Designer and Inspiration:

The Chevy Citation was designed by Larry Wood. It is based on the Chevrolet Citation, a compact "X-body" car that was very popular upon its introduction in 1980.

Historical Context and Production Years:

The Hot Wheels casting debuted in 1981. The model 1693 was released as part of "The Hot Ones" series.

Unique Aspects:

This casting represents a common, everyday car rather than an exotic sports car or hot rod. The "Hot Ones" version from 1981 came in metalflake blue with yellow and orange side stripes and featured the fast-rolling GHO (Gold Hot Ones) wheels.

Similar Castings:

The Chevy Citation fits in with other "ordinary car" castings from the early 1980s, such as the Dodge Aries Wagon and the Omni 024, reflecting a trend towards more realism in the Hot Wheels lineup.

Variations and Special Editions:

Besides the "Hot Ones" version, it was also released in the mainline with basic wheels in colors like orange and yellow. The casting was short-lived and only produced for a few years.