Mongoose

right|300px
==History of Tom "Mongoo$e" McEwen==
==Description==
The Mongoo$e has come out it several versions, which seems to confuse people about either the name or the car driven by Tom McEwen. First off, the only funny car Tom drove while being sponsored by Hot Wheels was a Duster. Mattel, in cost saving measures, started only issuing one cast (the 'Cuda) years later with both "Mongoo$e" & "Snake" on the side. Mattel official names for the Tom "Mongoo$e" McEwen cars are easy;
Mongoose
Mongoose II
There are also Dragsters:
Mongoose Rail Dragster (front engine)
Mongoose Rear Engine Dragster (wedge)
Tom never even drove a wedge style dragster aka Rear engine. The "Mongoo$e" was issued in enamel Red with a lifting body to show the chassis, a prop to hold it up and a black roll cage. Modeled after a Plymouth Duster, it was released from both the USA and Hong Kong.
This car is playable in Hot Wheels: Turbo Racing.
The Model Cars were packaged with a metal 'Collector's Button'.
The Mongoose II is a Hot Wheels casting from the 1971 Hot Wheels range of vehicles. It uses the same casting as the Mongoose from 1970 except this time it has Spectraflame Blue paint and 'Mongoose II' stickers. 
It is based on the Plymouth Duster Funny Car driven by Tom 'The Mongoose' McEwen in 1970, a car sponsored by Hot Wheels in conjunction with his rival Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme.
The Hot Wheels Mongoose II was produced at both the USA and Hong Kong factories and was only made in Spectraflame Blue. The paint is prone to fading and can be found in various shades of blue. USA built cars had clear windows while Hong Kong produced cars have blue tinted windows. It came with a black roll-cage and body prop underneath its opening body. The base came in two pieces, with the engine being riveted to the bottom part.
It came on a special 'Mongoose vs Snake' card which had artwork of each car. It had its side stickers applied from the factory and a sticker sheet with flames was included in the package. It was also packaged with a plastic 'Collectors Button'.
This would be the last time the Plymouth Duster Funny Car would be used until 1994 when it was re-tooled for the Vintage Series.
The CIPSA version of the Mongoose Funny Car is a Wave 2 release using the US version of the Mongoose casting. The paint colors are not found in normal production,
either HK or US and the glass on the CIPSA version is different having a slight tint. The interior and prop assembly are black like the domestic versions.
The wheels are Type 1 capped redlines like all domestic cars. The stickers on the CIPSA Mongoose are similar to the Mongoose II version from 1971. However, they
have Spanish wording and the CIPSA logo where the Mattel logo is normally located.
Ya ya ya it is a cuda, I know  Tom never drove a 'Cuda.
Mattel became a associate sponsor by 1973, For the old rivalry " Snake vs Mongoo$e" and times were tight for Mattel. They made a lot of cost saving changes for 1972 and 1973. The Goo$e never drove the 'cuda style funny car, but Mattel issued just one casting for the 1973 Mongoo$e and Snake and it was the 'cuda. All cars for '73 got the new enamel paint,  the "Mongoo$e" 'and "Snake" were no different. There were many cost cutting features one piece base, Missing windshield, enamel paint, wrong body for the Gooo$e, missing hood prop, one sticker sheet for both of "Mongoo$e" cars. These changes also affected the "Snake" too.
The '73 "Mongoo$e II" was issued in enamel Red & enamel Blue
Flaming stickers for both cars.
No Special art work for "Mongoo$e vs Snake"
Capped Rear Redlines - Open Axle Style in front
There have been found 1970 "Mongoo$e" cars in 1973 blisterpack. It would seem that were some left over cars that got tossed in the lot.
