When Race & Chase appeared in the UK the set was equipped with the well known yellow & White Chevrolet Stingray. Now, eagle eyed as I was back then, I noticed that photos in the Argos catalogue and Littlewoods catalogues showed a photo of a car that looked like a Stingray, yet clearly wasn't a Stingray.
While this baffled me then, it was soon forgotten about. Now alas(!) I see the light, because in the US, the Race & Chase was supplied with this chunkier, squarer Chevrolet; the Monza.
Now, the Monza is great, it looks the part and evidently inspires thoughts of Smokey & The Bandit, but a Stingray it wasn't. The real Chevrolet Monza was an uninspiring car and Matchbox were keen to market it as a Funny car, owing to its 'droop snoot' stance. The car had 'Catch me' written on the back and it soon caught the imagination of schoolkids...
While this baffled me then, it was soon forgotten about. Now alas(!) I see the light, because in the US, the Race & Chase was supplied with this chunkier, squarer Chevrolet; the Monza.
Now, the Monza is great, it looks the part and evidently inspires thoughts of Smokey & The Bandit, but a Stingray it wasn't. The real Chevrolet Monza was an uninspiring car and Matchbox were keen to market it as a Funny car, owing to its 'droop snoot' stance. The car had 'Catch me' written on the back and it soon caught the imagination of schoolkids...
The original prototype (above) is shown in the 1978 catalogue and differs significantly. It has a grille for one thing, and spats on the rear wing. The graphics are there, but the Catch Me script is absent. What is apparent is the Matchbox 'm' on the bonnet/hood - the only car that does so.
The box art work for PT-6000 shoes a hybrid Corvette/Stingray/Monza. The box artist, (an Industrial Designer seconded from nearby Ford perhaps?) probably worked from photos of the US Monza, while decisions were being made on supplying a Corvette - or the then new - Stingray.
The funny car underwent a big paint job for the stillborn Positraction, but other than that it is one of the most common cars found on the Speedtrack pages. I like it though, its a hoot!
