Hardcastle and McCormick Action Figures Identification Tool with Pictures

Hardcastle and McCormick entertain on television

The series followed the exploits of two men who partnered together in the pursuit of criminals. Milton C “Hardcase” Hardcastle was a demoralized Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge. He had become frustrated at the legal technicalities that allowed at least 200 convicts to escape justice. Thus, he decided to take matters into his own hands and ensure the criminals paid for their crimes.

Meanwhile, Mark McCormick was a car thief who had gotten his hands on a prototype car, the Coyote X. Rather than go to jail for his crimes, he struck a deal to work with Hardcastle to help take down criminals. This deal would also allow him to hunt down the man who had murdered his friend and the creator of the car.

The show’s creators modified Manta Montage’s design, a kit car replica of the McLaren M6GT, to design the Cody Coyote X. Mike Fennel and Unique Movie Cars worked together to create the show’s hero car. Since the car did not have doors, the actors had to slide or jump into their seats. Aside from its unique looks, the car could reach speeds of 180 mph. Otherwise, unlike other cars that appeared then, it was not equipped with any gadgets.

Hardcastle and McCormick hunted down criminals for 67 episodes that aired across three seasons. During the series’ run, the appearance of the Coyote X received a few modifications. By the end of the series, there had been dozens of crashes, and criminals had been brought to justice. However, Hardcastle and McCormick often had their insurance revoked because of the carnage.

Hardcastle and McCormick action figures and toy vehicles

Despite Hardcastle and McCormick’s long run, few toys were produced for the series. Most fans would remember the 1:64 scale toy of the Coyote X that ERTL produced. This toy came out in 1983, near the beginning of the series. This die-cast vehicle was part of ERTL’s Racing Championship toy line. The Coyote Super Sportscar toy was about the same size as other diecast vehicles, like those made by Hot Wheels.

Beyond the smaller version of the Coyote X, ERTL produced a 1:16 scale version of the Coyote X. This die-cast mold came in two versions, with one coming packaged with a 3 ¾” action figure. They never named the action figure, but it resembles McCormick more than Hardcastle. ERTL advertised the vehicle as an authentic replica of the vehicle from the show. The tires of this toy stood out since ERTL chromed the hubs and installed hard plastic tires. Meanwhile, they used clear smoked plastic to cover the area where the headlights would be. It is common for the headlights to be missing or broken.

ERTL also produced a 1:25 scale model kit of the Coyote Super Sportscar for their AMT line. This kit was set at a level 2 difficulty and made for children 10 and up. The level 2 difficulty indicated that this kit required both glue and paint to complete.

MPC and Fleetwood Toys

Model Products Corporation, otherwise known as MPC, also created a 1:25 scale model kit of the Coyote X. Similar to their competition, AMT, they designed this model kit for ages 10+. This company offered a promotion where fans would receive a bonus MPC kit if they collected golden wheels.

Moreover, Fleetwood Toys, a small American toy company from New York City, created a toy of the Coyote X car for the series. Unlike the ERTL toys, this one came with a jump ramp to perform stunts. It also featured a spring-loaded trigger that shot the car forward and performed its daredevil leap. This Hardcastle and McCormick toy was created in 1984.

The modern state of the Hardcastle and McCormick brand

While some fans have dreamed of a revival of Hardcastle and McCormick, there have been no signs that it will return. Likewise, no new toys for the series have appeared in the decades since it stopped airing.