Malibu Grand Prix and Formula 5000

Back after a few weeks break to present two Hot Wheels racers, the Malibu Grand Prix and the Formula 5000.

The Malibu Grand Prix is a Larry Wood design that was released in 1982.

It is a reissue of the Formula P.A.C.K. casting (also released as Lightning Gold). Both these castings are modified versions of the El Rey Special, a 1974 model.

According to a friend at Swifty's Garage, "Malibu Grand Prix" was the name of a national chain of go cart tracks in the 1970's. The go carts looked like formula racers, pretty close to how this HW model looks. 

Edit: A year after writing this post, I acquired the only other version of the Malibu Grand Prix, a 1985 Kellogg's Cereals promotional item. See below.

The Formula 5000 below is also a Larry Wood design that was released in 1976 in the Flying Colors series and discontinued in 1984.

This particular model, a Hong Kong one with an unpainted base, might be from 1976 or 1977. It's hard to tell.