Quick Value Snapshot

Collector Summary

The 1970 Hot Wheels Redline Snake is one of the well-known drag racing themed Redline-era releases associated with the Snake and Mongoose racing rivalry. It was designed by Larry Wood and produced during the 1970-1971 period. For collectors, the most important identification points are the correct Snake casting, black interior with roll cage, Redline wheel setup with two medium and two large wheels, and the correct decal treatment.

Both U.S. and Hong Kong versions exist. The model originally came with a sticker sheet that included Coca-Cola and Plymouth decals, with the right-side decal already applied at the factory for display. Because decals are a major part of the car’s presentation, originality and condition of the stickers are especially important when evaluating an example.

Known Variations and Details

Collectors should confirm that the casting, base, wheels, interior, and decal layout are consistent with the 1970 Redline Snake. Because Redline-era parts are often swapped, a correct-looking car should still be inspected for reproduction decals, replacement wheels, repaint work, and mismatched components.

Color and Desirability Notes

The Snake’s collector appeal is strongly tied to its racing graphics and overall completeness. For many examples, decal condition can be just as important as paint condition. Clean original decals, especially when properly positioned and not replaced, are a major plus.

Color desirability should be evaluated alongside condition, originality, and completeness. A common color in excellent original condition may be more desirable than a scarcer-looking example with replaced decals, touched-up paint, wheel swaps, or restoration work. For this model, originality should be prioritized before assuming value based on color alone.

Condition Factors That Affect Value

• Original paint: Factory paint with minimal wear is preferred over repaint or touch-up work.
• Decal originality: Original decals are more desirable than reproduction stickers. Missing, lifting, torn, stained, or misapplied decals reduce appeal.
• Right-side factory-applied decal: Because the right-side decal was factory-applied for display, its originality and placement matter.
• Sticker sheet completeness: A loose original sticker sheet, if present with the car, can add collector interest. Reproduction sheets should be clearly disclosed.
• Wheel condition: Correct Redline wheels with good chrome, proper stance, and no obvious replacement issues are important.
• Axle condition: Bent axles, wobble, or poor rolling quality can reduce value.
• Interior and roll cage: The black interior and roll cage should be present and intact.
• Base condition: Heavy toning, corrosion, damage, or tampering can affect desirability.
• Glass and body parts: Cracks, warping, missing parts, or severe playwear should be considered carefully.
• Packaging: Correct original packaging, when present, should be evaluated separately from the loose car. Packaging condition can significantly affect total selling price.

Restorer Notes

The Snake is a model where restoration decisions should be made carefully because decals are a central part of the car’s identity. Reproduction decals and repainted bodies may display well, but they should not be valued the same as an original example in comparable visual condition.

Restorers should document any repainting, polishing, wheel replacement, axle repair, reproduction stickers, or part swaps. If selling, describe the car as restored or customized rather than original. A restored Snake can be enjoyable as a display piece, but it should be separated from original examples when researching prices.

Buyer Cautions

• Do not use asking prices as market value. Active listings show what a seller wants, not what buyers are paying.
• Check sold results only. Compare against recent completed sales of original, correctly identified examples in similar condition.
• Watch for reproduction decals. Fresh-looking decals on a worn car can indicate replacement stickers.
• Inspect for repaint work. Uneven paint, thick finish, covered wear points, or paint in areas that should show natural age may indicate restoration.
• Verify wheel sizes. The correct setup is two medium and two large Redline wheels.
• Confirm the interior. Both U.S. and Hong Kong versions are known with black interior and roll cage.
• Avoid wrong-casting comparisons. Do not compare the Snake to unrelated Redline funny cars, drag cars, customs, or later reissues.
• Separate loose car value from packaged value. Packaging, if original and correct, changes the comparison.

Seller Notes

When selling a 1970 Redline Snake, provide clear photos of both sides, front, rear, top, base, wheels, interior, and decals. Include close-up images of the factory-applied right-side decal and any remaining sticker sheet or packaging if present.

Disclose whether the car is original, restored, repainted, touched up, customized, or fitted with reproduction decals or replacement wheels. If you are not sure, say so. Accurate disclosure helps buyers compare the car fairly and prevents the listing from being treated as a risky example.

For pricing, research recent actual sold prices for comparable original examples. Active asking prices may be useful for seeing current seller expectations, but they should not be presented as confirmed market value.

