| 02.20.2011 – Hot Wheels is well-known for the licensed car brands, and has been around since 1968. It’s very popular for its latest and upcoming models based on real-life vehicles. But Hot Wheels as a brand is aslo underrated when it comes to unlicensed vehicles.
The bold and outrageous concepts that licensed car brands can’t do is something special and it has been part of Hot Wheels’ DNA since the very beginning introducing the “Sweet Sixteen” with most of those ‘fantasy’ concepts cars continue to be part of the mainline just like the Sting Rod II! |
The Sting Rod II is a Hot Wheels Original that’s a ‘sequel’ to the original Sting Rod (1988-1996, 2010-Present) designed by the Legendary Larry Wood, which is based loosely on the Pontiac Fiero. But the Sting Rod II is not based on any real or licensed car brand, and this is an entirely new design by Jun Imai that looks to replace the original. But it’s not with returning with a slight retool.
The new Sting Rod II appears to be inspired by a gladiatorial concept with a dash of edgy Mad Max attitude in terms of how it appears to be an unlicensed car built with some serious weapons and armaments that would certainly make other military vehicles look pedestrian when it comes to the aesthetics.
 |
 |
Introduced in New Models
Debuting as part of the ‘New Models’ segment of cars introduced for the 2010 year it first came out in yellow with black stripes. The product art shows that the Sting Rod II is rushing through and getting ready for battle with all the front armaments ready to be deployed as it looks to get into the action.
At the back of the card, there’s a description of the vehicle and where it was assembled. It was also described being “Battle-Ready” with the armor plating, sawblade, and side missiles ready to take on all the opponents. The main weapon on the rear is the missiles ready to swing up and down.
Street Beast of the Future
It’s rare that Hot Wheels ever produce vehicles that look like it is going to war as recent ones appear to be more thematic with the car being paired with another concept. Larry Wood, the original designer for the first Sting Rod has so many things in mind when putting out concept and unlicensed cars like this.
The ideas are no longer about putting out die-cast tanks or military-related vehicles it has to be something unique at the same time a little bit ‘goofy’ to appeal to not only the kids but to the adults who grew up with the Hot Wheels brand. You don’t see this type of concept anymore and the Sting Rod II is sort of that novelty already.
The appearance of this version looks intimidating already with how Jun Imai stays true to the original elements it preceded the original Sting Rod with more of a gladiator-like aesthetics than military themes. It takes the ‘Sting Rod’ concept and adds that ‘beastly’ looks adding weapons that are more brutal than precision.
Overall, the Sting Rod II is a car on its own taking elements of the original and then dropping the; military elements and replacing it with barbaric efficiency through the new weapons like the rear sawblade, side missiles, machine guns hidden on the hood, and three surface to air missiles mounted on the rear that swing back up or down as a separate plastic piece is quite a nasty kid of car you’d like to drive on the road.
There’s nothing like a masterpiece you’d appreciate seeing for something unlicensed, and truly a Hot Wheels Original that turns some heads why the brand continues to be relevant and not afraid to take risks creating die-cast cars that speak to all ages up to the next generation who appreciate ideas like this!
“Sting Rod II” is numbered 21 of 44 under the New Model sub-series for the mainline with an overall number of 21 of 240 Hot Wheels cars released in 2010, and this was acquired at one of the local Toyfair events in 2010 for ₱ 50.00 Pesos ($1.13 USD) that originally retails at ₱ 99.75 Pesos ($ 2.26 USD). Hot Wheels is locally distributed by Richwell Global Inc in the Philippines.
For more details about this product, and other Mattel brands you may LIKE Richwell Club on Facebook!
No comments:
Post a Comment