#748 Hot Wheels!/ Lionel Trains Inc – Iii Flippers/ Revolver Models (1990)

I was surprised to meet that at that topographic point is almost no information almost these toys on the internet. I receive got seen a few message boards were people await for them, and, althouhg many people think them, almost nobody seems to know what their refer was. They are called “Flippers”.

Flippers because you lot tin flip them in addition to thence you lot receive got a completely dissimilar model, sort of a machine alongside 2 sides.

You tin meet several characteristics that made this cars really recognisable: they are quite flat, the receive got big wheels, in addition to they are made of metallic except the fundamental part, which is made of plastic. This business office moves upwards or down, depending on which side of the machine is up. Another characteristics are the brilliant colours alongside appealing tampographies (very inwards the 90s fashion) in addition to beingness fictitious cars, or at least, no accurate reproductions of whatever known car. I approximate it is really hard to brand a machine await similar a existent i when you lot receive got such “flat” constraints.

They were sold inwards reversible blister packs (a blister pack that could live hang either upside-down or downside-up, alongside 2 "hooks") in addition to at that topographic point were fifty-fifty to a greater extent than or less sub-series inwards which the machine could too emit sounds "Flashmagic", similar Majorette´s Sonic Flashers. There are dissimilar cardbacks. In i of them, at that topographic point are 8 models/ references depicted (4 really, but alongside 2 ecorations each). I think at that topographic point were entirely 3 "flashmagic" made, in addition to they had references: 8862, 8870 in addition to 8871.

There were fifty-fifty to a greater extent than or less speed tracks peculiarly designed for the Flippers.

Interestingly enough, the carte is written inwards English, French, German, Italian, Dutch in addition to Spanish, in addition to the addresses are from Mattel inwards the U.K., France, Belgium, West-Germany, Italy, Switzerland in addition to Spain… researching a piddling bit, I constitute out, that these cars were never available inwards the U.S., but they somehow made their way to South in addition to Central America (at to the lowest degree to a greater extent than or less countries).

They are non marked at all alongside "Hot Wheels!", "Mattel", but alongside “© L.T.I.”, thence they are quite hard to seat if you lot did missy their issue inwards the early on 90s. The hint i time again is on the backcard, where nosotros tin read:
“Mattel, Inc. Manufactured in addition to sold nether license. © 1990 Lionel Trains, Inc.
Made inwards China. Produced past times Chief Industrial, Co. All rights reserved”

That means, that the existent designer in addition to maker of these toys is Lionel Trains Inc. (Hong-Kong), non Mattel. Therefore L.T.I. Mattel in all likelihood in addition to exactly constitute the models really practiced in addition to decided to operate a license for them for Europe.

The master copy cars past times Lionel trains were called “Revolvers”, in addition to were available inwards the the States (Note the address from Michigan inwards the carte front). They were too licensed to to a greater extent than or less other toy companionship named Irwin for (at least) the Canadian market. Since the production was already available inwards the U.S., nosotros receive got a argue why they were non sold nether the HotWheels! Brand.

The interesting matter is that Lionel Trains too had 8 models (actually iv inwards 2 decorations each), the same ones that after released Hot Wheels. Still at that topographic point are to a greater extent than or less cards which are non inwards whatever of the side past times side cardbacks, thence I approximate Hot Wheels mayhap made a minute batch of cars alongside novel decorations, or mayhap was it Lionel Trains?

These are the 8 Hot Wheels models, carrying references: 6001 to 6004 in addition to 6007 to 6010. I wonder if the 2 missing references 6005 in addition to 6006 are the 2 I have…

Picture taken from ebay.co.uk

This is to a greater extent than or less other film of a Hot Wheels Flashmagic cardback.

Picture taken from Swifty’s Garage (https://online-blackjack-games2bfree-1.blogspot.com//search?q=768-unknown-manufacturer-hot-wheels

UPDATE 1 (May/2017) New model acquired, same cast every bit yellow/purple car in the pictures above.

UPDATE2 (Dec/2018) Two to a greater extent than models, the yellow/grey i seems to receive got been sold every bit Hot Wheels, the grey/green every bit Lionel Trains.