Rebel Rods History

Posted by admin on Oct 26, 2009 in History | Comments Off

History

The Ancestry

The Rebel Rods series came to be from the ashes of the Street Freaks series.

The “spoiler” type cars have always been a favorite of diecast collectors. After the Street Freaks series died out there was a gap for a while where there wasn’t any “spoiler” type cars being made.

Playing Mantis (PM) then delivered more numbered cars in the exclusive Kay Bee Toy Store 5 packs, which were afterthoughts from the Street Freak Series. Then the Rebel Rods bomb exploded in the fall of 2001.

Rebel Rods series 1 came out and flew off the shelves like hot cakes. Cool new cars with meatball numbers, a decal sheet and 2 tire combinations. So if you were a racer or had the preference of the rubber (Real Riders) series tires, you could be satisfied.

The Rebel Rods series ended after 4 releases in June of 2002.

A Few Things to Note

1. The numbers on the sides of the cars originally started out in the Kay Bee 5-packs where numbers 1 thru 9 was available.

2. Only one numbered car to date, the #3 car (a pink 70 Dodge Challenger T/A), does not have a diecast blown engine.

3. Tom Lowe (former owner of Playing Mantis) did the development work on the engines and the #5 engine was too big, so he let the factory cut off the passenger side valve cover.

4. Not all numbered cars are available in one Kay Bee 5-pack, you’ll have to buy several. They come with an assortment of other cars.

5. Not every engine fits every car, so some cars won’t get some engines.

6. If you were to ignore the #5 listed point above, and counted the total possibilites of each release, with each car having different engines and wheels, these would be the totals:

Rebel Rods release 1 – 48 total different combinations. The Silverado and 7 engines hampers the total for this release

Rebel Rods release 2 – 68 total different combinations.

Rebel Rods release 3 – 68 total different combinations.

Rebel Rods release 4 – 68 total different combinations.

7. Rebel Rods started on #11 and currently will end at #19 while going back and filling in the much anticipated #10.

8. Playing Mantis did not number or name these engines (nor did I) the way they are listed on this site. It was a collaboration of fine folks from an internet bulletin board. They can be found at this Hobby Talk location.

9. New card art was implemented for the 4th release showing a ’69 Super Bee. Previous releases showed the ’69 Nova (Boss-a-Nova). See the card art pics below.

10. According to PM, release 4 was considered a flop. Retailers didn’t want them so the remainder of release 4 was sent back to the factory to be re-packed. The re-issue of Rebel Rods release 4 is now called Spoilers under the Street Freaks program.

11. Rebel Rods release 4 is now showing up at Cracker Barrel stores and has been re-packaged in a window box form. These are not labeled as Rebel Rods (or anything else) but simply as “The Collectors Choice”. (added 8/7/2004)