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Stock #21258 |
CB's Die Cast Review: November 24, 2000 |
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One of two new
castings this year that are not in the First Editions series is the Chevy Suburban.
Chevrolet introduced the first Suburban in 1935, which was created simply by building
an eight-passenger all-steal station wagon on a truck chassis, thereby allowing for
increased hauling and towing capability. It became a popular military supply
vehicle for the Allies during World War II, and also saw action as personnel carriers,
cargo carriers and ambulances. Over the years, the Suburban has been the first
light-duty truck to introduce a number of features, including four-wheel drive and
independent front suspension. The Suburban continues to be a strong seller for
Chevrolet, and remains one of the more popular SUVs today.
The chassis is chrome-plated plastic, and includes the bumpers and front grill with the
Chevrolet bow tie trademark in its center. There is excellent detail in these
areas, and moderate underbody relief. The vehicle rides on standard medium sized
five-spoke wheels and is manufactured in Thailand.
The Chevy Suburban is well done. Hopefully, it will be released into the basic
line before long.
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The Hot Wheels casting appears to be based on the 1999 model of the Chevrolet SUV.
So far, the casting has been issued in four variations, all in a limited series in the
Pro Racing line. On my sample, the hefty die-cast body is painted black enamel.
It includes a number of details. Both side mirrors are present, as well as door
handles and the gas cap. The back has the rear door latch and taillight relief.
The interior is molded in a light ivory plastic, and has a surprising amount of detail.
The climate controls on the center of the dashboard are visible, and the steering wheel
has some depth. The sides of the interior fold up to form the door inside walls,
and include armrests. The center console between the front seats also is more
intricate. There are some storage containers in the back, arranged to help hide
the body rivet post.
