Wouldn't it be cool to have a set of wheels like that? I wonder
what kind of times it will do on a set of Kumhos? :)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=362127435&r=0&t=0
Vitaly
#87 CSP del Sol
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Speed Racer's Race Car Up for Auction on eBay
June 20, 2000 4:56 pm EST
By Ben Klayman
DETROIT (Reuters) - For sale: white racing convertible with a top speed of
185 mph, lobster red leather interior, retractable pneumatic saw blades and a
remote-control homing pigeon. Previous owner: international teen racing
sensation Speed Racer.
The popular 1960s cartoon character may not be real, but a replica of his
car -- the Mach 5 -- is up for sale on Internet auction site eBay (EBAY.O)
thanks to Child Safety Network engineer Mark Towle and the Community Benefit
Alliance.
"More people can tell you the name of Speed Racer's car than any other race
car in the world," Jim Rocknowski of Speed Racer Enterprises, official
licensing company for Speed Racer properties, said in a statement.
The two-door roadster, made from fiberglass and fully operational if not
street legal, went on sale on Monday and has seen 43 bids, including the
latest offer of $30,500. The auction ends June 29.
The rocket-like Mach 5 -- one of the world's most recognizable cars --
belonged to Speed Racer, a Japanese-drawn cartoon depicting the adventures
of a teen who raced cars and battled evil around the world. With a fan base
of more than 50 million, the cartoon was created in 1967.
Community Benefit Alliance, a privately held marketer of animation art
products, paid to have the car built last October on behalf of Child Safety
Network, an organization dedicated to promoting child safety and protection
issues across the country. The former will keep 80 percent of the money,
while the children's group will receive 20 percent.
Based on the famous cartoon Mach 5, Towle's full-scale race car has a
400-horsepower engine, four-speed manual transmission, estimated top
speed of 185 mph, front saw-blade cutters, a special hydraulic jack system
for jumping as well as interactive voice responses to buttons on the steering
wheel. Project cost for the vehicle was more than $350,000.
The animated car boasted 50,000 horsepower, could fly through the air,
drive under water and jump great distances.
"The real Mach 5 has a lot of creative automotive engineering," Towle said.
"While the car looks and performs much like the animated Mach 5, we have
also added little details, like the remote control homing device and the
periscope the Mach 5 uses when running under water."
The winning bidder will agree to loan the car to the Child Safety Network
for eight months while it finishes a national safety tour. eBay is verifying
all bids by phone.
The car will then be delivered during a catered Speed Racer-themed party by
the cartoon's original cast members -- Peter Fernandez, who played the
voice of Speed and his brother Racer X, and Corinne Orr, who played Speed's
girlfriend Trixie and Chim Chim the monkey.
The car includes a replica of Speed's racing helmet.
"Driving the Mach 5 is a childhood dream for millions of Speed Racer fans,"
said Fernandez, who wrote and directed all 52 episodes of the original show
as well as its famous theme song, "Go Speed Racer Go."
For those who fail to win this Mach 5, Towle plans to build another 100
street-legal models to benefit the Child Safety Network. Price tag:
$61,000, with delivery slated for 2001.
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