Pricing Analysis

No specific verified sold-price dataset was supplied for this page, so exact value confidence is limited. The 1970 Hot Wheels Redline Snake should be priced by comparing it to recent actual sold examples that match the same basic criteria: correct casting, correct U.S. or Hong Kong version, black interior with roll cage, correct medium and large Redline wheel setup, original paint, and original decal condition.

Active asking prices: Asking prices can vary widely and may include overgraded cars, restored examples, reproduction decals, mixed lots, or optimistic seller pricing. These should be treated as reference points only, not as market value.

Actual sold prices: Sold prices are more useful, but only when the listing is clearly documented and comparable. A clean original loose car, a damaged played-with car, a restored car, and a packaged example should not be averaged together.

Outliers: Strong outliers may occur when a car has original packaging, exceptional condition, unusually complete decal material, or a bidding contest between focused collectors. Low outliers may involve poor photos, missing decals, damage, restoration, incorrect parts, or misidentified listings. These should be separated from normal pricing analysis.

Listings to Exclude or Treat Carefully

• Restored or repainted cars unless you are specifically researching restored values.
• Cars with reproduction decals unless clearly disclosed and compared to similar reproduction-decal examples.
• Customs, fantasy repaints, or display builds.
• Mixed lots where the Snake’s individual value cannot be isolated.
• Damaged examples with missing parts, major cracks, severe corrosion, or heavy wheel damage.
• Wrong-casting listings or listings using “Snake” loosely for unrelated drag racing models.
• Listings with poor photos that do not show the base, decals, wheels, and interior clearly.
• Active asking prices presented as if they were completed sales.
• Packaged examples compared directly to loose cars without adjusting for packaging value.

New Collector Advice

If you are new to Redlines, focus first on originality. A correct 1970 Snake should have the proper casting, black interior with roll cage, correct wheel setup, and appropriate decal treatment. Do not assume that a clean-looking car is original, especially if the decals look newer than the rest of the car.

Before buying, compare multiple confirmed examples and learn the difference between original wear and restoration work. A played-with original car can be a better learning piece than an expensive example with uncertain parts. If a listing does not show the base, wheels, and decals clearly, ask for more photos.

Advanced Collector Notes

Advanced collectors should evaluate U.S. and Hong Kong versions separately and document casting, base, wheel, interior, and decal details. Because the right-side decal was factory-applied, decal placement and aging should be examined closely. Matching the natural age of the paint, decals, base, wheels, and interior is one of the best ways to identify a more credible original example.

For research purposes, keep sold-price records separated by originality and condition. Original loose examples, restored examples, decal-replaced examples, damaged cars, and packaged cars should each be tracked in separate groups. This prevents misleading averages and gives a more accurate picture of collector demand.

Short Page Blurb

The 1970 Hot Wheels Redline Snake was designed by Larry Wood and produced from 1970-1971. U.S. and Hong Kong versions are known, both with black interior and roll cage. The model used two medium and two large Redline wheels and originally came with Coca-Cola and Plymouth decals, with the right-side decal factory-applied for display. Original paint, correct wheels, and authentic decal condition are key value factors.

Disclaimer

Values for vintage Hot Wheels Redlines are condition-sensitive and can change over time. This guide separates active asking prices from actual sold prices and does not guarantee exact values. Repaints, restorations, reproduction parts, customs, damaged examples, mixed lots, wrong-casting listings, and poorly documented sales should not be treated as normal price examples. Use recent verified sold results and careful condition comparison before buying or selling.

Quick Value Snapshot

Due to the legendary status of the Prudhomme vs. McEwen rivalry, values for the 1970 Snake remain consistently high compared to standard mainlines. Prices typically range from $40 - $125 for "played-with" examples with significant decal wear, $150 - $400 for clean loose examples with intact factory decals, and $800+ for high-grade unpunched blister pack examples.

Collector Summary

Designed by Larry Wood and released in 1970, the "Snake" is a 1/64 scale tribute to Don "The Snake" Prudhomme’s Plymouth funny car. Produced between 1970 and 1971, this casting is a cornerstone of the "Mongoose vs. Snake" drag race sets. It features a flip-up body that reveals a detailed engine and roll cage. Unlike many other Redlines of the era that featured a variety of Spectraflame colors, the Snake is predominantly recognized in its iconic bright yellow finish with racing decals.

