SnakeYellow paint is only the beginning

The windowed yellow and white cars

The 1970 Snake represents Don Prudhomme’s Barracuda funny car. Yellow enamel, a black roll cage and a body prop belong to the early configuration. US cars have clear glazing; Hong Kong cars have blue-tinted glazing. The name appears on the supplied racing labels.

The white Snake II followed in 1971. It retains glazing and a removable prop, with an engine made as a separate part and riveted to the base. Its inside-roof casting number is 6409.

Photograph a white car from above and underneath before assigning it to a year. White paint alone will not separate Snake II from the later white funny car.

The windowless 1973 version

The Hong Kong 1973 Snake comes in yellow or white, with a black roll cage but no glazing or prop. The complete oil pan on the base is a key comparison with the earlier version. The engine is incorporated into the chassis casting.

The inside-roof number changes to 6969. Some later Top Eliminator bodies share that number, so read it with the chassis features rather than treating it as a complete authentication test. The 1973 Mongoose shares the body and base; the paint and racing labels distinguish the named releases.

A gentle lift of a sound loose body may expose the details. Do not pull against a stuck hinge. An open-body photograph should show the actual car’s roof and chassis together, not a second car used as an example.

Flying Colors and Hemi Hauler need their own comparison

The related Top Eliminator appears in 1974 Flying Colors in dark blue with colorful racing decoration. The 1977 gold-chrome Hemi Hauler presentation has redline and blackwall entries. Those names and graphics belong to later releases; they should not be described as untouched 1970 Snake cars.

Compare the finish under soft light and record the wheel type. A bright reflection on a chrome body can conceal wear, and a later body or chassis can be paired with older-looking labels.

The Snake Rail Dragster and rear-engine Snake are separate models. Their long, narrow shapes need different parts checks.

Labels, hinges and later reproductions

Look along every label edge for tears, lifting, staining and signs of replacement. Do not peel one back to inspect the paint. Ask about restoration and keep label condition separate from chips on the nose, roof and rear corners.

China-made Vintage reproductions carry an early copyright date, so inspect the full base wording before assuming age. For a packaged car, photograph both sides of the card and the complete blister seam; a loose car beside an old card is not proof of an original pairing.

Wheel replacements and repaired hinges should be disclosed even when the result looks tidy. Compare completed sales only after matching the version, originality and condition. For the other side of the racing partnership, use the Mongoose guide.

The later funny-car body

Top Eliminator and Hemi Hauler reference photos

The blue car’s green stripe and large Flying Colors lettering differ plainly from the racing labels on Snake. On the gold car, Hemi-Hauler lettering runs between the wheel openings. Identify the decoration before treating a familiar body shape as the earlier release.

Both photographs show empty window openings. Check the body and chassis configuration before describing that as missing glass. The gold finish also has visible wear along exposed edges; reflections can make that wear disappear from another angle.

These are reference examples of the documented blue Flying Colors and 1977 gold-chrome presentations. They do not establish a separate 1978 release. A year supplied in a listing needs supporting packaging or release evidence.