Since they debuted a few years ago, Matchbox’s super chase models have always felt a bit lacking to me. Where Hot Wheels $upers are often an upgraded, more premium version of the mainline they replace, Matchbox’s super chase models often feel like a downgrade over their mainline counterparts due to the addition of unnecessary side graphics and Matchbox’s inferior premium wheels. Even when Matchbox uses the super chase slot to debut a new casting, as they did with the Porsche Macan, it feels like the “premium treatment” is holding the casting back. Enter, the Ford GT: the first super chase that feels like a genuine upgrade over the mainline version.
The biggest reason this Ford GT feels like such an upgrade is immediately apparent – it receives rear detailing, something no other release of the Ford GT outside of the old Superfast line has ever had! Perhaps that’s an indictment of the mainline releases rather than a true compliment of this super chase, but it feels like a huge upgrade either way. Unlike the unnecessary detailing on so many previous super chases, this Ford GT gets racing stripes that look totally appropriate for the car. Admittedly, I’ve never seen an actual Ford GT in this color scheme, but I won’t fault Matchbox for taking some artistic license there.
When this casting was retooled in 2021, the front end was improved significantly, though I admit it would be nice if this super chase version received detailing around the foglights. The gas cap is detailed gray on this release, which none of the mainline versions have. The gray base makes the splitter look a bit too bright though, and I can’t help but feel like black would have been a better choice for the color of the base.
As usual, Matchbox’s premium wheels don’t really feel like an upgrade over the mainline five spokes they’re based on, but I do like the bronze lip on the wheels. It compliments the orange detailing nicely and adds a wonderful pop of color to this otherwise darkly colored model. The FORD GT logo at the bottom of the doors is a nice touch, and I love that Matchbox even detailed the front and rear marker lights!
Though the rear splitter suffers from the same bright-base problem as the front, the back of the car is clearly what sets this super chase apart. The detailing on the brake lights, license plate, and even exhaust shows how lacking the mainline releases are in comparison.
I can understand why Matchbox has often chosen to prioritize the Ford GT’s racing stripes over the rear detailing on the mainline releases. The stripes are an iconic part of the GT’s design, but there are a few Ford GTs on the road without stripes, and I would love to see a mainline release that forgoes the stripes in favor of front and rear detailing. Ford even built two bright yellow GTs with the factory stripe delete option, and I think that car would make an amazing addition to the rainbow of GTs we’ve seen so far.
This super chase Ford GT’s ability to get me excited about this casting again and fill my brain with new recolor ideas just goes to show how great of a chase model this is. No previous Matchbox super chase has captured my attention like this one has, and I knew I had to have it as soon as I saw it previewed online. Luckily, Matchbox’s super chases remain much cheaper than their Hot Wheels counterparts, so pick up one of these Ford GTs while you still can…and I look forward to hearing about all the recolor ideas it inspires in you.
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