Over the past few weeks, some vehicles inspired by a galaxy far, far away have been landing in the diecast aisles of retailers everywhere, with Walmart and Target being particularly infested by Imperial and Rebel forces. The first-ever partnership between Mattel and STAR WARS has given birth to the HOT WHEELS STAR WARS Collection, one component of which is the new line of “character cars” – vehicles that could be considered as being from an alternate reality – custom rides that take their design cues from the characters that generations have come to know and love. While the first wave has been out for a bit (and I will cover in-depth shortly), the two newest cars to hit the pegs come from the “B” assortment – the TUSKEN RAIDER and 501st CLONE TROOPER. Both of these vehicles have rolled into Rock Father HQ this past week, so let’s take a look…
501st Clone Trooper:
“This elite Clone Trooper vehicle was created with a sole purpose – to defend the Republic in hood-to-hood combat!
The vehicle’s body and windshield replicate a Trooper’s helmet, protecting the interior as it races into battle with the 501st Legion. Its headlights serve as induction filters to pump air through its blazing engine.
You’ll find the Republic’s iconic symbol on the vehicle’s spare tire cover, demonstrating its pledge to protect the Republic from any foe on four wheels!”
Tusken Raider:
“This rugged yet agile dune buggy can overcome even the most challenging desert terrain with the ferocity of a Tusken Raider.
The vehicle body is protected from sand dunes by the Tusken Raider’s signature robes, while its hood and headlights are shaped like the fearsome mask and goggles that this nomad uses to navigate through the wastelands of Tatooine.
Multiple exhaust pipes mimic the Tusken Raider’s head spikes, blowing enough steam into the air to intimidate any massive machine!”
The HOT WHEELS STAR WARS cars ship assorted, so you’ll have to keep your eyes out for them in-stores. Right now, Walmart and Target seem to be the hot spots, while Toys “R” Us and Kmart (if you can even find one) have also been reported to have them in-stock. Target even has an exclusive five-pack of vehicles that comes with one that you can’t find anywhere else – a Battle Damaged Stormtrooper.
While Mattel has done HOT WHEELS character cars in the past (TOY STORY, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, MIGHT MORPHIN POWER RANGERS), the STAR WARS series is the first to capture my personal interest since it combines two of my favorite things. While on the surface the concept might seem to be a stretch, these could totally work as real-life customs – and they have, which was proven earlier this year when the HOT WHEELS Darth Vader car was made into a full-size 1:1 scale vehicle that made it’s debut at SDCC. See the commercial for that Dark Side ride below, and look for coverage of more HOT WHEELS, more STAR WARS, and more HOT WHEELS STAR WARS right here on THE ROCK FATHER…
