Review by Sean Huxter

Thirty-three years ago, an animated Japanese television series captured the hearts of youngsters worldwide. That show was Speed Racer, and it featured the Racer family's Team Go in their attempts to win competitions using a car hand-built by the head of the team, Pops Racer. Against Pops' will, his young son Speed is the star of the racing circuit, nearly undefeated in the fabulous and world-famous Mach 5. A third of a century later, the show still has a large following, with merchandise, books, comics and videotapes seemingly more available now than ever. 

In early 1999, Resaurus released a series of 5-inch figures, including Speed, Pops and Trixie, Speed's ever-present girlfriend. This was followed later by a second series of figures, and in June of 2000 the Mach 5 landed on toy shelves in limited quantities. They were difficult to find, and quickly zoomed off the shelves.

The open-top car measures over 15 inches in length and is a sleek, accurate representation of the cartoon vehicle. Included in the playset are a clear canopy cap for "submarine" adventures, two saw-blades that protrude from the front grille, four spring-loaded jacks that fit into the car's undercarriage and an air-launched probe, as well as two exclusive figures, Spritle, Speed's little brother, and Chim Chim, their pet monkey who always seem to stow away in the trunk of the Mach 5 at the most inopportune times. They also stow a picnic basket with them for those emergencies that require food.

The car features a turning steering wheel, a detailed matte-painted cockpit interior, sturdy rubber tires, a pop-up periscope and a trunk capable of storing some, but not all, of the accessories. The cockpit fits Speed and Trixie, or Speed with Spritle and Chim Chim.

A sleek playset from anime's birth

There are numerous positive aspects of this toy, from the sleek, accurate design, all-rubber wheels, tough, sturdy construction and a nicely painted interior, including the numeric pad on the steering column that in the show is used to activate the Mach 5's hidden features, to the detailed undercarriage, spring-loaded jacks that are used to simulate the Mach 5's impressive ability to leap other vehicles and rotating saw-blades also featured in the series.

The trunk opens, allowing for the storage of the four spring-loaded jacks, the picnic basket and the aerial probe, but not the saw-blades. If display room is not a problem, the blades may be left attached to the front of the car. However, they are brittle and break easily, so this may not be the best plan. The periscope raises a meager quarter inch, but at least it gets the point across, while the the swing-wing aerial probe seems practically useless.

Trixie fits comfortably in the passenger seat, but Speed has to be seated carefully, as he makes for a tight squeeze under the steering wheel. His hands fit perfectly around the wheel, however, and once the figures are in place, the clear canopy cap snaps snugly over the open-top cockpit.

The canopy cap comes carefully hidden in the clear-plastic packing, so a good careful look is necessary to avoid accidentally tossing it into the trash with the box.

As a pioneering entry into an entertainment genre which would later become known as anime, the TV show Speed Racer has much to be proud of, and now Resaurus can be proud as well, for producing one of the finest pieces of merchandise based around the 1967 cult classic in decades .

Though I passed into adulthood without having seen an episode of this show, Speed Racer nonetheless permeated my childhood with images of its characters and hardware. I can't wait for more Speed Racer vehicles from Resaurus! -- Sean

Back to the top.