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Stock #24372 |
CB's Die Cast Review: June 14, 2000 |
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2000 First Editions #19
Mattel has recently
released its First Editions model of the 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster. I'm happy
to see this model offered, although not ecstatic about the model itself.
The 1965 Corvette models were the first to feature the 396 cubic inch 425 horsepower "Big
Block" motor as an option. There were over 15,300 Roadsters produced that year,
offered in combinations of eight exterior and eight interior colors. The tire options
included whitewalls and gold-walls, but not red-walls (or "redlines" to us over-30 Hot Wheel
fanatics). The car weighed over 3,100 pounds and had a base price of just over
$4,100. Mint examples of these 35-year-old convertibles today command prices in the
$30,000 neighborhood.
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The First Editions model apparently is based on the Roadster with options including a four-speed
manual transmission and side-mount exhaust system, although the side exhausts are chrome plated
on the real car. The die-cast body has good relief, including the shark-like fender vents,
door handles and locks, ragtop compartment hatch and windshield wipers. It is painted a
metallic black to simulate the prototype Tuxedo Black finish. The front grill and bumper, and
rear bumper, are chromed plastic inserts. It is not evident whether they are the
part of the same plastic piece, although it would be a logical assumption. The interior is made
of red plastic and contains moderate detail in the seats, floor console and door inner faces.
The lack of detail on the steering wheel and dashboard is obvious and glaring. The clear
plastic windshield has very shallow relief simulating the side vents and windshield frame, and you
have to look very closely to notice it.
The gray plastic chassis features the most detail of any component on the model. The steering,
transmission and exhaust system are well defined. The chassis is held in place with two
rivets. The back of the chassis fits well into the rear of the body and flush with the rear
bumper, but the front just rests underneath the front bumper. I know these are made for
children, but was there no way to design this so that the plastic chassis wouldn't show? The fact
that the rivets are not snug on the example I have does not help matters, as the chassis floats at
both ends. The car rides on the standard five-spoke wheels, with small hubs up front and the
newer medium-diameter extra-wide slicks in the back. The standard HW logo is tamped on the back
of the trunk in silver. The car is currently manufactured in Malaysia.
Due to the fact that the car is a convertible and has the plastic chassis, it is light for its
size. I'm disappointed with this car for a number of reasons. First is the lack of detail
in the interior. Second is the poor design of the chassis allowing it to be visible in the front
when viewed from any angle. Third, do we really need the fat slicks on nearly every new
casting? For the cars that will be played with, all this will do is create more friction when
the wheels wear down. And fourth, what is Mattel's aversion to consistently producing cars
with a die cast metal body AND chassis? If it's a cost issue, then why are some of the new cars
designed this way and some not? I understand eliminating the moving parts so common in years past
to help keep costs down, but are the all-metal cars that much more expensive to produce? If so,
perhaps it's time to raise the prices of the cars a quarter to cover these costs, so the quality
will not suffer.
