2002 Hot Wheels Pavement Pounder with ’59 Impala

Since 1998, Hot Wheels has offered car-hauler/vehicle combinations under various names such as Long Haulers, Truckin’ Transporters, Racing Rigs and Trackin’ Trucks. From 2000 to 2003, the series was called Pavement Pounders. Described as “Power Transporter for Hiway Haulin’!”, these two-packs include a car-hauler paired with an exclusive Hot Wheels vehicle. The haulers feature a cab that separates from the trailer and a tailgate ramp for easy loading and unloading.

I found this 2002 Hot Wheels Pavement Pounder on eBay. This is the second of the Pavement Pounder series that features a ’59 Chevy Impala; click here to see the 2001 release.

This hauler is referred to as the Short Nose Sleeper Cab Truck.

For 2002, the back of the package shows eight different combinations utilizing six different cabs, five styles of trailers and 8 Hot Wheels castings.

Hot Wheels | 89048 | 2002 Pavement Pounder
’59 Impala | black with yellow, gold and red tampo, tinted windows, gray interior, chrome plastic base | Malaysia | gold lace wheels
Short Nose Sleeper Cab Truck | dark blue cab with white Hot Wheels logo, black windows, chrome plastic engine, grille, exhaust and base, black trailer with Midnight Run label graphics | China | gear wheels

Click here to see the many other variations of the Hot Wheels ’59 Chevy Impala in my collection.

2000-2002 Revell Collectible Chevy Impalas

Revell is mostly known for producing quality plastic model kits. In fact it’s difficult to find information about the company’s foray into die-cast cars. The company history on their website only briefly mentions “the integration of … die-cast models into the portfolio.” But the Revell Collectible Chevy series from the early 2000s is a favorite of mine. The 1:64 scale cars, which feature an opening hood or trunk, are extremely accurate and nicely detailed, while each blister card is printed with vintage advertising art.

Revell Collectible Chevy | 86-3363 | 2000 | Issue #58 | ‘64 Chevy Impala | metallic gray-green

Revell Collectible Chevy | 86-3370 | 2001 | Issue #68 | ‘58 Chevy Impala | red and white two-tone

Revell Collectible Chevy | 86-3371 | 2001 | Issue #69 | ‘61 Chevy Impala | blue

Revell Collectible Chevy | 86-3391 | 2002 | Issue #86 | ‘58 Chevy Impala | metallic purple

Revell Collectible Chevy | 86-3393 | 2002 | Issue #88 | ‘63 Chevy Impala | white

I also have a ’70 Monte Carlo from the same series. For some reason the blister on this package is even more yellowed than on the others.

Revell Collectible Chevy | 86-3364 | 2000 | Issue #59 | ’70 Chevy Monte Carlo | gold

As you can see by the list on the back of the card pictured below, I don’t have the complete collection. Most castings were offered in two different variations and, though I have at least one of most of the Impalas offered, I’m missing the ’59 entirely. It’s interesting that the card describes the incredible cars of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, yet one of the castings they included was a ’96 Impala.

2002 Revell American Graffiti '58 Impala

I never saw the movie American Graffiti when it came out in theaters in 1973, but I did watch it on television a few years later. While I don’t remember a lot of details from the movie, I do remember being impressed by the cars and the rock n’ roll spirit of the Southern California cruising culture depicted in the movie. I also remember listening to the soundtrack quite a bit on an 8-track player in a good friend’s basement.

This Revell American Graffiti ’58 Impala, released in 2002, includes a miniature figure of the character Toad from the movie. The car has an opening hood and nice details. Toad, however, is not the same scale as the car.

86-3170 | Revell 2002 Issue #108 American Graffiti | ‘58 Chevy Impala with Toad Figure | white with silver & red trim

Other American Graffiti Impalas in my collection include one from the 2013 Hot Wheels Retro Entertainment series and a Johnny Lightning model from 2001.