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Mattel Hot Wheels 1:18 Ferrari Enzo

Reviewed by: Richard Sufficool

Here's the second in Hot Wheels' Elite series in which the less-than-stellar regular line-up of Ferraris is upgraded to give the discriminating collector a more definitive and refined image.

Once again, the boys from Mattel have produced a pretty decent image, far richer in content and finish. I left the "fit" out because my only real peeve about this model are the panel shutlines, which are a bit out of scale.

The finish requires nothing but your admiration. The badging and scripts are perfect chromed 3-D replications. The glazing is optical quality. All the cooling ports are screened. The lighting groups are all beautifully modeled... nothing painted and no dreaded "bullseyes" from mounting pins. The five spoked aluminum wheels look great with the tiny Ferrari logos on the lug center. The generic tires have a proper directional tread. The brakes are well done and sport chromed Ferrari scripts on the calipers.

The cockpit is fully finished with carpeting, restraint system with metal hardware, legible (but virtually hidden) gauges... all nicely done save for the pedal grouping, which is a bit plasticy. The hood opens to reveal a tiny bit of carpeting to cradle the single piece of "luggage" capable of holding your toiletries and a change of socks.

The engine compartment is as busy as it should be with lots of plumbing and wiring and a fair represntation of the various light-weight materials employed. While squinting to read the metal Ferrari scripts on the valve covers, I noticed that the exhaust headers are modeled to look burnt. I think someone at HQ has at least one Exoto in his collection. The rear suspension is non-functional but does sport real metal coiled springs.

All in all, this guy's got bang for the buck and Mattel has given the collector-on-a-budget a reasonable alternative to the astronomically expensive BBR. I can't say this Elite series has blown me away, but at the pricepoint, I really respect as well as appeciate what they're doing. As for this little Enzo, I'll give this model a 4 1/2 out of 5.

(06/13/2006)