0-9
100% Hot Wheels - Refers to the series of more highly detailed castings sold previously with their own acrylic display cases, 2001-2003. Sold in 2004 in the showcase oil can packaging [PicRef] as the Cool Collectibles series. Sold as the Collectibles series from 1997 to 2000.
A
AA - "Auto Affinity" (a Hot Wheels line of cars) or the Hot Wheels casting "Asphalt Assault"
Admin - Administrator
AFAIK - "As far as I know"
B
Baggie - A clear, plastic bag in which some castings are distributed.
Beater - a well worn diecast car
Bin of Death - Refers to a large bin at a retail store into which carded Hot Wheels have been dumped. .
Blister - The plastic bubble in which you find the Hot Wheels casting on a card [PicRef]
Blisterpack - Packaging consisting of a clear, plastic blister holding the casting on a cardboard card.
Blue card - see Collector Number
BOD - See "Bin of Death"
BP - "blisterpack"
BP fresh - a car that was just released from the blisperpack, or that looks like it was just released (i.e., mint condition)
BTTT - "Back To The Top" Used to bump a thread to the top of a bulletin board forum in order to get more people to read it.
Board - Short for Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board - A discussion area on the HotWheelsCollectors.com web site in which messages are posted.
BW - Black-wall or "Basic wheel"
C
Card - The cardboard card on which some Hot Wheels are sold; see also Short Card
Cardboard - Refers to the card on which Hot Wheels are sold.
Casting - The Hot Wheels car itself
Cloud card - see Collector Number
Co-mold - A type of wheel--the rim and tire are two separate pieces.
Code 1 - Mattel-issued retail casting.
Code 2 - Mattel-issued special event casting.
Code 3 - Mattel casting customized or modified by a third party.
COE - "Cab over engine"
Collectibles - Refers to the series of more highly detailed castings which were sold in their own acrylic display cases from 1997-2000. Also see Cool Collectibles and 100% Hot Wheels.
Collector Number - The number on the card, usually 3 digits, to help collectors identify various castings. Blue cards [pic] were all blue and numbered from #1 through #274. These were pre-1995. The remainder of the numbered series cards, starting with #275 and ending with #1121, were blue on top fading to white on the bottom (sometimes referred to as "cloud cards") [pic]. These ran from 1995 to 1999. In 2000, they began to number the cards for that particular year only. For example, in 2000, the numbers ran from #1 to #250. In 2003, they ran from #1 to #220. (Thanks to restrom1 for this explanation.)
Cool Collectibles - Refers to the series of more highly detailed castings sold in the showcase oil can packaging [PicRef]. In 2004 there are two versions of the oil can packaging--the mass market version, which is a 15,000 unit run, and the hobby version, which is a 7,000 unit run. Same castings in each version, but the colors are different. Formerly know as 100% Hot Wheels when they were sold in their own acrylic display cases from 2001-2003(?), and Collectibles from 1997-2000.
Custom - Hot Wheels which have been modified or custom-designed
D
DC - Distribution Center
E
E-sheet - Digital design file of what the designer wants a casting's decoration to look like. There may be a number of versions of an e-sheet because of feedback recieved. (HWC Ray)
Enamels - Hot Wheels Redlines produced from 1973-1977
Error - Refers to a mistake in production of the casting or its packaging.
F
F/C - Funny car
F/S - For sale
F/T - For trade
FE - First Edition
Final Run - Refers to the last year of issue for a particular casting.
First Edition - Refers to a casting in its first year of issue.
Flea bite - a very small chip in the paint. Also called a "micro".
Forum - An area of the Bulletin Boards dedicated to a particular topic. For example, Customs Forum.
FR - See "Final Run"
FTE - "Faster Than Ever" Refers to cars produced in 2006 with nickel-plated axles and "orange-chrome" open-hole 5-spoke wheels. Designed to be faster than the same car without the nickel-plated axles.
G
Gilford, Ira - Hot Wheels designer, 1967-1969. Some designs include Custom Volkswagen, Heavyweights.
GTR - "Good Trader Registry", which is a list maintained by GTR Rob for the HWC Trading Forum. To have your name added to the list of good traders, you must be nominated by two existing GTR members with whom you have traded.
H
Heavyweights - Refers to a line of Hot Wheels trucks, first produced in 1970, and having large, wrap-around windshields.
HIN - "Hot Import Nights"; a series from 2005.
HK - Hong Kong
HOF - "Hall of Fame"
HTF - "Hard to find"; see also VHTF
HW - "Hot Wheels"
HWC - Refers to the HotWheelsCollectors.com web site
I
Ira Gilford - See Gilford, Ira
J
JL - Johnny Lightning
J/K - "Just Kidding"
Johnny Lightning - Brand of diecast made by Playing Mantis.
K
K-Mart - A large retail store chain in the United States
KUTGW - "Keep Up The Good Work"
L
Larry Wood - See Wood, Larry
LE - Limited Edition
LMK - "Let me know"
LMKWYT - "Let me know what you think"
LWWT - "Larry Wood World Tour". Refers to Larry Wood's tour commemorating his 35 years of designing Hot Wheels.
M
Mainline - The main series of Hot Wheels cars, including First Editions, Treasure Hunts, Series cars, etc.
MBK - Mattel Bangkok
MIB - "Mint in Baggie"
Micro - a very small chip in the paint. Also called a "flea bite".
