58 Corvette
Ahh, the 50s automotive scene. I wasn’t there but I have
witnessed enough of it at car shows, got information from my father and seen the
era it portrayed on TV. This may have given me a skewed view, but this car
leads the way on a path of sports cars that continues into today. Very similar
story to the 57 Chevy I wrote up a couple issues ago, the Corvette started out
in 53. Unfortunately, Hot wheels has only cast a 53 for the Anniversary of the
Corvette. The next version we find is the 58 model.
The Casting
The 58 Corvette casting is quite possibly the most
controversial casting in the lineup. Here is why:
1 1) Two versions, sometimes
in the same release year. One with a monster motor gracing the hood and one
with no motor and opening hood (the engine on the opening hood version looks
more realistic).
2) It has been featured
more times as a Corvette exclusive than it has as an actual mainline car. [1]
3) In its first year
(1995) some new wheels were introduced, and the same car saw every different
wheel type and configuration available – all in the same release year. This led
to some very odd combinations and some crazy errors such as all small wheels!
With all the variations, it is sometimes difficult to
figure out what year you are looking at if it is Purple or Pink (these colors
repeated several release years). The casting is well created and shows off all
the lines and features of the iconic body lines. The opening hood version (without
the big chrome motor) shows off a great engine bay casting that reveals the V8 that
is ready to hit the orange track. The front of the car is recreated well and
many of the versions have headlights painted in, giving some nice additional detail
to the casting. The front bumper and grill area are represented really well and
clearly depicts the design features of the real car. The side pipes coming out
the side are correct for that era of hot rods and although they look cool, I
think they stick out a little too far. If you tried to get in or out of this
car after a short drive, you would likely burn your ankles on the protruding
pipes – minor detail or personal preference, you decide. The side pipe detailing
continues underneath and the side pipes are part of the interior casting, but Mattel
took the time to cast the side pipes continuing under the car. The interior is
very basic for a convertible but is common for the era it was cast in and
although it is basic, Mattel did do a great job highlighting the iconic dash
board design that has been a part of the Corvette lineup throughout its
history.
Collectors have not seen this model on the pegs since 2013
but we remain hopeful that it will reappear along the way. The mainline
versions do not carry much collectible upcharge and they are generally easy to
find in the wild terrain of collecting. Even the 96 Treasure Hunt is easy to
find at less than $20. This is a great casting to have in the collection, I
recommend searching the internet for some of the Corvette specific collectible
versions as they are detailed much nicer and do not command much higher of a
price. The 96-treasure hunt is also a nice addition. I personally enjoy the
versions without the motor, but in the world of extreme Hot Rods, this does
have a place and is fun to add to any collection, especially when it comes out
in the same color as a version without the motor.
The Real Car
Corvette entered the sports car market in 1953. A small
fuel injected V8, 2 seat sports car that only came in white with a red
interior. The Corvette quickly caught the eyes of the car culture. They were
the highest priced US sports / muscle car of that day. The 58 Corvette found
its way into Hollywood and the upper class that wanted a sports car and were
looking for something in the US market. It may have rivalled with the likes of
Jaguar, Ferrari or even Aston Martin. There were some minor styling changes
leading up the 58 version (like the casting) but by then Corvette had already
made itself an icon amongst American car enthusiasts. The corvette has been one
of the American manufacturers flagships that has stood the test of time. It has
never missed a production year and has a museum dedicated to just that line
(Corvette Museum in Kentucky). There were a few that saw circuit racing like
Lemans but this was also the era of the gasser style at the drag strips and
many 58 Corvettes ended up in this racing segment. Several very cool Hot Rod
versions have also been produced. I believe that custom builders have a hard
time chopping one of these up nowadays because of the value they tend to carry
in the collectible car market.
Although I own the actual diecast pictured in
these posts, all artwork, logos, car names, paint descriptions and wheel descriptions
in regard to the Hot Wheels versions are copyrights of the Mattel toy company.
Corvette is a trademark of the General Motors corporation.
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