What is the name of the rare 1969 Hot Wheels prototype with a surfboard through the rear window? It is the Beach Bomb.
More specifically, collectors call this scarce prototype the Rear-Loader Beach Bomb, or RLBB. It was based on a Volkswagen Type 2 bus and originally carried two plastic surfboards through the rear window, a styling cue tied to the vehicle’s association with surfing culture.
Mattel’s track testing exposed a problem: the rear-loader was too narrow for reliable performance on Hot Wheels track, too top-heavy for fast corners, and difficult to use with the Super Charger accessory. Designers Howard Rees and Larry Wood revised the casting for production.
The production Beach Bomb became known as the Side-loader because its surfboards moved into side storage slots. Its roof was also changed to a full-length sunroof to lower the center of gravity. That distinction explains a common mix-up: Beach Bomb is the model name, while Rear-Loader identifies the exceptionally rare prototype version.