MIMP - Mint in mint package
MM - Muscle Machines
MOC - "Mint on Card" and refers to a casting that is in mint condition and is mounted on a card. Also see MOMC.
MOMC - "Mint on Mint Card" and refers to a casting that is in mint condition and is mounted on a card that is also in mint condition.
MOMIC - Mint on mint international card
MOMUSC - Mint on mint U.S. card
MONMC - Mint on non-mint card
N
Newbie - Someone new (to whatever). Also "noobie", "noob", etc.
NM - Near mint
O
Open Stock SKUs - Refers to Hot Wheels mainline cars not in a segment series. (HWC Ray)
Original 16 - Refers to the first sixteen Hot Wheels castings that were produced back in 1968.
P
Pegwarmer - A casting that has remained on the pegs at retail stores for some time.
Playing Mantis - Maker of Johnny Lightning die-cast.
PLMK - Please let me know
PM - "Private Message" or "Playing Mantis"
Post - A message posted in a Bulletin Board Forum
Private Message - A message between select individuals (i.e., not a public message or a post in a public forum)
R
Rainbow - a collection of a single casting in a variety of colors.
RAOK - "Random Act of Kindness"; gift sent/received; usually sent without the intended recipient's knowledge.
Redline - Refers to both the red line on a Hot Wheels' wheel, and to the cars which have such wheels. The original Hot Wheels cars all had Redline wheels. Phase-out of the redline wheel began in 1977. [Pic]
Redline Club - a club that was started by Mattel(R) for the purpose of offering members the chance to purchase online exclusive Hot Wheels cars. Registration begins in January and usually sells out quickly. There are a limited number of each online exclusive car released, which means not all the members will get every car. However, every member is offered the chance to purchase the Redline Club's sELECTIONs car (cars the members design themselves by voting on car features).
Real Riders - a type of all-rubber tire; first introduced in the latter part of the 1970s.
Repaint - A casting with a paint scheme that is different than the paint scheme that was on the original release of that casting.
Retooled - Refers to the creation of a new tool (mold) for a particular casting. The new tool may incorporate some changes, making it slightly different from the original casting.
RLC - See Redline Club
RR - See Real Riders
RSW - "Red Striped Wheels"; also see entry Wheels.
S
Segment series - See Series cars
Series cars - A series (subset) of cars within the mainline, usually consisting of five cars in each series.
Short Card - Shorter cards on which Hot Wheels cars are sold. The art on the card is reduced or eliminated, thus making it possible to create a smaller (shorter) card. [Pic]
Sneak Peek- Posts by the Admins generally previewing new releases of Hot Wheels cars
Spectraflame - High-gloss style of paint, originally used on Hot Wheels through 1972, before the switch to enamel. Spectraflame paint has also been used on the HWC and RLC offerings.
Spoiler - A wing-like device mounted on a casting. On full-size racing vehicles, a spoiler is used to improve road-handling
Spoilers - Refers to a series of castings, first released in 1970, of soupped-up American cars which had exposed engines and large rear spoilers.
Super-Charger - A powered device that keeps Hot Wheels cars moving around the track by squeezing them between two rapidly spinning foam wheels which propel the cars down the track.
T
T-Hunt - See Treasure Hunt
Tampo - Stamped-on design; "decal"
TH - See Treasure Hunt
Thread - A post in a bulletin board forum and the replies to that post.
Tomart's - Refers to the book Tomart's Price Guide to Hot Wheels, written by Michael Thomas Strauss.
Toning - Refers to darks spots which appear in a casting's finish as a result of the aging process. Also called spotting.
Tool - Refers to the mold from with a casting is made. Also see retooled.
Torsion Bar Suspension - Each wheel of the casting is mounted on its own, independent z-shaped axle, to minimize axle bending. Featured on early Hot Wheels models.
Toys 'R' Us - A toy store chain started in the United States
Treasure Hunt - Limited series of the mainline cars each year; There are usually 12 cars in the series, and Mattel(R) produces a limited number of each of the 12. Icon on the card is a treasure chest.
TRU - Refers to Toys 'R' Us
V
Variation - Refers to a casting which is different from the original production run of that casting for that year.
VHTF - "Very hard to find"
VUM - vacuum metalized (chromed plastic)
W
Wal-Mart - A large retail store chain started in the United States
Wally's - Refers to Wal-Mart
Wally World - Refers to Wal-Mart
Wheels - Good list of various Hot Wheels wheel types here, here, and here.
Wing - Usually refers to a casting's spoiler.
WIP - "Work in progress"
WM - "Wal-Mart"
Wood, Larry - Hot Wheels designer since 1969.
WTG - "Way to go"
WW - Whitewall
Y
YHM - "You have mail"
YHPM - "You have a personal message"
ZAMAC - "Zinc Aluminum Metal Alloy Casting"; An unpainted first edition car; They may have tampos, but no paint (just a gloss coat over the grey metal); Exclusive to TRU in 2004.
The following is by Dark Motor -- The term ZAMAC describes any unpainted casting. The first ZAMAC was the 1983 Sir Rodney Roadster from the European Line made in France. The first Mainline ZAMAC was the The 1986 Jet Sweep X5 from the Ultra Hots Series. The first Limited Edition ZAMACs were the 1998 Collectors Convention cars. The first FE ZAMAC was the 2000 FE# 6 Deuce Roadster. The first Toys 'R Us ZAMAC was the 2004 FE #1 Batmobile.
(Last update 15 Aug 2006)