Redline HotWheels Mongoose vs. Snake 1970 – 1973

In 1970 Mattel Hot Wheels began it’s relationship with racing which continues to this current day with Hot Wheels involvement in many forms of racing. Hot Wheels has a presence in motocross F1, Nascar and more. Hot Wheels first steps in racing saw Mattel Hot Wheels sponsoring the Don “Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “Mongoose” McEwen racing teams. The same year Mattel introduced the Mongoose and Snake Drag Race Set which featured the Hot Wheels versions of the popular Snake and Mongoose Funny Cars. The set promoted side-by-side racing and included a finish gate and parachutes to slow the cars down after the race. To read more on Mattel’s resent release of Mongoose and Snake Drag Race to commemorate their 35-year anniversary click here. Mattel Hot Wheels also offered the Snake and Mongoose funny cars separately. They were sold on specially designed blister cards based on the original Hot Wheels blister. Each card showed the Snake and Mongoose funny cars beneath the logo.
 

In 1971, Mattel introduced the Snake II and Mongoose II funny cars. They were sold separately on special blister cards which showed the new models beneath the Hot Wheels logo. That year Mattel also introduce the Snake and Mongoose rail dragsters. They were issued in the Mongoose and Snake Dragster Pak, featuring the same artwork used on the Wild Wheelie set. The Rail Dragsters were never sold individually.

In 1972, Mattel offered the rear engine Mongoose and Snake Dragsters. They were sold individually on standard Hot Wheels blister cards. These first two were the first Mongoose and Snake that were not also issued in a set.

The last year Mattel sponsored the Mongoose and Snake racing teams during the Redline era was 1973. Mattel would issue the Snake funny car in both white and yellow, and the Mongoose funny car in blue and red. This was not a very good year for Hotwheels, with rising gas prices and declining toy sales. The entire Hot Wheels line would show the results of severe cost-cutting measures, including the Mongoose and Snake funny cars. The 1973 were issued without the black plastic roll cage, body support, and the blue plastic windshield and also were based only one casting. The Plymouth Barracuda funny car driven by Don “snake” Prudhomme.
The 1970 to 1973  Mongoose and Snake models are considered extremely collectable, and if you have this featured set for sale please contact Redline wheels