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Stock #78929 |
CB's Die Cast Review: July 18, 2001 |
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Chara Wheels #7
Over the
years Mattel has manufactured certain models for specific markets.
This year, they have released in Japan a number of cars based on entertainment
themes popular in Japan. One of these is a model of the Mach Go Go
Go racecar, better known in the United States as Speed Racer's Mach 5.
The blister card art is interesting for this series, as it features a rendition of the
vehicle packaged in the blister. Most of the markings are in Japanese, but the
familiar flame logo and "Mattel Wheels" banner are present. I don't know how many
models are in this series, but there appears to be at least seven. On the back
of the card, a color photograph featuring models from this year is adjacent to a photo
of a track set.
The Mach Go Go Go is extremely well done. Mattel should consider releasing
the casting in the United States, where it also would be popular.
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In the mid 1970s Mattel released a model loosely based on the famous animated
racecar named Second Wind that captured the essence, but was not truly
faithful to the original. This could have been due to Mattel not wanting
to obtain permission or pay license fees to make a more accurate model.
This time around, the model is an excellent representation of the Mach Go racer,
even sporting the correct non-standard five-hole chrome hubs on the standard wheels,
with only the wingnuts missing due to the necessary axle hole. Compared to the
last released Playing Mantis model of the Mach 5, the Hot Wheels car is slightly
smaller in scale, but compares favorably in its dimensions. There are a handful
of minor differences between the two cars, such as the shape of the rear fender wells.
But the models are based on not a real physical vehicle but a rendition from a 1960s
anime program, where the car was drawn differently from different angles, so the
differences in the models are understandable.
The body is die-cast metal painted gloss white enamel with good relief on the hood, doors
and trunk. The chassis is black plastic, and includes the radiator section under
the cone-shaped nose on the body. The interior appears to be plastic and is
painted red gloss enamel. The windshield is clear plastic. The familiar
markings are tamped on the hood and doors in red and yellow, while the headlights are
part of the body and masked in gloss yellow enamel. The model rides on what would
be standard small-sized wheels with the exception of the uniquely designed chrome hubs.
This car is manufactured in China.
