I can’t help but feel like modern American muscle cars are a bit underrepresented in the diecast world. That’s especially true among the premium brands, as the only brand that consistently prioritizes muscle is AutoWorld, whose castings have never really impressed me. MiniGT, however, has been consistently impressive with their releases, and this new Shelby Mustang continues that trend.
This casting isn’t exactly new, but with premium models like this I tend to limit myself to one color of each casting, so I had to wait for the perfect shade of paint before pulling the trigger. The reds and oranges just didn’t feel quite right for a Shelby – I wanted a blue. I would have liked the Performance Blue version, but since that one was only released with the transporter truck, this Brittany Blue version was an easy second choice. The lighter paint helps show off the lines of the casting, and the white stripes feel practically mandatory for a Shelby.
This Brittany Blue paint does a particularly nice job of showing off the crease on the GT500’s door, which is bisected by a surprisingly detailed door handle. I like the snake badge on the fender, and the black trim detailing around the windows is a nice touch as well. Sadly, this GT500 doesn’t get the center cap detailing on the wheels that I like on so many other MiniGT models, and while no MiniGT models get brake detailing, this model feels like it’s crying out for some bright red brake calipers peeking out from behind the wheels.
The front end of the Shelby GT500 looks aggressive and mean, with a lovely variety of finishes and textures throughout. I love the way the black heat extractor vents stick out from the hood, and the hood pins are a nice touch as well. There could be a bit more texture in the mesh of the grille, but that feels like nitpicking on a model that only costs about $12.
It does not, however, feel like nitpicking to ask for better headlight detailing. Headlights have consistently been a weak point for MiniGT models, and these are one of the worst offenders. Granted, they are clear lenses, but there is no hint of the distinctive triple LED daytime running lights or the headlight bulbs themselves within the lenses. Frankly, I would rather forgo clear lenses in favor of fully printed headlights if it meant we could get actual detailing in the headlight design.
The same is true of the brake lights, which feel like one large red blob. On the full-size GT500, the sections of the brake light lens outside and between the actual brake lights are tinted black, which gives the Mustang its distinctive 3-bar brake light design. This just feels like one big, red light rather than 3 small lights. Lighting aside, the back of the Shelby is otherwise exemplary! I love the silver exhaust tips and the red reflectors integrated into the diffuser, the license plate adds a welcome touch of realism, and even the reverse light is detailed!
The carbon fiber wing looks very cool as well, though it would be nice if the carbon detailing wrapped all the way onto the underside of the wing.
I generally don’t pay much attention to the packaging of my models, but this holographic Ford licensed product sticker looks super cool in person!
Lighting sins aside, I’m very happy to have a modern muscle car from MiniGT, and I hope they extend the range to include models like the Camaro or even an oddball like the 2006 Pontiac GTO or G8 GXP. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the supercars and JDM legends, but I think muscle deserves a bit more love from companies like MiniGT.
diecastleno.com 
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