Arguably the most famous rivalry in racing history was #Snake & Mongoose. Their story, which can be seen in the 2013 movie titled, Snake & Mongoose, is unique in the diecast world as its weaved within that of the history of Hot Wheels itself. The movie was incredibly entertaining — and even has an actor playing the role of Hot Wheels designer, Larry Wood — I recommend that you set aside a few hours and view it for yourself.

As the story goes, and as its portrayed in the movie, #Tom McEwen sees his kids playing with Hot Wheels cars which prompts him to go to Mattel and seek a sponsorship. That sponsorship may have been part of an era in drag racing, but it means so much more to the Hot Wheels brand and its collectors. Ask any collector, there usually is no mention of #Snake without #Mongoose — and vise versa.

Hot Wheels Plymouth Duster “Mongoose” Funny Car and Plymouth Barracuda “Snake” Funny Car from the 2005 Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set (Hot Wheels Classics line)

Since the first releases of #Snake & Mongoose in 1970, Hot Wheels has released all kinds of vehicles featuring the iconic paint schemes of these two vintage racers — including many renditions of their famous #Funny Cars. In 2005, Hot Wheels brought back the nostaglic #Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set as part of the #Hot Wheels Classics line. The set and its #Playset Exclusive cars were #Kmart Exclusives. NOTE: The set was also sold at Sears since both Sears and Kmart fall under the Sears Holdings Corporation.

One of the cars in this set was #Tom McEwen‘s Mongoose Funny Car. I often refer to it as the #Plymouth Duster Funny Car since other releases of this casting have been released under that name, which weren’t #Mongoose related designs. Like most funny cars that Hot Wheels makes, the body serves as an #Opening Feature, revealing its engine, driver’s seat and body prop.

Hot Wheels Plymouth Duster “Mongoose” Funny Car from the 2005 Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set (Hot Wheels Classics line) … REAR, BODY OPEN

While some of the more premium releases of the Mongoose Funny Car feature Real Riders, more detail and better tampos; this one is orange track ready which is cool considering these #Snake & Mongoose designs were meant for the drag strip.

RELEASE DETAILS: Red Enamel Body (metal). Clear Window. Red Interior. Chrome 5-Spoke Wheels w/ Redlines. Unpainted Metal Base. Made in Malaysia. Toy# H9604. Released in 2005 as part of the Hot Wheels Classics / Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set.

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