Matchbox SuperFast Hot Chocolate Drag Beetle. The date on the casting is 1972 but I’m not sure if this actual car is that old. I had trouble finding out any info on this casting but like some of the HW of the time Hot Chocolate seems to be based on an actual drag car. I have memories of playing with one of these as a kid, not sure if I owned one or if a friend had one. The lift up body and mid mounted supercharged V8 with the intake protruding through the base of the windscreen are some stand out features. This is a car I picked up, again in the late 80’s. It’s in very good condition with only minor wear on the GT stripe on the roof.
This site “Christian Falkensteiner’s Matchbox Lesney Superfast Pictures” has some photos of various versions plus a picture of the 1:1 drag car. Link below.
http://www.mboxcommunity.com/cfalkens/Match…
Edit; Jobjoris has informed me that Errol Brown, the lead singer/songwriter from the band Hot Chocolate featured below, passed away on the 6th of May 2015 aged 71. I already had this clip in the post but was unaware of his departure to the disco in the sky.
R.I.P Errol Brown, thanks for the boogie.
Click on the YouTube link provided for the optional backing track for photo viewing. (Highly recommended)
Hinge doubles as a Wheelie Bar.
Looks ready to pounce.
OK, Who’s going to say it?
Those amber windows really go nicely with the seventies two tone brown paint scheme.
The stance on this car just looks right.
This photo clearly shows the stretch has been from the windscreen forward. If it was scaled up 1:1 it looks to be a bit over 1 foot of additional length between the base of the winscreen and the back of the ‘frunk’.
This is one of my favourite parts of this car, the stand, it just makes it. You can make out the drivers seat behind the engine.
The two silver canisters above the front axle appear to be the fuel supply, they seem to be pressurised cylinders?
‘The car is hungry, ready to eat anyone who dares enter’
Action shot. Captured just as the wheelie bar touched down abruptly, causing the left rear tyre to lift. This ruined any chance of a decent time for this run. Oh well, not everyone’s a winner.
Obligatory turtle view. CHECK OUT THOSE PIPES!! Nice way to warm up the tyres I suppose.