Hot Wheels Spectraflame paint colors

Spectraflame paint finish is not the standard paint used on regular cars but rather a transparent lacquer applied over polished zamac casting. This resulted in a surprisingly realistic metallic effect, similar to the appearance of real 1960s hot rod Candy Apple paint jobs, and contributed to the California Custom look.

Hot Wheels released twelve Spectraflame colors available in the original lineup in 1968.

• Aqua
• Blue
• Brown
• Gold
• Green
• Lavender
• Light Blue
• Lime
• Olive
• Orange
• Purple
• Red

Due to a lack of communication between the US and Hong Kong factories and poor quality control standards, the collector community recognizes over 30 distinct spectraflame colors.

• Deep Purple
• Magenta
• Creamy Pink
• Hot Pink
• Rose
• Red Rose
• Watermelon
• Berry
• Brick Red
• Dark Brown
• Chocolate Brown
• Copper Brown
• Light Brown
• Root Beer Brown
• Honey Gold
• Olive Gold
• Ice Olive
• Yellow
• Antifreeze
• Lime Green
• Apple Green
• Emerald green "Graqua"
• Dark Aqua
• Windex Blue
• Ice Blue
• Medium Blue
• Dark Blue

It is worth noting that there were some variations in the specific shades of these colors and that not all colors were used on every 1968 Hot Wheels model. Hot Wheels produced in colors such as Root Beer Brown and Watermelon are among the rarest colors and command very high prices.

The use of Spectraflame paint was a major selling point for Hot Wheels when they were first released, as it helped to set the brand apart from other die-cast toy cars on the market. The paint was also designed to be more durable than traditional toy car paint, which helped to ensure that the cars could withstand the rough and tumble play of children.

In 1973, The original Spectraflame was banned from manufacturing because it contained lead. Due to financial issues, Mattel did not research a lead-free alternative and replaced it with enamel paints.

In 1980, the Spacer Racer, an original Hot Wheels model designed by Larry Wood, introduced the innovative concept of Metalflake paint.This was the first step toward the return of Spectraflame paint.

Today, Spectraflame paint is still used on some Hot Wheels cars as a nod to the brand's history and legacy. It remains a beloved feature among collectors and fans of the brand, and is often cited as one of the key factors that helped to make Hot Wheels the iconic brand that it is today.