4/22/20 Coca-Cola 2000 5-pack

Before M2 Machines got the license Matchbox was doing lots of stuff with Coca-Cola at the turn of the century, and for 2000 this 5-pack was another one consisting of cars with a few unique pieces, including the first debut of the Concept 1 Beetle Convertible before the release of the 1-100 version in the U.S. (I found out the Concept 1 convertible actually premiered in the ROW line in 1999).  Painted in white it features the Coca-Cola logo’s on the sides and even on the tonneau cover for the top.  Details are excellent on this beetle despite being a rather small car and it shows compared to the other four in this set.  Another interesting first was the 1957 Chevy Corvette that debut in 1999 with a hardtop profile, but in this set this is the first time this casting is a straight convertible in yellow with lots of lovely details from the front chrome grille, round headlights, to the side coves and the rear-end with pointed bumpers and integrated taillights.  The interior shows off the dashboard layouts, bucket seats, and even the hard tonneau cover very well, and it handles great on the track, yet this convertible version was not used often compared to the hardtop tooling, and the hardtop was all part of the windshield trim with the exception of a plastic white top insert.  Another 1999 release was the 1955 Chevy Bel-air that followed the success of the 1957 in 1998 with two top designs (coupe and convertible) and lots of great detailing in white with classic Coca-Cola signs on the doors and an artistic design on the trunklid (all the others with the exception of the Beetle convertible have some sort of artistic Coke design on the vehicle).  Unlike the 1957 Bel-air the 1955 seems a bit toned down in exterior design, yet still has excellent details like the eggcrate grille and side spear, to the interior with front and rear bench seat and large steering wheel.  Another 1999 debut is the 1999 Ford Mustang GT in convertible form sporting a red design and, oddly, snow balls on top of the hood and trunk.  Either that or its fizzy bubbles, but either way it’s a bit too much for the vehicle.  Finally, a 1998 debut was the MGF convertible in red with simple Coke decos and the only vehicle in the set that is not only a non-U.S. vehicle but also was a vehicle never sold in the U.S.

Rating:

VW Concept 1 Beetle Convertible- 4.9 out of 5 stars

1998 MGF 1.8i- 4 out of 5 stars

1957 Chevy Corvette- 5 out of 5 stars

1955 Chevy Bel-Air Convertible- 4 out of 5 stars

1999 Ford Mustang GT Convertible- 4.2 out of 5 stars