Mattel has been successful at developing ideas and throwing more money at them: Barbie has its inspirations in Bild Lilli, Hot Wheels steered the toy car market away once dominated by Matchbox from realism into lazy fantasy, and its new Brick Shop challenges Lego.
One of its grandest licensed products for Mattel Brick Shop is a 1:12 scale Mercedes-Benz 300SL (W198), better known to many as the gullwing. The original was an advanced racing supercar adapted for the road and the first production car with fuel injection, its straight-six developing 215 PS.
Developed in collaboration between Mercedes-Benz designer Benoît Monterroso and Hot Wheels’ Craig Callum, the Premium Series model features 1,600 individual parts, and, completed, measures 36 cm long and 10 cm high. Bonnet, boot and gullwing doors can be opened. Mattel also provides parts to customize the model, including wheels, headlights, radiator grille, seat, side skirts and side exhaust pipes. There is even a spare tyre in the boot.
The result is less clunky than some Lego offerings, though the large size helps with realism.
The model is accompanied by a 1:64 Hot Wheels die cast version.
Pre-orders commenced May 2 and the model hits retailers during the northern summer.
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