MUNCLE MIKES · CASTING GUIDE
Second WindTwo wheel eras under the same white body
Second Wind’s white body and bright stripe can make two examples look identical at first glance. Turn them slightly: the wheel faces and base provide more useful information than another photograph of the number on the hood.
The number 5 white car
The 1977 Flying Colors record lists white Second Wind with red, yellow and purple striping, a hood number 5, black interior, blue glazing and a black Hong Kong base. Both redline and blackwall wheels are documented.
The 1978 Classy Customs version pictured here retains that general decoration with blackwalls. A familiar stripe is therefore not enough to date a loose example to its first issue.
Look closely at the stripe and underside
The reference distinguishes white versions with purple in the stripe from versions using black. Photograph the top in neutral light so the dark stripe is readable. Do the same with the country marking underneath.
A patch of missing color can be wear, a printing problem or later interference. Describe what is visible before deciding that an incomplete stripe is a special variation.
Later cars change the comparison
A blue Second Wind appears in the 1995 FAO Schwarz set record. The 1997 white car uses number 6, red-and-blue graphics, a blue interior and an India base. Those are useful distinctions when loose cars have lost their packaging.
Inspect the low front edge and the projecting body corners for chips. On a carded car, look for clouding or cracks in the blister that prevent a clear view.
Compare current loose Hot Wheels by the complete finish and wheel combination, or browse carded collectibles when packaging is part of your collection.
