Hot Wheels Casting Info & Complete Collector’s Guide
Hot Wheels Auburn 852 — Casting Info & Complete Collector’s Guide
The Auburn 852 is a 1:64 Hot Wheels model of a 1934 Auburn convertible. Designed by Larry Wood, the casting debuted in 1979 and appeared through the 2003 Final Run series. This guide follows the casting itself: the metal body and base, separate plastic fenders and interior, and the details that distinguish one release from another.
Auburn 852 at a glance
The 852 is recognizable by its long hood, open roadster body and sweeping separate fenders. Body paint alone is not enough to identify many releases: compare the molded fenders and interior, wheel face, tire sidewalls and underside stamp together.
Quick identification
| Make and model | Auburn 852 · 1934 convertible |
|---|---|
| Hot Wheels casting | 852 · reference 2505 |
| Scale | 1:64 |
| Designer | Larry Wood |
| First release | 1979 · Oldies But Goodies |
| Last documented release | 2003 · Final Run 11/12 |
| Construction | Metal body and base; plastic windshield, interior and fenders |
How to identify an Auburn 852 variation
Start with the body color, then check the fenders and interior as separate molded parts. Early red and yellow cars are best separated by component color, country stamp and blackwall wheels. Later versions add whitewalls, lace wheels, Real Riders and release-specific decoration.
Inspect the windshield and fender joints before judging condition. The clear windshield can be missing or cracked, while the projecting plastic fenders can be bent, scuffed or broken. Compare the underside stamp and wheel type with the matching release record below.
Variation summary
The family links 36 Auburn 852 variation guides, from the 1979 debut through the 2003 Final Run. One documented 35th Anniversary fender-logo variation has no confirmed release year; it is listed separately without assigning a date. Each guide links across the complete family.
| Year and variation | Series / set | Wheels |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 · Red · Oldies But Goodies | Oldies But Goodies | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1980 · Red · Flying Colors International | Flying Colors International | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1980 · Red · Mainline | Mainline | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1981 · Yellow · Dark-brown fenders | Mainline | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1981 · Yellow · Dark-brown fenders · Hong Kong | Mainline | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1981 · Yellow · Brown fenders · Hong Kong | Mainline | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1981 · Yellow · Red-brown components | Mainline | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1983 · Metalflake gold · Blackwall | Mainline | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1983 · Metalflake gold · Whitewall | Mainline | Whitewall (WW) |
| 1984 · White · Whitewall | Mainline | Whitewall (WW) |
| 1986 · Green · Whitewall | Mainline | Whitewall (WW) |
| 1988 · Green · Whitewall | Mainline | Whitewall (WW) |
| 1988 · Warm off-white to cold dark blue · Automagic / Color Racers | Automagic / Color Racers | Whitewall (WW) |
| 1991 · Red · Red fenders · Whitewall | Blue Card | Whitewall (WW) |
| 1991 · Red · Red fenders · Blackwall | Blue Card | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1992 · Red · Red fenders · Blackwall | Blue Card · #94 | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1993 · Red · Black fenders | 1993 Hot Wheels | Whitewall (WW) |
| 1995 · Chrome · Service Merchandise set | Classic American Car Collection · 16-pack | Blackwall redline |
| 1995 · Red · Five-spoke | 1995 Hot Wheels | Five-spoke (5SP) |
| 1996 · Silver · American Classics | American Classics 3-Pack | Real Riders |
| 1996 · Black and gold · Treasure Hunt | Treasure Hunt · #437/590 | Real Riders |
| 1996 · Gold and white · FAO Schwarz Classic Collection | FAO Schwarz Classic Collection | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1997 · Red · Five-spoke | 1997 Hot Wheels | Five-spoke (5SP) |
