Changes: Maelstrom

Revision as of 12:24, 24 February 2016

Description

"Speed, Power, and Attitude define the realm of Hot Wheels. One of the finest examples of these characteristics can be seen in the Maelstrom. Twin V-8 engines power the many curves of this wild ride with large scoops to pull in power giving air. Side vents and twin rear pipes quickly remove the exhaust from the firing of those 24 cylinders. The single seat cockpit allows for just one lucky soul to take the ride of their life at a time. Wouldn't you like to wait in that line?" I know I sure would!

The origins of the Maelstrom started in 2001 when Hot Wheels Director Of Design Nathan Proch, gave Fraser Campbell a design brief to create the ultimate vehicle for the European Hot Wheels market. Hailing from the United Kingdom himself, this was Fraser's first vehicle attempt for the Hot Wheels basic line. His first idea was to have the engines up front and the cockpit over the rear wheels. There was a concern however that it beared too much resemblance to the existing Twin Mill and Twin Mill II castings, so a change was needed. Back at the drawing board and wanting to keep the elements of "big engines, big power, and big attitude", Fraser continued to toss the layout of his design around. Eventually, his final forward cockpit and mid-engined design made it into production as 2001 First Edition car called the Maelstrom. The Maelstrom has been said by some to resemble the Hairy Hauler or the Vulture. It also tends to bear some similarities to the Vector M12.

This car made its first appearance in the videogame Hot Wheels: Bash Arena (PC) (2002). It makes a reappearance in the following videogames: Hot Wheels: Velocity X (PC, GBA, PS2, GC) (2002) and Hot Wheels: World Race (PC, GBA, PS2, PC) (2003).

Specification

Engine: V8 Duos Vector

Horsepower: 865 HP

Speed: 265 MPH (426 Km/H)

Acceleration 0-60 mph: 6.9 seconds

Versions

Maelstrom has been released in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Toy #	Col #	Year	Series	Color	Tampo	Base Color	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Country	Notes
28754	24	2001	First Editions 12/36	Dark Blue	Grey Flames	Chrome Plastic	Tinted	Chrome	3 Spoke	Malaysia	Light Blue
53762	233	2001	Mainline	Neon Yellow	Orange Flames	Black	Black	Chrome	5DOT	Malaysia
69554		2002	Crash Curve Track Set	White	Grey Flames	Chrome	Tinted	Chrome	3 Spoke	Malaysia
89090		2002	Metro City Police Track Set	Red	Grey Flames	Chrome	Tinted	Chrome	3 Spoke	Malaysia
89043		2002	Pavement Pounders	Black	Grey Flames	Chrome	Tinted	Chrome	3 Spoke	Malaysia
47378		2002	Power Launcher	Yellow	Black Flames	Black	Tinted	Chrome	PR5	Malaysia
54436	221	2002	Mainline	Silver	Octopus Tampo	Red Chrome	Red	Red Chrome	PR5	Thailand
56026		2002	Originals	Black & Chrome	Red, Blue Stripes	Black	Tinted	Chrome	PC5	Malaysia	Target Exclusive
		2002	Palm Desert Toy Fair	Red, White, Blue	Stars, Flame Outline, "Toy Fair 2002"	Chrome	Light Blue	Chrome	PR5	Malaysia
54435		2002	Octoblast 5-Pack	Silver	Octopus Tampo	Red Chrome	Red	Red Chrome	PR5	Thailand
57042		2003	Cop Squad 5-Pack	Red-Orange	Bomb Squad Tampos	Black	Tinted	Chrome	SB	China
57042		2003	Cop Squad 5-Pack	Red-Orange	Bomb Squad Tampos	Black	Tinted	Chrome	PR5	China
57042		2003	Cop Squad 5-Pack	Red-Orange	Bomb Squad Tampos	Black	Tinted	Chrome	5 Spoke	China
C4560		2003	Mutant Biotronic Kingdom Set	Purple	Mantis Tampo	Black	Orange	Chrome	PR5	Thailand
B3589		2004	Zero-G 5-Pack	Metalflake Light Blue	Circuit Board Tampos	Black	Light Blue	Chrome	Blue PR5	China	AKA: Velocity Vortex
H9057	149	2005	Mainline	Black	Red Flames	Red	Red	Chrome	5 Spoke	Thailand
H9057	149	2005	Mainline	Black	Red Flames	Red	Red	Chrome	PR5	Thailand
H9057	149	2005	Mainline	Black	Red Flames	Red	Red	Chrome	PR5	Malaysia
H6996		2005	2X Power Launcher	Blue	HW Logo & Flames	Black	Light Orange	Gold	Gold PR5	China
H7047		2005	Toys 'R Us Track Set	Flat Neon Yellow	Flames	Chrome	Tinted	Silver	PR5	China	VHTF Short Run
J3294		2006	Crazy Croc 5-Pack	Teal	Swamp Rocket Tampos	Black	Green	Chrome	Gold 5 Spoke	China
J3294		2006	Crazy Croc 5-Pack	Teal	Swamp Rocket Tampos	Black	Green	Chrome	Green OH5	China
J2549		2006	X-Pandables - Pizza Palace	Teal	Swamp Rocket Tampos	Black	Green	Chrome	Green 5 Spoke	China
J2560		2007	QuickShot Launcher	Silver	Flame Tampos, "06"	Red Chrome	Red	Chrome	Red 3 Spoke	China
M6996	94	2008	Web Trading Cars 18/24	Red	Orange, Yellow & Blue Tampos	Black	Blue	Silver	PR5	Malaysia
M6996	94	2008	Web Trading Cars 18/24	Purple	Orange, Yellow & Green Tampos	Black	Green	Silver	PR5	Malaysia
H6291		2008	Crash Curve Track Set	Flat Light Blue	Brighter Circuit Board Tampos	Black	Light Blue	Chrome	Blue PR5	Thailand
M1018		2008	G-Force Track Set	Darker Teal	Swamp Rocket Tampos	Black	Green	Chrome	Green 5 Spoke	Thailand
N8256		2008	Black Friday 10-Pack	Dark Blue	HW Logo & Flames	Black	Orange	Gold	Gold PR5	Thailand	Wal-Mart Exclusives
X3217		2011	Team Hot Wheels Commemorative 20-Pack	Gray	Orange, Yellow & Blue Tampos	Blue	Light Blue	Gold	PR5	Malaysia
		2012	Various Multi-packs	White	Red, Teal& Blue Tampos	Blue	Red	Gold	PR5	Malaysia	New Base Text Style
Y8135		2013	Mystery Models Series 2 12/12	Orange	Orange, Teal & Blue Tampos	Blue	Light Blue	Gold	PR5	Malaysia
BDW30		2014	High-Speed Wheels Track Stars #9/25	Maroon	Red, White & Blue	Black Tint	Dark Blue	Chrome	HSRW	Malaysia	Changes made to casting
CDT20		2015	Track Aces 5-Pack	Dark Blue	White & Blue Tampos	Yellow	Clear	Chrome	PR5	Thailand

