Stock# 19641
Collector# 674
CB's Die Cast Review: June 9, 1998
1998 First Editions #30
Sweet
16
II
Sweet. It has been
25 years since Mattel first used that adjective in the naming of one of its Hot
Wheels cars. The latest car to hold that distinction is named for the first
-- Sweet 16 II. Yet, unlike its predecessor, this car is all concept from
the tires up.
I have to admit, when I saw the poster photo of the prototype for this car,
I wasn't impressed. It looked like an insect wearing overgrown whiskers
with a chunk of metal in front of the wheels. Definitely not destined to
be one of my favorites, I thought. Then, reports started coming in across
the country from collectors raving about the car. And now that I have one,
I see what the fuss is all about -- the production model is a much-improved
version over the prototype.
The slender body was "beefed up," along with some subtle rounding, giving it a
more sleek appearance. The sixteen chrome exhaust pipes extruding from the
engine were shortened considerably, to complement rather than detract from the
appearance. The front wheels were moved forward slightly, away from the
nose, thereby stretching the wheelbase and adding to the sleek look. Headlights
were added to the slightly-reshaped nose, and the chrome front axle drive-shaft
cover was redesigned. The two-piece die-cast body/chassis assembly is
painted in a dark blackberry metalflake, a different paint than the metallic
purple on the '65 Impala Lowrider and Tail Dragger. A chrome
plastic oil pan is present on the chassis underside. The cockpit glass is a
transparent lavender plastic, and a white plastic one-seat interior appears to be
inside the compartment. The body has lines simulating hood and cockpit door
edges cast in. A small unobtrusive HW logo is printed in silver on the rear
right fender and is the only tampo present. The car rides on the excellent
choice of five-spoke wheels, medium-sized up front and large in the back.
The Sweet 16 II is an aesthetically beautiful car from every angle. I'm glad
that the "ugly duckling" prototype matured into this production-run "swan." It's
an excellent example of why the First Editions this year are so desirable.
