This matrix covers all of the castings from 1968 through 1972. While there is no absolute rule as to which wheels go on which cars, I have tried to compile a list of the most common findings for each casting. Also, please keep in mind that if the bottom of your car says “1967” on it, that is a 1968 model. Mattel was hopeful that they would launch the line in 1967, but it did not work out. All cars with 1967 on the base are considered 1968 releases.

 

There are two basic types of wheels, and they are very easy to tell apart from each other. Those two types are “Bearing” and “Cap”. Here’s an overview:

  • Bearing - If you can see a small white or pink bearing in the center of the wheel around the axle, you need a “bearing” style wheels. Bearing wheels come in three “styles”:
    • Hong Kong Bearing - Hong Kong bearing is the most common wheel style found on the cars in 1968, and they have the look most people associate with early redlines. The mag is sharp and clear, and the finish is bright chrome.
    • US Bearing – US Bearing is the wheel style found on about half the cars in 1969. As you will notice in the matrix below,  some castings in 1969 were available exclusively with these wheels. It is quite common however for HK Bearing wheels to be substituted for the US wheels. The mag on the US wheel is less shiny, less detailed and less defined than a Hong Kong wheel.
    • Deep Dish Bearing - Deep Dish wheels were original equipment on very few cars manufactured in Hong Kong. These wheels are limited to early castings in 1968. they were dropped right away by Mattel because they were too difficult to make. They are arguably the best looking wheel out of all of them, and many people choose to put these early Deep Dish style wheel on cars that never came with them. The mag is inset to the tire, giving a more authentic tire/wheel look. The mag is less shiny than a Hong Kong wheel, and has more of a silver or argent look.
  • Cap - If the wheel is solid black on the backside without the small white or pink bearing, then you need “Cap” style wheels. Cap wheels are the most common wheels used in 1970, 1971 & 1972. The mag is sharp and clear, and the finish is bright chrome. They come in two sizes, and the medium size fits the front of any early Sizzler car.

 

As you review the matrix below, you will notice some cars came with more than one type of wheel. The most common exceptions involve HK Bearing and Cap style shifts. Always look at the back side of the wheel you want to replace. If it has a small white or pink bearing you need a bearing type wheel. If the backside of the wheel is solid black, you need a cap type wheel.

 

If you are a purist, go for the historically accurate wheels for your car. If you want the car to look fresh and new, use the wheel style you like best! My eBay listings offer them all. The choice is yours!

 

If you have any questions, drop me a note. I’m always glad to help out. email me

 

Here’s the link back to my listings: Back to eBay

 

1968

 

 

Available Castings

Hong Kong Bearing Wheels

Deep Dish Bearing Wheels

Hong Kong Cap Wheels

US Bearing Wheels

Hong Kong

US

HK Small

HK Medium

HK Large

Deep Dish Small

Deep Dish Medium

Cap Medium

Cap Large

US Small

US Medium

US Large

Custom Cougar

x

x

2

2

 

2

2

 

 

2

2

 

Custom Mustang

x

x

2

2

 

2

2

 

 

2

2

 

Custom T-Bird

x

x

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

 

4

 

Custom Camaro

x

x

2

2

 

2

2

 

 

2

2

 

Silhouette

x

x

2

2

 

2

2

 

 

2

2

 

Deora

x

x

4

 

 

4

 

 

 

4

 

 

Custom Barracuda

x

x

2

2

 

2

2

 

 

2

2

 

Custom Firebird

x

x

2

2

 

2

2

 

 

2

2

 

Custom Fleetside

x

x

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

 

4

 

Ford J-Car

x

x

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Custom Corvette

x

x

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Python

x

x

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Beatnik Bandit

x

x

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

Custom Eldorado

x

x

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Hot Heap

x

x

 

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

Custom Volkswagen

x

x

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

1969

 

Available Castings

Hong Kong Bearing Wheels

Deep Dish Bearing Wheels

Hong Kong Cap Wheels

US Bearing Wheels

Hong Kong

US

HK Small

HK Medium

HK Large

Deep Dish Small

Deep Dish Medium

Cap Medium

Cap Large

US Small

US Medium

US Large

Brabham-Repco F1

x

 

 

2

2

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Chapparal 2G

x

x

 

4

 

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

Classic '31 Ford Woody

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

Classic '32 Ford Vicky

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

Classic '36 Ford Coupe

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

2

Classic '57 T-Bird

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

Custom AMX

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Custom Charger

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Custom Continental Mark III

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Custom Police Cruiser

 

x

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Ford Mark IV

x

x

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Indy Eagle

x

 

 

2

2

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Lola GT70

x

x

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Lotus Turbine

x

 

 

2

2

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Maserati Mistral

x

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McLaren M6A

x

x

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Mercedes-Benz 280SL

x

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

x

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelby Turbine

x

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Splittin' Image

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

Torero

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

Turbofire

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

TwinMill

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

Volkswagen Beach Bomb

x

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1970

 

Available Castings

Hong Kong Bearing Wheels

Deep Dish Bearing Wheels

Hong Kong Cap Wheels

US Bearing Wheels

Hong Kong

US

HK Small

HK Medium

HK Large

Deep Dish Small

Deep Dish Medium

Cap Medium

Cap Large

US Small

US Medium

US Large

Ambulance

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Boss Hoss

x

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carabo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Cement Mixer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Classic Nomad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Demon, The

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Dump Truck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Ferrari

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Fire Chief Cruiser

 

x

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Fire Engine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

Heavy Chevy

x

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack "Rabbit" Special

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

King Kuda

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Light My Firebird

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mantis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Mighty Maverick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Mod Quad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Mongoose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Moving Van

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

Nitty Gritty Kitty

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paddy Wagon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Peepin' Bomb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Porsche

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Power Pad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

Red Baron

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Sand Crab

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Seasider

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Sky Show Deora

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sky Show Fleetside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Snake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Swingin' Wing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

TNT-Bird

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tow Truck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Tri Baby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Whip Creamer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

1971

 

Available Castings

Hong Kong Bearing Wheels

Deep Dish Bearing Wheels

Hong Kong Cap Wheels

US Bearing Wheels

Hong Kong

US

HK Small

HK Medium

HK Large

Deep Dish Small

Deep Dish Medium

Cap Medium

Cap Large

US Small

US Medium

US Large

AMX/2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Bugeye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

Bye-Focal