As has been the
norm in recent years, a number of the new castings have been released by the time the
calendar turns. So far, the 2003 First Editions appear to be the strongest group in
a while, and one of the reasons is the inclusion of ¼ Mile Coupe.
The ¼ Mile Coupe (pronounced "Quarter Mile Coupe") borrows many of its
features from a number of popular First Editions castings of years past. The
nose is of similar design to Surf Crate. The cabin and rear window
reminds me of the features of Hammered Coupe. The chassis is visible
and therefore decorated to match the body, as was Sweet 16 II when it debuted.
There are many features to like on this model besides its pleasing aesthetics.
The body and chassis are diecast metal, and both wear a coat of purple metalflake
paint. The medieval shield shaped radiator and the twin quad exhausts are
zinc-plated diecast and look much better than if they were plastic. The bulk
of the blown motor is chrome plated plastic. But, by being sandwiched between the
diecast exhaust and the diecast air scoop, it accents rather than overshadows the
model. The interior also is chrome plated plastic and can be seen behind the
tiny clear plastic windows. It features a pair of bucket seats and a center
console. Yet it is not easily visible and therefore does not detract from the
weighty appearance of the model.
The only graphic tamped on the car is a small silver Hot Wheels flame logo on the
rear passenger-side quarter panel. The lack of graphics is a big plus.
In addition, there are some interesting details cast into the body/chassis combo.
The door relief, along with the body molding that runs down one side and around the
back to the other side, is a nice touch. Not as obvious at first sight are the
two tiny teardrops on either side of the rear representing the taillights. Also
not apparent are the large round twin headlights on either side of the radiator – low
to the ground and partially obscured by the front wheels. Hopefully, Mattel will
make the extra-large equivalent of Real Rider wheels some day, so castings such as this
one can be utilized as a deluxe premium. It’s doubtful ¼ Mile Coupe
could use any of the standard deluxe wheels, as the exhaust pipes barely clear the ground
with the extra large rear wheels in place.
The ¼ Mile Coupe is one of a number of strong castings to appear in the
2003 First Editions line to date, and gets extra kudos due to its predominantly diecast
construction. It is scheduled to appear in the "Highway 35" series, and it will
be interesting to see what it looks like with the busy fusion graphics and how it
operates on the lightning-fast co-molded wheels. In any event, this casting will
be one of the best released this year, and should remain popular for years to come.
Home
Last Review
Next Review
