CB's Die Cast Review:  September 16, 1999

Subscription Promotionals from
Toy Cars & Vehicles and Toy Shop

Due to the current popularity of Hot Wheels, there are many limited and collectible items flooding the market today.  Some toy publications in recent years have offered promotional items as incentive to subscribe.  This has proven to be a successful endeavor, as these well-detailed models have helped increase subscriptions.  Two of the models are reviewed here.

The offering from Toy Cars & Vehicles is a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda (stock #23585), based on the 1997 First Editions release.  The body is finished in the lighter shade of metallic purple used in the regular Hot Wheels line.  The body details are meticulously highlighted - silver headlights, hood screws and bumpers; flat black front grill and rear panel; red taillights.  The interior and hood scoop are black plastic.  The hardtop is molded in clear plastic, with all non-glass areas masked and painted in flat black.  The chassis is chrome plastic.  The car rides on chrome Real Riders wheels with blackwall tires, and has white tampos on the sides and trunk promoting the magazine.  The car was manufactured in Thailand.

The Toy Shop vehicle (stock #23588) is the 1963 Ford Thunderbird convertible from last year's First Editions roster.  The body is painted in a high luster gloss black enamel, with all the prototypical markings tamped in silver.  The car has a clear plastic windshield and a white plastic interior.  The taillight centers are painted red, and the chassis is bright zinc-plated metal.  White tampos advertising the publication are on the rear quarter panels and trunk.  The car rides on chrome Real Riders wheels with Good Year tires, and was manufactured in Thailand.

The cars are well detailed and, for the price of a magazine subscription (which usually is less than the cost of most limiteds), worth contemplating adding them to your collection.