You all know that I'm a huge fan of the 57 Chevy. I own plenty of 1/64th ones, but not many larger scale cars. When I first the pictures of the new Pep Boys 80th Anniversary 1/18th Custom 57 Chevy Hot Rod pop up on the Internet, it quickly became a must have car. I had to travel around town to 4 different Pep Boys stores until I found one. Part of the reason is because the car is a limited run of 10,000 copies. The other part is because it's just so dang cool!!!

The car is painted in the popular flat black, with cool yellow flames, and plenty of Pep Boys markings. Mattel has taken a  couple of liberties with the wheel wells, like making the read well very large and the front well very small, but it works on this car, and gives it a nice aggressive stance. Hey, it is a custom Hot Rod, you know!!

The engine compartment is one of the most detailed that I've seen in a 1/18th car. Radiator and heater hoses, chrome valve covers, and great paint on the air cleaner make up a nice little under hood package, that really adds to the rodding nature of this car.

Under that nice air cleaner, you'll find dual 4 barrel carbs on a high rise manifold, all bolted to a bright red engine block. Nice work!!

The interior is highly detailed. Some of the nicer touches are a column mounted tach, 2 tone steering wheel, and a dash board with full gauges. It even has a radio and a clock.

The racing seats, roll bar, and floor mounted fire extinguisher all come to together to help solidify the racing nature of this shoebox.

The chassis is also done up nicely. Chrome traction bars, chrome front/rear suspension, working steering, and fat exhaust tubes work well together. All the black painted surfaces are painted in a rough, almost wrinkle finish, which adds to the realism of this car.

The front and rear of the car are completely stock, with the exception of a grille in the nose. I kinda like the look of the car without it. And since the hood flips open from the rear, it would have been in the way anyway. Would have liked an entire flip front on this car. That would have been something!!

The rear looks to be in very true proportions. The high trunk lid, "chrome red" taillights, fat rear tires, and just the slightest hint of the competition fuel tank is visible. And of course, Manny, Moe and Jack grace the lid.

All in all, a pretty good effort by Mattel. Take a classic body style, hop it up a bit, and you get a street rod that different generations can enjoy. Good choice by Pep Boys to use this one as their 80th Anniversary Special Edition. $24.99 at your local Pep Boys Auto Parts store. If you don't have one in hand, good luck finding one.

Joe