Stock# 16672
Collector# 519

CB's Die Cast Review:  December 5, 1997

1997 First Editions #9 
Scorchin' Scooter

Well, the K-man broke all rules of retail etiquette over the weekend.  I coaxed a fellow bummed-out collector to climb the ladder and pull the hidden case of cars down.  We decided after asking every employee in the store that matters needed to be taken into our own hands.  The first thing we found on top of the case were, three Scorchin' Scooters.... yep just laying there.  Looks like a stash made by an employee.  We grinned and opened the case.  Inside were two more Scooters.  WOW!!!  Jackpot!  I was in heaven.  There was the Classic Packard, Fat Fendered `40, Way 2 Fast, tons of series cars..... I smiled at my buddy in crime.  We knew we found someone's hidden treasures.  Just then an employee rounded the corner.  Talk about a death stare.  We had to laugh.  It had been so long since I found anything I was just about to give upon Hot Wheels altogether.  My new buddy said he had two Scooters and handed me three of the five we found.  I kissed him full on the lips.  Hey, I was six hundred miles from home so I didn't care what the neighbors thought; though, his wife gave me a very strange look. She shook her head and said: MEN.

Well, this is one very nice casting if have to say so myself, and I'm not a bike fan.  I can see every bike fan in the country drilling the rear fender at the tail light divot and making a cool key chain out of this Hot Wheel.  Oh my, did I commit an act of treason?  I hardly think so.  Everyone knows the K-man opens and plays with everything.  I have drilled my Scooter and it's in my pocket rubbing the tampos off against my keys as I write this.

I feels so good to not worship a toy.  Okay, I'll lighten up on the package collectors, after all if that floats your boat, then it's fine with me.  Although, I love to go to the local Hot Wheel club and open the latest cars.  Ha ha ha ha ha, I'm so bad.  I opened a Scooter in front of a dealer the other day.  Half the people in the store had heart palpitations....  I loved it.

Now as for the Scooter, this is the first Hot Wheel to impress me in a long long time.  The detail of the V-4 four engine is super, yes it is a four cylinder.  Cool huh?  Carbs on each side.  'Course if you open yours, you'll see this immediately.  Okay, I had to lobby you to open it.  The body casting is also very nice.  Smooth sleek lines and a seat that looks exactly as if it grew there.  The fenders' aero design really gives this bike the look of speed sitting perfectly still.  Nice job Mattel.

The best part in my opinion has to be the COOL tri-spoke wheels.  Very impressive.  The rear drag slick is sooo cooool.  It not only keeps the bike upright and allows it to roll very fast, but it just looks right.  Just the way a true biker would want it to be.  Again, nice job Mattel.

The paint is, well, standard Mattel.  I think the pearl purple used on the Diablo would have been a better choice, but hey that's irrelevant.  The casting makes up for any color.  Besides, K-man will paint one soon enough.  The only part of this Hot Wheel that is "cheesy" is the plastic handle bar/fork assembly.  I realize that manufacturing cost and assembly operations called for such a design so I can live with the easy-to-produce solution.  It is the "only" flaw in an otherwise super release, though if you use this as a key chain the handle bars should be epoxied on, trust me on this.

The Scooters are showing up in larger numbers and even some local dealers are selling them for as little as two bucks each.  So maybe it won't turn into another BUS nightmare for most of us.  If you never open any other car in your collection open this one.  You'll not be sorry.