Designer and Inspiration:

The Thunderburner is a fantasy race car design by Larry Wood.

Historical Context and Production Years:

The casting first appeared in 1983. Model 1456 corresponds to a 1987 promotional mail-in offer for Hot Wheels brand breakfast cereal. This version came with GHO (Gold Hot Ones) wheels.

Unique Aspects:

This is a promotional item, featuring a white body with "Hot Wheels Cereal" logos and graphics. The car itself is a low-slung, Le Mans-style endurance racer with a large rear wing. Being a cereal mail-in makes it a unique collectible.

Similar Castings:

As a fantasy racer, it is similar to other designs like the "Sol-Aire CX4" or the "Ultra Hots," representing the pinnacle of Hot Wheels track performance design.

Variations and Special Editions:

The mainline version from 1983 was typically red. The Hot Wheels Cereal version is a key promotional variation.