==Versions==
The Mongoose has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:
Year	Series 	Color 	Stickers 	Base Color 	Window Color 	Interior Color 	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country 	Notes / Variations	Photo
1970	Mainline 	Red 	White w/ the "Goo$e" 	Metal 	blue tint 	black roll cage	Redline 	6410 	 	 	
1971	Mongoose vs Snake 	Dark Blue 	Hot Wheels Logo and 'Mongoose II' on side, Red Flames on top	Unpainted / Metal	Tinted (Blue)	Black 	RL 	5954 	Hong Kong	Named Mongoose II 	
1971	Mongoose vs Snake 	Light Blue 	Hot Wheels Logo and 'Mongoose II' on side, Red Flames on top	Unpainted / Metal	Clear 	Black 	RL 	5954 	USA 	Named Mongoose II 	75px
1973	List of 1973 Hot Wheels	Enamel Red 	Tom McEwen stickers 	Unpainted / Metal	N/A 	Black Roll cage	Wheel type	6969 	Hong Kong	 	75px
1973	List of 1973 Hot Wheels	Enamel Blue	Tom McEwen stickers 	Unpainted / Metal	N/A 	Black Roll cage	Wheel type	6969 	Hong Kong	 	
==Re-cast Versions==
The Mongoose has come out in the following 1/64 scale versions:
Year	Series 	Color / Tampo 	Base Color 	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	Toy #	Country 	Notes / Variations 	Photo
1994	Vintage Series 	Metalflake Copper / Orange 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Black 	RL 	12496	China 	Vintage Series 8 Pack 	
1994	Vintage Series 	Metalflake Red 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Black 	RL 	14072	China 	Funnycar with lifting body
Limited Edition	
1994	Vintage Series 	Metalflake Blue 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Black 	RL 	15320	China 	Funnycar with lifting body	100px
1994	Vintage Series II 	Metalflake Red 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Black 	RL 	10783	China 	Funnycar with lifting body	100px
1994	Vintage Series II 	Metalflake Dk Red 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Black 	RL 	10783	China 	Funnycar with lifting body	
1994	Vintage Series II 	Metalflake Pink 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Black 	RL 	10783	China 	Funnycar with lifting body	
1994	Vintage Series II 	Metalflake Blue 	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Black 	RL 	10783	China 	Funnycar with lifting body	
1997	JCPenny 24K Performance Collection Series 2	Gold plated 	ZAMAC 	Smoke tint 	Black 	Gold RL3 	15930	China 	6,000 produced 	
2005	Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set 	Red / Mongoose Paint Scheme 	Unpainted Metal	Clear 	Red 	RL5SP 	H9604	Malaysia	Kmart Exclusive 	
2012	Hot Wheels Racing: NHRA 	Red / Mongoose race deco on sides, White & Blue stripes with White stars across top	Unpainted/Metal	Clear 	Black 	RRMag 	W8308	Thailand	Base Code(s): D48 	100px
==Similar Castings or Names==
Mongoose Rail Dragster 
==Rivalry the "Mongoo$e" vs the "Snake"==
Snake (1970) 
==Gallery==
35 Years of Speed Randy Leffingwell Mongoose.JPG|Brass Painted Prototype (Randy Leffingwell)
Wheels Wings 71 catalog (6) - Copy.jpg|Yellow Prototype in a Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set Ad
70 Plymouth Duster Mongoose Prototype 2.jpg|Prototype? from unknown Baggie Promo. Has White Line wheels.
70 Plymouth Duster Mongoose Prototype 1.jpg
Mongoose legends 1-24 scale body up.JPG|the"Goo$e"
IMG 9416.JPG
TRMongoose.jpg
Mongoose 1.jpg|Mongoose caught in the UK in 2020
Mongoose 2.jpg|Still looking good 50 years on!
Data.png.webp|Mongoose Vs. Snake Team Transport Edition.
1970 Club magazine sNaKe mong00$e p-0 Cover.jpg|1970 Hot Wheels Fan Club magazine
Mongoo$e_II_1971.jpg|Mongoose II in package
100_5368.jpg
Mongoose II Funny Car CIPSA.jpg|Mongoose II Made in Mexico by CIPSA
JCPenny 24K Performance Collection II 1997 Malaysia 15930.jpg|JCPenny 24K Performance Collection Series 2 1997
JCPenny 24K Performance Collection II 1997 Malaysia 15930 Mongoose Loose Base.jpg|JCPenny 24K Performance Collection Series 2 Mongoose Base 1997
==External Links== 
*Mongoose & Snake Drag Race Set: PLYMOUTH DUSTER FUNNY CAR
Category:Larry Wood Designs
Category:1970 Hot Wheels
Category:Unlicensed Hot Wheels
Category:Racing Vehicles
Category:Vehicles with Movable Parts
Category:Hall of Fame
Category:Funny Cars
Category:Plymouth Cars
Category:Dusters
Category:1970s
Category:Dragsters
Category:1:64
Category:1971 Hot Wheels
Category:Larry Wood Designs
Category:Plymouth Cars
Category:Licensed Hot Wheels
Category:American Cars
Category:Racing Vehicles
Category:Vehicles with Movable Parts
Category:Funny Cars
Category:Dusters
Category:1970s
Category:1:64
Category:1973 Hot Wheels
Category:Racing Vehicles
Category:Funny Cars
Category:Plymouth Cars
Category:American Cars
Category:Licensed Hot Wheels
Category:Barracudas
Category:Dusters
Category:1970s
Category:Dragsters
Category:Discontinued Vehicles
Category:NHRA