Rockhead Diecast Collection Management

1968 Beatnik Bandit

General information

Casting : Beatnik Bandit

Years of Production

1968-1970

Country of Origin

US and HK

Casting Variations

Associated with US vs. HK production, Detailed Below

Interior Colors:

Interior Colors: White, Tan, Brown, Grey and Black
US - Clear Glass Dome
HK - Blue Glass Dome

Paint Colors:

US COLORS:	COMMENTS:
red	common
blue	common
green	common
aqua	common
orange	common
rose-pink
purple
antifreeze
lime
gold
olive
copper
brown
light blue
rose-red
creamy pink	hard to find
magenta	hard to find
yellow	hard to find
hot pink	very rare
HK COLORS:	COMMENTS:
purple	common
red	common
blue	common
green
aqua
copper
orange	hard to find
olive	hard to find
creamy pink	hard to find

Comments:

The Beatnik Bandit was based on a show car of the same name created in 1963 by Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.

Big Daddy and the Beatnik Bandit!

The real Bandit was constructed from fiberglass and featured a plexiglass dome and a fully chromed blown
Oldsmobile engine. Roth even designed an ingenious control stick that operated the steering, braking, acceleration and transmission of the car.

1968 Beatnik Bandit (L) : Hong Kong vs. US (R)

The Hong Kong version has an oval grille opening and more detailed "headlights" and the lower section of the grille opening is
part of the base on the US version the blue dome of the Hong Kong casting is also quite evident.

1968 Beatnik Bandit (L) : Hong Kong vs. US (R)

The noteworthy differences include the area around tailpipes and the ends of the fenders.

1968 Beatnik Bandit (L) : Hong Kong vs. US (R)

Here, the two castings are quite similar. A slight difference in the rear fenders can be seen.

1968 Beatnik Bandit (L) : Hong Kong vs. US (R)

The noteworthy differences include the typical suspension holes associated with all HK castings, the absence
of mechanical detail on the US version and the difference in the front associated with the grille.

1968 Beatnik Bandit (L) : Hong Kong vs. US (R)

The engines are also different, the HK version featuring a blower and the US open carburetors.

1968 Beatnik Bandit (L) : Hong Kong vs. US (R)

The US version features a more accurate representation of the "control stick" whereas the HK version has a conventional steering wheel.
The HK interior also has additional details on the transmission hump and the blue tinted dome.

1968 Beatnik Bandit Rainbow

US Bandits were produced in a large number of colors, including second generation colors yellow, magenta and hot pink.
The color selection for HK Bandits was much more limited. Hot pink Bandits are extremely rare!

1/18th Scale Beatnik Bandit

In 2002, Hot Wheels produced as 1/18th scale version of the Beatnik Bandit with extraordinarily accurate details of the original.

PREPRODUCTION