Stock #24382
Collector #089

CB's Die Cast Review:  November 13, 2000

2000 First Editions #29
Vulture™

Although this year's First Editions contain a number of reality-based vehicles, there are still an ample amount of fantasy models mixed in.  The Vulture is one of the better ones.

The design of the model per-se is not what attracts one's attention.  Rather, it is the intriguing use of the materials involved.  The only die-cast component of the model is the body, yet the car is so low to the ground, and the body wraps down around the plastic chassis in a number of areas that the center of gravity is unaffected by the lack of metal in the car.  The body is painted in black enamel and carries a small silver Hot Wheels tampo on the rear passenger-side quarter panel.  The huge engine is chromed plastic, extends from inside the car above the body and protrudes behind the back end.  Parts of the interior are also chrome plastic, including the dashboard, center console and trim on the twin bucket seats.  All of these details are very visible through the clear plastic wrap-around windshield.

But by far, the most intriguing feature of the model is the transparent orange chassis.  The features on this component include the centered parking lights, four-column taillights and bucket seat cushions.  The oil pan and transmission rod are chromed plastic and protrude through the floor, and the underside of the engine is visible above the oil pan through the chassis.  The car rides on standard five-spoke wheels, with small-sized tires up front and the large extra-wide slicks in the back.  The model is manufactured in Malaysia.

Because of the design and relatively short wheelbase, the Vulture will perform well on all the track sets.  Because of the materials used on the First Editions version, the car is visually pleasing as well.  There are some slight variations from the slick concept drawing on the poster, but what makes the model is the transparent chassis.  Future renditions of the car will not look as interesting as this one, unless the graphics are kept at a minimum and a tinted transparent chassis is maintained.  I don't think the color of the tint will matter, as long as it remains transparent.