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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