blister pack     the common package used by Mattel for its diecast cars.  Blister refers to the process in which an item is  enclosed within a raised spot or any of various structures that bulge out.  Consists of a cardboard base and a plastic covering (blister).

bushing     a cylindrical plastic lining for a redline wheel used to resist abrasion or friction.  Bushing wheels were used on redlines from 1968-1971.

capped     to form a cap over.  A two part wheel where the redline portion is a cap that pops onto the wheel base which is mounted on the axle.  Capped wheels started replacing the bushing style in 1969.

casting     to give a shape to (a substance) by pouring in liquid form into a mold and letting harden without pressure.  Casting refers to the process redlines were made.  Casting also refers to the body identity of a redline.

chassis     the supporting frame of the redline.  Also referred to as the base or bottom of a car.

deep dish     refers to a style of redline wheels where the center and inner rim is recessed, giving a more realistic look to the wheel.

Flying Color     a series name used by Mattel for Hot Wheels cars produced from 1974 into the early 1980's.  The redline Flying Color era lasted from 1974-1977.

Grand Prix    one of a series of international formula car races.  A series name used by Mattel during the spectraflame era for its Indy style and European style race cars.

Heavyweight     one in the usually heaviest class of redlines.  A series name used by Mattel during the Spectraflame era for its utility, emergency, and commercial style redline trucks.

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micros     involving minute quantities or variations.  A term used when grading redlines to identify tiny imperfections or wear marks.

mottle spots     a surface having colored spots or blotches, in this case from metal corrosion or imperfections in the casting.  Mottle spots appear under the painted surfaces of redlines from the Spectraflame era.  See toning.

peppering     another term for mottle spots.  Peppering spots are normally small and more numerous than mottle spots.  See toning.

raked     to sweep the length of.  A California look in which the cars were raised or "raked" in the back for the "hot rod" look, which was a popular trend in California at the time.

redline     a thin red line on the wall of the wheel used on Hot Wheels cars from 1968-1977.  All Hot Wheels cars could be easily recognized by their stand-out mag wheels which sported chrome hubs and red lines (reflecting another popular look in 1968).  Thus, collectors refer to the early Hot Wheels cars as "Redlines" for this reason.

rivet     a headed pin or bolt of metal used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then beating or pressing down the plain end so as to make a second head.

Spectraflame     a transparaent lacquer, colored with eye-popping shades of color that provided a true candy paint finish once sprayed on the Zamak.  This transparent paint used on Hot Wheels from 1968-1972 that consists of bright, reflective colors referred to as Spectraflame by Mattel.

Spoiler      an air deflector on an automobile to reduce the tendency to lift off the road at high speeds.  A series name used by Mattel during the Spectraflame era to identify souped up muscle cars from the late '60s and early '70s that were fitted with spoilers.  

tampo     refers to the graphic designs on Hot Wheels cars produced from 1974 on.  The term refers to the pad-press equipment (known as a "tampo", named for the German company which developed the equipment) used in placing the design on the car. 

toning     to soften or reduce in intensity, color, or appearance, to change the normal silver image to a much darker shade.  A term used to identify the corrosion or breakdown of the metal used in Hot Wheels cars.

torsion bar suspension     a spring-action layout supporting the axles of early redline cars that provided greater durability so impact loads went from the wheel onto the car body without damaging the axle.

ZAMAC (Zinc Aluminum Metal Alloy Casting)     a raw zinc alloy metal that provides reflective qualities.  From Wikipedia:

ZAMAK is a trademark covering a family of zinc alloys, the primary components of which are zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper.

The most common ZAMAK alloy today is ZAMAK-3, but ZAMAK-2, ZAMAK-5 and ZAMAK-7 are all still being manufactured. These alloys are used extensively in die casting.

The New Jersey Zinc Company first developed the ZAMAK alloys in the 1920s. The name ZAMAK is an acronym of the German names for the metals of which the alloys are composed: Z for Zink (zinc), A for Aluminium (aluminum), MA for magnesium and K for Kupfer (copper). It is also known as ZAMAC.

One of the more familiar uses of ZAMAK is in making die-cast toys. It is also beginning to be used in automotive wheel balancing weights as a substitute for lead, especially in the European Union. ZAMAK is often called "pot metal" or "white metal".

Sources: "The Ultimate Redline Guide", "Tomart's Price Guides", "Hot Wheels Cars".