Hot Whels 2013 - Flying Customs Series / Mix 4 - El Rey Special - Dark Orange - Basic Wheels - Metal/Metal - Target Exclusive

Hot Whels 2013 - Flying Customs Series / Mix 4 - El Rey Special - Dark Orange - Basic Wheels - Metal/Metal - Target Exclusive - MPN X8216

Hot Wheels Wiki says - Besides several favorite vehicles, you will find a couple of new castings making their debut in the series, as well as some retools and some with a diecast base for the first time. The castings in the series have a combination of UH, GHO, SHO, BW, and CT wheels. All where made in Thailand.

Will the Real Flying Color paint please stand up?!? The El Rey Special runs a close race for castings with the most alternative colors.

The El Rey Special was originally released in 1974, with enamel paint and the new Flying Colors tampo. Early versions can be found with capped rear wheels and were released in the '74 style blister-pack. It is unsure which was issued first in 1974, the Light enamel Green or Dark enamel Blue; this was such a short run before the casting change to the Formula P.A.C.K. It is hard to trace the history of the name. The fact that the Formula Pack showed up mid- to late-1975 in the 6-pack, means the El Rey Special was only made for about a year and half.

The Formula P.A.C.K. was released in 1976 or so it has been thought. In 1975 Mattel started releasing the 6-Pack again, the set Streak Machines was released with the El Rey Special in 1975, but it also is found with the Formula P.A.C.K in 1975 6-Pack. It would seem that this casting had some retooling due to some nose issue and was released early in the 6-Pack. Then released in the line-up of 1976. It has also been released under the name of Malibu Grand Prix (1982) and Lightning Gold (1985). This cast was a Retool of the El Rey Special (1974), with only modifications to the nose of the body. The Formula P.A.C.K was more readily available with Redlines than Blackwalls in 1977. With a complete tampo change for 1978.