1971 Hot Wheels Rumblers High Tailer
Casting #: 60117 listed variations
HISTORICAL DOSSIER: HIGH TAILER (RRRUMBLERS, 1971)
TOOLING
- Design: The High Tailer (Product No. 5961) is a heavy-duty three-wheeled "chopper" trike. It features a distinctive high-back "sissy bar" (the "High Tail"), an oversized exposed chrome engine, and extended front forks.
- Track Performance: Unlike the two-wheeled RRRumblers that required a "clear" plastic kickstand (T-bar) to remain upright on orange tracks, the High Tailer’s trike configuration provided inherent stability for gravity-fed track sets.
- The 'Roar' Factor: This casting includes a thin, flexible plastic "clicker" or "sound strip" attached to the chassis. When the rear wheels spin, the strip strikes the spokes of the wheel, creating a mechanical vibrating sound intended to simulate a motorcycle engine.
RIDERS
- Primary Rider: The original rider figure for the High Tailer is characterized by a "Biker" aesthetic. He typically features a blue torso (vest/shirt), tan or brown pants, and a white helmet.
- Variations: While the blue-torso figure is the standard, slight variations in the paint shade of the pants and the facial detailing exist due to the hand-painted nature of the figures. In late-run 1973 releases, figures from other RRRumbler castings were occasionally substituted in packaging, though the blue-vested biker remains the definitive match.
COLOR REGISTRY
- Spectraflame Colors (1971-1972): Aqua, Blue, Red, Green, Rose, Magenta, Yellow, Orange.
- Enamel Colors (1973): Yellow, Orange, Blue.
- Note: Spectraflame Blue and Spectraflame Aqua are among the most frequently documented versions. Rose and Magenta are significantly scarcer.
CHASSIS & TIRES
- Chassis: The base plate is die-cast metal, while the upper body and forks are plastic. The underside is embossed with: MATTEL, INC. 1970, HONG KONG, U.S. & FOREIGN PAT. PEND.
- Tires: The model utilizes "Redline" wheels. It features two large-diameter rear wheels with chrome "mag" hubs and a single smaller front wheel held by the plastic fork assembly.
CONDITION KILLERS
- Handlebars: The thin plastic handlebars are the most common point of failure. They are frequently snapped off or bent white from stress.
- The Sissy Bar: The "High Tail" backrest is prone to snapping at the base if the toy is stepped on or dropped.
- Sound Strip: The plastic clicker tab is often missing, trimmed off by original owners to reduce friction, or snapped due to plastic fatigue.
- Chrome Oxidation: The large engine block is prone to "chrome wear" or "tarnishing," where the vacuum-metallized finish flakes off to reveal the grey plastic beneath.
- Rider Loss: Because the figures were removable and not "locked" into the seat, the vast majority of loose examples are missing the rider.
MARKET TRENDS
- Loose (No Rider): $20.00 – $45.00 USD (Depends heavily on handlebar integrity and chrome quality).
- Loose (With Original Rider): $85.00 – $160.00 USD (Rarity of the body color can drive this higher).
- Mint on Blister Card (MOBC): $350.00 – $600.00+ USD (Based on recent auction data for 1971-1972 packaging).
- Historical Note: Prices for RRRumblers have seen a steady increase as the "plastic-heavy" components make surviving "Mint" examples rarer than standard die-cast cars of the same era.
