Stock# 18530
Collector# 646
CB's Die Cast Review: May 15, 1998
1998 First Editions #11
Mercedes SLK
The Malaysian-made model is based on the 1997 version of the two-seater that bears
the same name. The cast metal body sits on a cast metal chassis and rides on small
Lamborghini-style five-hole wheels all around. The relief detail on the body is
heavier than normal, but still looks good. There is minimal detail on the underside
The 1998 First Editions are
coming fast and furiously. With forty new castings scheduled for release this year,
three or four are popping out simultaneously instead of the usual one-per-month.
The Mercedes SLK is one of the cars appearing in May assortments.
of the chassis, including the drivetrain and a single muffler exhaust. The headlights
and turn signals are part of the windows casting, and fit nicely in the body. The
door exterior handles are tampoed in black on the body, as well as the HW logo on the
rear passenger-side fender. The "Kompressor" lettering and vents are tampoed in either
white or silver. The taillights are unpainted. The plastic interior is designed
similar to that of the `63 T-Bird, with inside door and full dash detail. The interior
detail is outstanding, with crisp sharp relief and niceties such as a glove compartment,
windshield defog vents, seat headrests, door armrests and an open steering wheel.
You might have noticed that I haven't mentioned the colors of the SLK. That is due to
the fact that the car has been released simultaneously in two distinct paintschemes.
Version one has the body painted in a dark yellow enamel carrying a black interior and
smoked glass, with black and white tampos. Version two has a pearl yellow body over a
beige interior and smoked glass, with black and silver tampos. The pearl yellow version
is clearly the better one, as the interior detail is impossible to see in the enamel
car, as well as the white tampos being unreadable on the yellow paint. Both cars
would have benefited from having clear glass however, as the smoked headlights are too
dark.
I like the model, and I'm definitely glad the car has a metal chassis. I don't like
that Mattel is releasing two paintschemes, which makes it harder to find the cars.
In spite of that, the Mercedes SLK is a nice addition to the line.
