classic '36 Forde Coupe Group

The '36 Coupe is easy to find in common colors like blue, aqua and green, but can be very hard to find in the more elusive colors like "apple" green, "ice" blue
and true yellow. As with many other spectraflame painted cars, the '36 Coupe was produced in many different shades of the various Spectraflame colors, leading to
confusion as to the true color of the car. The Coupe is often difficult to find in truly mint condition, presumably because they were so well-loved by kids!

Classic '36 Forde Coupe in Blister

Classic '36 Forde Coupe in Apple (light green)

Classic '36 Forde Coupe Trio

Classic '36 Forde Coupe in Light Blue

Classic '36 Forde Coupe Grouping

Classic '36 Forde Coupe Rainbow!

Prototypes

Several examples of pre-production Coupes exist. The most interesting is the "Side Pipes" version. Others include enamel paint samples in black and white.

Preproduction Version with Side Pipes
Photo Courtesy Sam Polekoff

This example of the '36 Ford Coupe had side pipes on the base the extended beyond the body casting. The feature never made it to production.

Preproduction Side Pipes Base
Photo Courtesy Sam Polekoff

Its too bad, that the side pipes were removed prior to production.

Preproduction Black Enamel Paint Sample?

Possibly a Paint Wear Sample or a Ray Ross Special like the Firebird and Turbofire.

Preproduction White Enamel Paint Sample

White Enamel cars were made for engineering evaluation of the paint wear points on the design.

Reproductions

The '36 Forde Coupe was reproduced by Mattel in the "Redline Club" line. These are easily distinguished from original redlines but still confuse the newbys.

RLC Version of the '36 Forde Coupe

Credits: Text and photos by Jeff Henderson and Ted Gray

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Heavyweights |

Spoilers |

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Alternate Colors |

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