Designer and Inspiration:

The Jack Rabbit Special was designed by Paul Tam. It is based on the Chisholm's 'Jack Rabbit' Special, a real-life, innovative rear-engine car that attempted to qualify for the 1968 Indianapolis 500.

Historical Context and Production Years:

It was released in 1970 as part of the Grand Prix series and was produced with Redline (RL) wheels until 1971.

Unique Aspects:

The casting is notable for its sleek, aerodynamic wedge shape, which was very advanced for its time. A unique feature is the plastic wing component that doubled as the engine cover, which could be removed. The real car was sponsored by toy company Eldon, but the Hot Wheels version has "Jack Rabbit Special" and the number "90" tampoed on it.

Similar Castings:

It is part of the Grand Prix series, along with other iconic race cars of the era like the Chaparral 2G and the McLaren M6A.

Variations and Special Editions:

It was produced in various Spectraflame colors, with green and blue being common. The plastic wing/engine cover piece is often missing on loose examples.