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CB's Die Cast Review: April 14, 2001 |
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Normally
I don't care for segment series, since they usually feature previously released castings.
But, this segment is one of the best in years from the adult collector's standpoint, and the primary
focus is on the paint jobs, not the series itself.
The cars in this series don't roll well, due to the old-style wheels not having the built-in
bushings to minimize contact with the chassis and reduce friction. But they sure look
nice standing still with those retro wheels and understated graphics. Fortunately, the
new finish won't be limited to this segment, as the 2001 First Editions' Hooligan was
released in flat black and flat red, while the newest reissue of the `32 Ford Vicky
wears a flat black coat. Hopefully, we'll see the semi-flat paints on more First Editions
and reissues in the future.
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For each of the past seven model years, the Hot Wheels brain trust has conceived twelve segment
themes that primarily would appeal to children, a task that must increase in difficulty every
year. On occasion, a segment has had more appeal with the adult collectors. The
Pearl Drivers and Real Rider segments are two such examples. The current
Rat Rods segment is becoming easier to find, with the "I gotta have it now" frenzy
moving on to newer releases. The use of the old-style basic wheels with wide whitewalls
catches the attention, but it's the body paint that keeps it there.
For the first time, Mattel is using semi-flat paints as the primary color of the car.
Flat black has been used to simulate vinyl roofs in the past, but never as the main color.
Both the Track-T and `33 Ford Roadster are finished in black. The die-cast
Roadster chassis is painted as well, in medium brown. Shoe Box is finished in
a delicious shade of light purple, while Phaeton carries a deep red coat of paint.
