Art.Nr. Wrecker30776A
Neverending Story…
Neverending? Well, not quite. But I can’t really remember any vehicle in recent years that took this long to actually hit the market. Announced for early 2017, it’s now taken almost a year for the tow truck to actually hit the market. As Slottus once wrote in the relevant thread about the truck: “The whole project is yet another prime example of Murphy’s Law.” Technical issues with the LGA and so on delayed the project for quite a while.
The result
, however , makes up for everything: I know this sounds funny, but this little truck makes a “likeable” impression. If you look at the tow truck’s cab, the “face” looks familiar right away. Somehow, the truck reminds you of a mix between a Mercedes 319 and classic American cab-over wreckers from the 1950s. Given the designer’s well-known fondness for American vehicles, that was likely the whole point of the project. The paint job is classic CARRERA red, and the rear section is completely chrome-plated except for the red crane boom. There’s even a jerry can mounted on the cargo bed (a German one, not an American one!). This naturally leaves the door open to all kinds of further design possibilities. The rims are from a ’67 Mustang, with dual tires on both rear axles. The driver’s cab windows are, out of necessity, smoked black due to the electronics installed inside. There’s a yellow flashing light on the roof, as befits a tow truck. And it makes sounds, too: The vehicle’s sound can be played by pressing the sound button on the hand controller, both when stationary and while driving.
Regarding towing operation: There is a bracket on the rear of the flatbed that holds the guide keel for the front wheels of the towed car when it is folded down. All of this works without springs or servos. When unfolded, you can of course also drive the car without the towed car. For Formula 1 cars with long noses, a second bracket is also included, which clips onto the existing bracket; see the instruction manual in the box for details.
But the real surprise about this car is the following—something none of us CoMods actually expected. The truck is really fast. It drifts well, and in terms of acceleration and speed, it’s quicker than many race cars (and for those thinking of the old Fly race trucks and their handling: you don’t compare race boats to battleships, after all).
A small side note: the truck fits into a standard box. It’s a tight fit, but it fits. The box comes with a cardboard slipcase, just like the ones we're used to seeing with Ferrari models, only in gray.
Well, enough said. Go buy this car and try it out for yourselves on your track. You won't regret it!
Best
regards, CoMod Lotus
