Stock #85512
Collector #007

CB's Die Cast Review:  November 25, 2002

HotWheelsCollectors.com - Series One
Custom Mustang

One of the "Original 16" is reincarnated in the HWC Series One line.

The majority of the HWC production run of the Custom Mustang has been delivered to all those that ordered them.  When the HWC hinted back in the spring that a Mustang was in the Series One lineup, the 1967 Fastback casting was the model that most people thought would be utilized, and fortunately those thoughts were realized.  Mattel avoided the controversy of misnaming the casting as they have done in the basic line by resurrecting the 1968 label.  This beautiful casting, first offered in the Avon series a few years back, replaced the Vintage Custom Mustang casting and appeared in the basic line in 2001.  Here, it gets the treatment it deserves and we finally see a well-proportioned strongly detailed Mustang in Spectraflame paint.

The diecast body is beautifully painted Spectraflame orange over nickel-plating and sits over a zinc-plated chassis.  The interior is black plastic and the glass is clear plastic.  Unlike its 1968 ancestor, the detail on the body is intricate and extensive.  The front grill section is masked in black, while the headlights and parking lights are painted silver.  The hood opens, and the motor, fender wells and radiator are masked in silver while the inner sides of the engine compartment remain orange - a nice touch.  The rear is masked in black and the taillights are painted red with the gas cap painted silver.  Another vanity plate is tamped on the back.  The trunk, roof and hood are tamped with a pair of black stripes, and black stripes with the "GT" designation are tamped along the lower rocker panels.  Unfortunately, the Spoilers-style target numbers are tamped on the doors.  But other than that, the printing is right on the money.

The car rides on the new RSWs with the "Torsion Bar Suspension."  It seems that, for some reason, there were production problems on much of the run, with many of the cars sporting bent axles when viewed in the package.  However, when the model is removed from the package and placed on a flat surface, the weight of the car forces the wheels into a straight position.  This just might have to do with the way the inside of the chassis was redesigned as opposed to the wire axles actually being bent improperly.  Regardless, the car is sharp looking.  As with the previous Spectraflame/RSW released, the Custom Mustang was manufactured in China.

This is the one car in the series that from the beginning everyone knew would be a winner, and Mattel did not disappoint.  This model is an excellent example of what one of the "Original 16" would look like if it was tooled and painted in current times.  A great model.  If HWC does resurrect some of the old castings, especially the Customs from 1968, I hope that they tool them with detail equivalent to what is on this model.  Very nicely done.