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| Monroe Handler Mustang II Hatchbacks; Zylmex Versus Hot Wheels | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 9 2013, 09:01 PM (2,175 Views) | |
| GothicCarsUrban | May 9 2013, 09:01 PM Post #1 |
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SUV
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![]() For those unfamiliar with the 1/1, here is a quote taken in part from a 1970s Hot Rod magazine and sourced here. The Monroe Handler had some mutual connection to Hot Wheels, as well as to Dan Gurney, BRE Datsun and Roush Racing. Spoiler: click to toggle And now for the diecasts: Zylmex P351 Cobra Street Racer The casting has the general shape of a Mustang II hatchback, appears close to true 1/64 scale, and has the added features of opening doors & taillights molded as a separate piece of red plastic. Paper decals with COBRA lettering on the hood and an inaccurate graphics design, an excess of mold lines, an all-chrome plastic front end and the generic Hot Wheels basic wheel-styled early Zylmex wheels let it down, but the casting would have undoubtedly satisfied any child or Mustang enthusiast of the 1970s, especially considering Zylmex's brand placement as dime-store toys instead of accurate replicas like Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Corgi and even Playart. On the other hand, the details of the Monroe body kit, special racing seats, rear-seat delete, provision for a license-plate space and lack of a rear bumper are redeeming qualities. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Hot Wheels Boulevard 1978 Ford Mustang II While this casting is leaps and bounds beyond the genericized Zylmex casting of the 1970s, it also has its faults. But here we start with its positive qualities... decals and body kit detail are spot-on, there are smoked windows and a rear-window louver, real rubber tires on Centerline-style wheels, quarter-window louvers molded as part of the glass insert, open T-tops, a bit more interior detail, a prototypically accurate Ford blue interior color, and full-detail tampoed taillights, along with perfectly executed lines compared to pics of the 1/1 and well-built Revell model kits, make this casting a must-have for Mustang, show rod, general Ford and Malaise Era fans alike. The main issues are a lack of dashboard, headlight, air intake and opening part detail, and the casting appearing as a screaming yellow blob in photographs, but who's complaining at an average price of $2.99 at a big-box store or eBay, or a little bit less/more depending on which toy show vendor or diecast specialist you buy from. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The Zylmex's redeeming qualities are mainly in nostalgia and low survival rate of minor-make diecast, whereas the Hot Wheels casting is an all-around winner. Both are worth owning if you are into Mustangs, show rods, Malaise Era cars or Ford. |
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| W_Body_Geek | May 9 2013, 09:12 PM Post #2 |
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Minivan
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LOVE. Love the real car. Have the HW version. Good writeup. Didn't know there was another release of this one. |
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| GothicCarsUrban | May 9 2013, 09:15 PM Post #3 |
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SUV
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Thanks! Like all Zylmexes, the P351 "Cobra Street Racer" was sold cheap, played with hard, and few survived, let alone into fair condition with largely intact decals as seen here. |
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| pjedsel | May 25 2013, 11:19 PM Post #4 |
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Muscle Car
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I have the Zylmex version - it is "rude and crude" and 100% Zylmex. In their day you could find them on the pegs of just about every drug store, grocery store, etc. We enjoyed buying them, playing with them and yes, even collecting them. I know there are quite a few Zylmex models in my collection from Synder's Drug Store in St. Paul, MN from the late '70's. I do not have the Hot Wheels version and do not plan to get it. For one thing my focus in collecting has changed greatly in the past few years and I do longer "buy a bit of anything and everything".
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| Swifty | May 26 2013, 02:24 PM Post #5 |
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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Great review of these models - I like both! |
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| GothicCarsUrban | May 26 2013, 02:41 PM Post #6 |
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SUV
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Thanks, John and Swifty. |
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| JustDavid | May 26 2013, 03:42 PM Post #7 |
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SUV
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Good write-up...I actually prefer the Zylmex over the HW. |
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| 69Stang | May 30 2013, 09:57 PM Post #8 |
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Station Wagon
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Cool, I had never seen the Zylmexe before, and I did not even know the current version was based on a real 1:1. Nice research and good pics as well. |
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3:12 AM Jul 11
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In their day you could find them on the pegs of just about every drug store, grocery store, etc. We enjoyed buying them, playing with them and yes, even collecting them. I know there are quite a few Zylmex models in my collection from Synder's Drug Store in St. Paul, MN from the late '70's. I do not have the Hot Wheels version and do not plan to get it. For one thing my focus in collecting has changed greatly in the past few years and I do longer "buy a bit of anything and everything". 

3:12 AM Jul 11