Stock# 18534
Collector# 656
CB's Die Cast Review: January 23, 1999
1999 First Editions #3
`38 Phantom Corsair
The Corsair was one of the first true streamlined cars, designed by Rust Heinz in
1938. Big Arv has written an excellent article on this vehicle in the
Never Heard Of It section,
which covers the full history from 1938 until the present day.
The third new casting of
the year is based on another vintage automobile, a one-of-a-kind classic this time
around in the form of the sleek `38 Phantom Corsair.
Mattel has modeled the real-life "Fantasy" cars since the beginning of Hot Wheels.
Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's Beatnik Bandit and Bill Cushenberry's Silhouette
are two of the first concept cars replicated in 1:64 scale with the famous mag
wheels. The Malaysian-made `38 Phantom Corsair is a heavy addition to
the line, with an all-metal body and chassis. The overall design of this First
Edition captures the feel of this 1938 concept well. As with the prototype,
the body is painted in gloss black enamel, with no additional chrome trim nor
highlights. Body relief is excellent, with detailed parking and tail lights,
windshield wipers, louvers and bumpers. The body houses a clear plastic windows
piece over a light gray plastic interior. There is some vent detail on the
dashboard, as well as some definition in the front and rear bench seats. The
car rides on chrome five-spoke wheels that include tamped whitewalls on the tires.
The only body tampo is the silver-printed HW logo just behind the passenger-side front
wheel cover.
The `38 Phantom Corsair appears to be a nearly-accurate representation.
Based on some photos of the prototype, the angle of the nose on the model might be too
severe, but it's difficult to be sure without travelling out to the Harrah Museum to
compare it with the real McCoy. The thin whitewall tampos should be wider, but
this is nit-picking. This car is an interesting addition to the line, and it's
nice to see a couple of old classics in the first group of 1999 First Editions.
This casting is one of the seven that was originally scheduled for 1998, but was held
back for this year.
