Approval Samples


If a design was selected from a B Sheet, the next step was for the Model Shop to make a sample of the car in 1/64th scale. "Approval Samples" were hand made, "one off",
pieces usually fashioned from wood or epoxy resin, fully decorated and equipped with wheels so that the car would roll properly. The Approval Samples of the proposed
car designs were presented to Mattel management who would decide which ones would proceed towards production. In addition to being used for decision making, the samples
were sometimes taken to the annual New York Toy Fair for display of new products and may also have been used in catalog photography shoots. A few dozen "Approval Samples"
have survived, most coming out of the Larry Wood collection. Designs that made the "cut" would advance to the next stage where an "Engineering Drawing Package" would be developed.




Dream Car aka Turbofire




Base of the Dream Car




Rocket Bye Baby




Rear View




Base of the Rocket Bye Baby




Jet Threat, made of wood




Base of the Jet Threat




Classic Cord with no Blown Engine




Base of the Classic Cord




Double Header




Base of the Double Header




Superfine Turbine




Base of the Superfine Turbine



Not all cars that made it to the Approval Sample stage made it all the way to the blister pack.
Here are three examples of cars that were never produced.



No Known Name - Never Produced




Aero Car - Never Produced




Base of the Aero Car




Twin Turbine - Never Produced




Base of the Twin Turbine

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