1968 Hot Wheels Original 16 models with 2,000 varations

The Hot Wheels Sweet sixteen or the Original 16 models refer to a group of cars that were part of the original 16 Hot Wheels cars released in 1968. but it should be called the Sweet 2,000.

The original Sweet 16 models included the following cars:

• Beatnik Bandit - a futuristic, low-slung car
• Custom Barracuda - based on the 1965 Plymouth Barracuda
• Custom Camaro - based on the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
• Custom Corvette - based on the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette
• Custom Cougar - based on the 1967 Mercury Cougar
• Custom Eldorado - based on the 1968 Cadillac Eldorado
• Custom Firebird - based on the 1968 Pontiac Firebird
• Custom Fleetside - a custom-designed truck
• Custom Mustang - based on the 1967 Ford Mustang
• Custom T-Bird - based on the 1967 Ford Thundbird
• Custom Volkswagen - a custom-designed Volkswagen Beetle
• Deora - a futuristic pickup truck with orange and yellow surf boards
• Ford J-Car - a prototype race car
• Hot Heap - based on the real-life show car "King T", also known as "Tognotti's T".
• Python - two seater sports car (Originally called the "Cheetah")
• Silhouette - a long, low-slung sports car

Hot Wheels cars were made in both the United States and Hong Kong. The company Mattel, which owns the Hot Wheels brand, began producing the diecast cars in its factory in California in 1968. However, due to high demand for the toys, the company produced the car in their Hong Kong factory.

Due to a lack of communication between the US and Hong Kong factories and poor quality control standards several of the original 16 models are completely different and the parts are NOT interchangeable (such as some of the chassis or bodies). Maybe they should be called the Sweet 32?

As for the Spectraflame paint, it was a key feature of the original Hot Wheels lineup and was used on all of the cars released in 1968. The paint was developed by a company called "Spectraflame Corporation," which was a subsidiary of Mattel. It gave the cars a metallic finish and was available in a variety of colors.

Hot Wheels released 12 Spectraflame colors available in the original lineup in 1968. Due to a lack of communication between the US and Hong Kong factories the color constancy was poor causing over 39 distinct spectraflame colors recognized by the collector community today. 1968 Spectraflame color list

SO.... US and Hong Kong version 32 times the possible 39 spectraflame colors variation equals 1,248 possibilities.