The Mirada Stocker can be a very quick car due to its Hot Ones wheels and axles and its weight.
In this review we are taking a closer look at the Hot Wheels Mirada Stocker. The Mirada Stocker had a short production run in the early 80s. The version that we tested is the yellow 1982 version with the Gold Hot Ones (GHO) wheels. It has a black hood with the word “Dodge” and the number “10” printed on the hood and sides. This is not the first car we’ve featured in “On The Track” with GHO wheels. Another very fast and successful racer, the Frontrunnin’ Fairmont also sported the same wheels. Actually, it’s not just the wheels, but like the Faster Than Ever series, it’s a combination of wheels and axles that help make this car successful on the track. First of all let’s talk about the wheels themselves. As seems to be the case with many pre-nineties wheels, the majority of GHO wheels that I’ve spun seem to be more true and far less likely to wobble than wheels you find on cars produced now. That’s not to say that you won’t find bad GHO wheels, or good modern wheels, but generally the GHO wheels from the early eighties seem to be a far superior wheel when it comes to spinning straight and true.
In addition to a quality wheel, the Hot Ones axle is a bit different as well. It is a bit thinner than the traditional Hot Wheels axle. While the smaller axle doesn’t mean less friction, the impact of that friction force is less than on a larger diameter axle.
The thinner axle also provides a bit of suspension for the car. This can actually be a good thing or a bad thing. If the track is fairly level, then the suspension can help smooth out the ride as the car goes over small inconsistencies in the track. However, if there are any rises in the track and the speed of the car is on the high end, I’ve seen these Hot Ones cars with the thinner axles get pretty squirrely as the thinner axles cause them to “bounce” a bit. I even seen them launch themselves off the track on rises that were not even noticeable except upon close inspection.
Another thing that makes the Mirada Stocker a car to be reckoned with is its weight. While not as heavy as some of Mattel’s funny cars, it comes in at 51 grams which definitely puts it on the heavier side. You’d be hard pressed to find a heavier car produced these days that doesn’t have rubber tires. That extra weight helps it keep its speed as it cruises through the flat.
As with any casting, not every Mirada Stocker is going to have elite speed. But your chances of finding elite speed with a Mirada Stocker is much more likely that finding it in most other Hot Wheels castings. Good wheels, thinner axles, and good weight all help to make this casting a successful racer on the track.
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