Mongoose

History of Tom "Mongoo$e" McEwen[]

Description[]

The Mongoo$e has come out it several versions, which seems to confuse people about either the name or the car driven by Tom McEwen. First off, the only funny car Tom drove while being sponsored by Hot Wheels was a Duster. Mattel, in cost saving measures, started only issuing one cast (the 'Cuda) years later with both "Mongoo$e" & "Snake" on the side. Mattel official names for the Tom "Mongoo$e" McEwen cars are easy;

Mongoose

Mongoose II

There are also Dragsters:

Mongoose Rail Dragster (front engine)

Mongoose Rear Engine Dragster (wedge)

Tom never even drove a wedge style dragster aka Rear engine. The "Mongoo$e" was issued in enamel Red with a lifting body to show the chassis, a prop to hold it up and a black roll cage. Modeled after a Plymouth Duster, it was released from both the USA and Hong Kong.

This car is playable in Hot Wheels: Turbo Racing.

The Model Cars were packaged with a metal 'Collector's Button'.

The Mongoose II is a Hot Wheels casting from the 1971 Hot Wheels range of vehicles. It uses the same casting as the Mongoose from 1970 except this time it has Spectraflame Blue paint and 'Mongoose II' stickers.

It is based on the Plymouth Duster Funny Car driven by Tom 'The Mongoose' McEwen in 1970, a car sponsored by Hot Wheels in conjunction with his rival Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme.

The Hot Wheels Mongoose II was produced at both the USA and Hong Kong factories and was only made in Spectraflame Blue. The paint is prone to fading and can be found in various shades of blue. USA built cars had clear windows while Hong Kong produced cars have blue tinted windows. It came with a black roll-cage and body prop underneath its opening body. The base came in two pieces, with the engine being riveted to the bottom part.

It came on a special 'Mongoose vs Snake' card which had artwork of each car. It had its side stickers applied from the factory and a sticker sheet with flames was included in the package. It was also packaged with a plastic 'Collectors Button'.

This would be the last time the Plymouth Duster Funny Car would be used until 1994 when it was re-tooled for the Vintage Series.

The CIPSA version of the Mongoose Funny Car is a Wave 2 release using the US version of the Mongoose casting. The paint colors are not found in normal production,

either HK or US and the glass on the CIPSA version is different having a slight tint. The interior and prop assembly are black like the domestic versions.

The wheels are Type 1 capped redlines like all domestic cars. The stickers on the CIPSA Mongoose are similar to the Mongoose II version from 1971. However, they

have Spanish wording and the CIPSA logo where the Mattel logo is normally located.

Ya ya ya it is a cuda, I know Tom never drove a 'Cuda.

Mattel became a associate sponsor by 1973, For the old rivalry " Snake vs Mongoo$e" and times were tight for Mattel. They made a lot of cost saving changes for 1972 and 1973. The Goo$e never drove the 'cuda style funny car, but Mattel issued just one casting for the 1973 Mongoo$e and Snake and it was the 'cuda. All cars for '73 got the new enamel paint, the "Mongoo$e" 'and "Snake" were no different. There were many cost cutting features one piece base, Missing windshield, enamel paint, wrong body for the Gooo$e, missing hood prop, one sticker sheet for both of "Mongoo$e" cars. These changes also affected the "Snake" too.

The '73 "Mongoo$e II" was issued in enamel Red & enamel Blue

Flaming stickers for both cars.

No Special art work for "Mongoo$e vs Snake"

Capped Rear Redlines - Open Axle Style in front

There have been found 1970 "Mongoo$e" cars in 1973 blisterpack. It would seem that were some left over cars that got tossed in the lot.

Versions[]

The Mongoose has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Year	Series	Color	Stickers	Base Color	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations
1970	Mainline	Red	White w/ the "Goo$e"	Metal	blue tint	black roll cage	Redline	6410
1971	Mongoose vs Snake	Dark Blue	Hot Wheels Logo and 'Mongoose II' on side, Red Flames on top	Unpainted / Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Black	RL	5954	Hong Kong	Named Mongoose II
1971	Mongoose vs Snake	Light Blue	Hot Wheels Logo and 'Mongoose II' on side, Red Flames on top	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Black	RL	5954	USA	Named Mongoose II
1973	List of 1973 Hot Wheels	Enamel Red	Tom McEwen stickers	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Black Roll cage	Wheel type	6969	Hong Kong
1973	List of 1973 Hot Wheels	Enamel Blue	Tom McEwen stickers	Unpainted / Metal	N/A	Black Roll cage	Wheel type	6969	Hong Kong

Re-cast Versions[]

The Mongoose has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:

Year	Series	Color / Tampo	Base Color	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country	Notes / Variations
1994	Vintage Series	Metalflake Copper / Orange	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Black	RL	12496	China	Vintage Series 8 Pack
1994	Vintage Series	Metalflake Red	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Black	RL	14072	China	Funnycar with lifting body Limited Edition
1994	Vintage Series	Metalflake Blue	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Black	RL	15320	China	Funnycar with lifting body
1994	Vintage Series II	Metalflake Red	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Black	RL	10783	China	Funnycar with lifting body
1994	Vintage Series II	Metalflake Dk Red	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Black	RL	10783	China	Funnycar with lifting body
1994	Vintage Series II	Metalflake Pink	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Black	RL	10783	China	Funnycar with lifting body
1994	Vintage Series II	Metalflake Blue	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Black	RL	10783	China	Funnycar with lifting body
1997	JCPenny 24K Performance Collection Series 2	Gold plated	ZAMAC	Smoke tint	Black	Gold RL3	15930	China	6,000 produced
2005	Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set	Red / Mongoose Paint Scheme	Unpainted Metal	Clear	Red	RL5SP	H9604	Malaysia	Kmart Exclusive
2012	Hot Wheels Racing: NHRA	Red / Mongoose race deco on sides, White & Blue stripes with White stars across top	Unpainted / Metal	Clear	Black	RRMag	W8308	Thailand	Base Code(s): D48

Similar Castings or Names[]

Mongoose Rail Dragster

Rivalry the "Mongoo$e" vs the "Snake"[]

Snake (1970)

Gallery[]

External Links[]

Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set: PLYMOUTH DUSTER FUNNY CAR