"Atomix" Versions

In 2002, the Maelstrom was released in the Atomix series.

Year	Series	Number	Color	Tampo	Base Color	Window Color	Wheel Color	Country
2002	Atomix Display Case	N/A	Blue	Silver	ZAMAC	Red	Chrome	China
2002	Scrap Yards Track Set	#7	Black	Red & Yellow Flames	ZAMCA	Silver	Chrome	China
2003	World Race	Street Breed #3	Purple	Street Breed Tampo	ZAMAC	Neon Green	Chrome	China
2003	Shark Park	N/A	Light Blue	Shark Park Tampo	ZAMAC	Orange	Chrome	China
2003	Atom Moblies	N/A	Black	Flame Tampos	ZAMAC	Silver	Blue	China
2004	Hot Rods	N/A	Orange	Flame Tampos	ZAMAC	Silver	Chrome	China
2003	Rally Case Keychain	N/A	Neon Yellow		Black	Black	Chrome	China

"Speed Demons" Versions

In 2003, the Maelstrom was released in the Speed Demons series. It features a pull back motor inside.

Year	Series	Number	Color	Tampo	Base Color	Window Color	Wheel Color	Country
2003	Hot Wheels	1/4	Blue	Silver Hood Flames	Chrome	Black	Chrome	China
2003	Hot Wheels	3/4	Grey	Silver Hood Flames	Chrome	Silver	Chrome	China
2003	Yu-Gi-Oh! Set	N/A	Purple	Yu-Gi-Oh Tampos	Chrome	Black	Red	China
2003	Hot Wheels	1/4	Metalic Pink	Silver Hood Flames	Chrome	Black	Chrome	China
2004	Chrome	4/4	Chrome	Blue Flames	Black	Red	Blue	China
2004	Tinted Chrome	1/4	Red Chrome	No Tampos	Chrome	Black	Chrome	China