| Year not stated · Red · 35th Anniversary fender logo | Collector reference links it to red #215; year and package unconfirmed | Five-spoke (5SP) |
| 1997 · Silver and black · International release | International only | Lace wheels |
| 1998 · Red · 30th Anniversary | 30th Anniversary window box | Blackwall (BW) |
| 1998 · Red · Mainline | 1998 Hot Wheels | Five-spoke (5SP) |
| 1998 · Unpainted ZAMAC · Convention | 12th Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention | Five-spoke (5SP) |
| 1998 · Black · Gold trim | 1998 Hot Wheels | Gold lace wheels |
| 1999 · Black and silver · Pinstripe Power | Pinstripe Power · 4/4 | Lace wheels |
| 1999 · White and metalflake gold · FAO Schwarz | FAO Schwarz Classic Collection | Whitewall Real Riders |
| 2001 · White and dark red · Pinstripes | 2001 Hot Wheels · #116/240 | Lace wheels |
| 2002 · Silver · Burgundy accents | 2002 Hot Wheels · #175/240 | Lace wheels |
| 2002 · Burgundy · Auto Milestones | Auto Milestones | Real Riders · whitewall |
| 2003 · Copper and light gold · Final Run · wire-spoke | Final Run · 11/12 · #205/220 | LW wire-spoke |
| 2003 · Copper and light gold · Final Run · 5Y | Final Run · 11/12 · #205/220 | 5Y (yellow five-spoke) |
The 1984 Auburn 852 is listed with whitewall wheels by the Hot Wheels Newsletter and South Texas Diecast. HWC Garage uses the combined label “Black Wall w/ White Wall,” but the wording alone does not establish a second 1984 release. Check the actual tire sidewalls before recording a wheel distinction.
Condition and packaging
On a loose Auburn, examine the clear windshield, fender tips, grille and bumpers, wheel alignment, paint around the hood and side panels, and the underside. For Real Riders, check tires for age-related cracking and wheels for damage. A card or box can help identify a release, but the car’s features still need to match.
Browse all 38 Auburn 852 variations
1979 Auburn 852Red · Oldies But Goodies- 1980 Auburn 852Red · Flying Colors International
- 1980 Auburn 852Red · Mainline
- 1981 Auburn 852Yellow · Brown fenders · Hong Kong
- 1981 Auburn 852Yellow · Dark-brown fenders · Hong Kong
- 1981 Auburn 852Yellow · Dark-brown fenders · Malaysia
- 1981 Auburn 852Yellow · Red-brown fenders · Hong Kong
1983 Auburn 852Metalflake gold · Blackwall
1983 Auburn 852Metalflake gold · Whitewall
1984 Auburn 852White · Whitewall- 1986 Auburn 852Green · Whitewall
- 1988 Auburn 852Green · Whitewall
- 1988 Auburn 852Warm off-white to cold dark blue · Automagic / Color Racers
1991 Auburn 852Red · Red fenders · Blackwall- 1991 Auburn 852Red · Red fenders · Whitewall
- 1992 Auburn 852Red · Red fenders · Blackwall
- 1993 Auburn 852Red · Black fenders
- 1995 Auburn 852Chrome · Service Merchandise set
1995 Auburn 852Red · Five-spoke- 1996 Auburn 852Black and gold · Treasure Hunt
- 1996 Auburn 852Gold · FAO Schwarz Classic Collection
1996 Auburn 852Silver · American Classics- 1997 Auburn 852Red · Five-spoke
- Year not stated · Auburn 852Red · black fenders · 35th Anniversary logo · 5SP
1997 Auburn 852Silver and black · International release- 1998 Auburn 852Black · Gold trim
- 1998 Auburn 852Red · 30th Anniversary
1998 Auburn 852Red · Mainline- 1998 Auburn 852Unpainted ZAMAC · Convention
- 1999 Auburn 852Black and silver · Pinstripe Power
- 1999 Auburn 852White and metalflake gold · FAO Schwarz
- 2001 Auburn 852White and dark red · Pinstripes
- 2002 Auburn 852Burgundy · Auto Milestones
- 2002 Auburn 852Silver · Burgundy accents
- 2003 Auburn 852Copper and light gold · Final Run · wire-spoke
- 2003 Auburn 852Final Run · Y5
Related collector reference
Auburn Automobiles · casting reference · 1984 wheel identification note · Final Run wheel comparison
2002 Auto Milestones issue
The Auburn 852 is one of the 16 Walmart-exclusive Hot Wheels Auto Milestones releases. Toy number 55931 identifies this 2002 issue. See the complete Auto Milestones checklist for the series context and related castings.