MUNCLE MIKES · CASTING GUIDE
Noodle HeadThe little triangle helps identify the body
Noodle Head is easy to recognize by its curling exhausts. To separate the US and Hong Kong versions, move your attention to the small triangular detail on top and the raised areas underneath.
One dot or several
The 1971 Noodle Head was made in the United States and Hong Kong. The triangular body detail has one dot on the Hong Kong version and several on the US version. The Hong Kong base also has raised humps absent from the US base.
Request a sharp top view and a readable underside photograph. Reflections on the metal can hide a small raised feature, so compare more than one clue before assigning a version.
The glazing and seats add another check
US cars pair clear glazing with a white interior. Hong Kong examples have blue glazing and dark-brown or white interiors.
Look at the actual seats rather than estimating their color through a bright windshield reflection. Compare that observation with the body dots and the country mark underneath.
Exhaust condition matters more than a fast-car claim
Inspect the curling pipes for missing ends, distortion and repaired joins. Support the body when picking up the model. The exhausts make convenient-looking handles, but they are vulnerable parts of the casting.
A racing reputation does not establish how a worn example will roll. Bent axles, damaged wheels and later modifications can change that. For a display car, record those conditions without risking a track test merely to support a sales claim.
The Six Shooter guide offers another early design with exposed mechanical detail.