Known Variations and Details

• Manufacturing Origins: Produced in both United States and Hong Kong factories.
• Interior/Roll Cage: Both U.S. and Hong Kong versions are equipped with a black interior and an integrated black roll cage.
• Wheel Configuration: Standard dragster setup with 2 Medium Redline wheels in the front and 2 Large Redline wheels in the rear.
• Decal Application: This model featured a sticker sheet containing Coca-Cola and Plymouth logos. Per factory standards, the right side (passenger side) decals were applied at the factory for display in the blister pack, while the left side decals were left on a sheet for the owner to apply.

Color and Desirability Notes

The Snake is almost exclusively found in yellow. While minor shade variations exist between the U.S. (Spectraflame-adjacent) and Hong Kong (Enamel) paint processes, collectors primarily focus on the "whiteness" of the paint and the lack of "toning" (dark spots under the paint). Bright, vibrant yellow examples with minimal "foxing" or darkening are the most sought after.

Condition Factors That Affect Value

• Decal Integrity: Because the right-side decals were factory-applied, their presence and condition are critical. Peeling, curling, or missing Coca-Cola logos significantly reduce value.
• Hinge Function: The plastic hinge that allows the body to flip up is a common failure point. Bodies that do not stay up or have cracked hinges are considered "damaged."
• Roll Cage Completeness: The thin plastic of the roll cage is prone to snapping. Ensure all bars of the cage are intact.
• Chrome Loss: Wear on the silver-painted engine components or the chrome plating on the Redline wheels.

Restorer Notes

The Snake is a popular candidate for restoration due to the availability of high-quality reproduction decal sheets. However, collectors can usually distinguish original factory decals from modern water-slide or vinyl replacements by the thickness and the aging of the adhesive. When replacing a broken hinge, original "donor" chassis parts are preferred over 3D-printed or glue-repaired components.

Buyer Cautions

Be wary of "Mint" listings where the left-side decals are perfectly aligned; these are often reproduction stickers. Always check the rear hinge for stress marks (white discoloration in the plastic) which indicate imminent failure. Verify that the roll cage is the original black plastic and hasn't been painted or replaced with a Mongoose (white) equivalent.

Seller Notes

When listing a Snake, clearly state whether the left-side decals are present and if they are original or reproduction. High-resolution photos of the underside of the body (to show the hinge) and the interior (to show the roll cage) are essential for achieving top market prices. If the car includes the original unused portion of the sticker sheet, this should be highlighted as a significant premium feature.

Pricing Analysis

The market for the Snake is mature, but confidence is high due to the volume of public sales. Note that pricing is highly bifurcated between "survivor" cars and "collector-grade" examples.

Listings to Exclude or Treat Carefully

• Restored/Repainted: These should be priced as "customs" and do not represent the market value of original Redlines.
• Missing Roll Cages: These are considered incomplete and should be valued significantly lower.
• "Mongoose" chassis swaps: The Snake must have the correct chassis; avoid listings with incorrect wheel sizes or mismatched interiors.
• Reproduction Sticker Cars: Values are lower than cars with original factory-applied stickers.

New Collector Advice

If you are just starting, look for a "clean survivor" with the right-side factory decals intact. Don't worry if the left-side stickers are missing, as many children never applied them. Focus on the structural integrity of the flip-up body and the roll cage first, as these parts are harder to fix than simply finding a cleaner loose car later.

Advanced Collector Notes

Advanced collectors often seek out the rare "Sticker Sheet" variations or specific U.S. vs. Hong Kong glass tints. While the database notes black interiors for both, some U.S. versions may exhibit slight variations in the clarity of the windshield (clear vs. smoke) compared to the typically blue-tinted Hong Kong glass. Unpunched blister packs with the original price stickers remain the ultimate "Snake" trophy.

Short Page Blurb

The 1970 Hot Wheels Redline Snake is more than just a toy car; it is a piece of drag racing history. Designed by Larry Wood, this yellow Plymouth funny car features a flip-up body, a black roll cage, and iconic Coca-Cola branding. Whether you are hunting for a mint-on-card example or a clean loose survivor, the Snake remains one of the most recognizable and desirable castings in the entire Redline era.

Disclaimer

Historical pricing data is based on past public auction results and collector trends. Market values fluctuate based on demand and economic conditions. This guide does not guarantee exact values for specific items. Listing prices (asking prices) do not represent actual market value. RedlinePriceGuide.com is not responsible for financial decisions made based on this data.