Redline Grand Prix - Chaparral 2G

The Chaparral 2G was released in 1969 as part of the new Grand Prix Series.

The real Chaparral 2G was the creation of designer/builder/driver Jim Hall. The 2G was one of an interesting lineage of Chaparral cars that Hall built and raced in the 1960's at various CanAm events. A unique feature of Hall's cars was a large hydraulic rear spoiler designed to provide better control through turns but less drag on the straightaways. The spoiler debuted on the Chaparral 2C and evolved through a number of variations on later cars. The 2G competed in CanAm races in 1967-68, scoring two wins. Jim Hall's driving career ended in November 1967 when the Chaparral 2G he was driving struck the rear of another car and flipped over, pinning Hall and breaking both of his legs.

Jim Hall in the Chaparral 2G at Riverside.

The Hot Wheels version of the Chaparral 2G featured a plastic spoiler that was mounted on a rear hatch that opened to show a detailed engine. A sticker sheet with Jim Hall's signature "66" racing numbers was included in the blister pack. The Chaparral was produced in various Spectraflame colors, as well as in white enamel like the real car. Chaparrals were made at both the US and HK plants.

Original plastic spoilers have become almost as valuable as the car itself! They are relatively fragile and prone to breaking where the post attaches to the bottom of the wing. Reproduction spoilers are available from various sources, and some of these are of reasonable quality. Most repro spoilers are characterized by a glossier plastic.

A comparison of original (L) and reproduction (R) Chaparral wings.

As with some of the other Grand Prix castings, the Chaparral was plagued with rear hatch problems. Later variations included a stop peg to keep the hatch from opening too far, and kids were advised to add "racing stripes" (i.e. tape!) to keep the hatch closed when running the car down the track. US cars featured a clear windshield and a black interior. A few US Chaparrals have been found with brown interiors. Like all 1969 Grand Prix cars, the Chaparral can be found in most of the first generation colors with the exception of creamy pink. While Chaparrals in second generation colors such as yellow, magenta, light green and pink are uncommon, they do exist. Most magenta Chaparrals appear to have cap style wheels, consistent with the fact that they were produced late in the model year.

A pair of US Chaparrals with brown interiors.

HK Chaparrals are a challenging group of cars to collect! They differ from US Chaparrals in that they have blue-tinted windshields, chrome rather than silver wheel trim, and a different base (four square openings). They are relatively common in red, green and blue. In fact, HK blue Chaparrals are more plentiful than US blue Chaparrals. Interestingly, this is the case for most of the 1969 wide-body Grand Prix cars. Aqua and white enamel are tougher colors for HK Chaparrals. Olive, purple and orange cars are rare. Two HK orange Chaparrals recently have been found, including one that is part of a track set and is still packaged in the original plastic bag! It may be that some of the rarer colors of HK Grand Prix cars were only available in track sets.

Rare HK Chaparral 2Gs in purple (L) and olive (R).

Some rare and interesting prototype Chaparrals have been found. One of these is a raw ZAMAC (unpainted) car. Another is a red enamel Chaparral. A third prototype Chaparral is a black enamel car that served as a test of the casting die.

Rare prototype Chaparrals: unpainted ZAMAC (L) and red enamel (R).

A black enamel prototype Chaparral.

The Chaparral 2G was re-issued in 1974 as the Winnipeg. For more information, please see the Flying Colors page.

Chaparral 2G Color chart

US COLORS:	COMMENTS:
aqua	common
green	common
orange	common
gold	common
red
rose
purple
white enamel
brown
olive
blue
light blue
yellow
lime
magenta	hard to find
antifreeze	very hard to find
hot pink	very hard to find
light ("apple") green	very hard to find

HK COLORS:
green	common
red	common
blue	common
aqua	uncommon
white enamel	hard to find
olive	rare
purple	rare
orange	rare; UK track sets only?

A hard-to-find apple green Chaparral still in the blister pack!

Here's an amazing find: an orange HK Chaparral in the original bag from a UK track set!

Allan Rosen's awesome HK Chaparral rainbow. Quite an accomplishment!

A magenta US Chaparral with cap style wheels.

A US Chaparral rainbow!