|
Assortment #355-00 |
CB's Die Cast Review: December 27, 2000 |
|
Speed Racer® 2000
Here he comes,
here comes Speed Racer / He's a demon on wheels / He's a demon and he's gonna be chasing
after someone ...
The sleek Mach 5 model has some heft to it, sits low to the ground and looks good.
The opening hood is an improvement over the original release, and fits snugly within the body.
This will prove to be a popular item, especially with Speed Racer aficionados.
| |
Most people born around 1960 are familiar with those lyrics, and the animated
series they are associated with. A cartoon by the name of Speed Racer thrilled American
children in the late 1960s. For those who are unfamiliar with the origins of the
series, it was developed and debuted in Japan in April 1967 under the title Mach Go Go Go.
The lead character in the anime series was an 18-year-old named Go Mifune. The
series ran through March 1968 and consisted of 52 thirty-minute episodes. Mach Go Go Go
was imported to the United States in 1967, dubbed with English voices, had most of the
violent content edited out and was renamed Speed Racer.
In addition, the "Go Speed Racer" theme song was arranged
for the American version of the series. Currently, the series is in syndicated run on
the Cartoon Network.
The 2000 Mach 5 is the second version offered by Playing Mantis under the Johnny Lightning
product line. It is a more detailed version of the 1997 release. The car is as
accurate a three-dimensional rendering as possible of the famous anime racecar.
The die-cast body is painted gloss white enamel, and has all the appropriate door and hatch
relief. The functioning hood lifts to reveal the fictional power plant motor, which
is painted black with silver highlights. The headlight lenses under the front fender
points are clear plastic, and heat welded in place. The radiator detail under the
nose is tamped in black, and the quad exhaust in the rear is highlighted in black and silver.
It isn't clear what material the interior component is made of, but it is highly detailed and
painted deep red enamel. The windshield is clear plastic. A red and yellow
encircled number five is tamped on each door and the elongated red "M" is tamped on the hood
and follows its contour. The unpainted chassis is die-cast metal and has good detail.
The wheels consist of chrome hubs with black simulated rubber tires. The car is manufactured
in China.
