Maelstrom

==Description==
The origins of the Maelstrom started in 2001 when Hot Wheels Director Of Design Nathan Proch, gave Fraser Campbell a design brief to create the ultimate vehicle for the European Hot Wheels market. Hailing from the United Kingdom himself, this was Fraser's first vehicle attempt for the Hot Wheels basic line. His first idea was to have the engines up front and the cockpit over the rear wheels. There was a concern however that it beared too much resemblance to the existing Twin Mill and Twin Mill II castings, so a change was needed. Back at the drawing board and wanting to keep the elements of "big engines, big power, and big attitude", Fraser continued to toss the layout of his design around. Eventually, his final forward cockpit and mid-engined design made it into production as 2001 First Edition car called the Maelstrom. The Maelstrom has been said by some to resemble the Hairy Hauler or the Vulture. It also tends to bear some similarities to the Vector M12.
It is playable in Hot Wheels: Burnin' Rubber, Velocity X and Unleashed 2.
==Versions==
The Maelstrom has been released in the following 1/64 scale versions:
Col # 	Year	Series 	Color 	Tampo 	Base Color/Type 	Window Color 	Interior Color	Wheel Type 	Toy #	Country 	Notes 	Photo
024 	2001	2001 First Editions12/36 	Dark Blue 	Grey Flames 	Chrome/Plastic 	Tinted 	Chrome 	3SP 	28754	Malaysia 	Playable in Hot Wheels Burnin' Rubber and Velocity X	
233 	2001	Mainline 	Neon Yellow 	Orange Flames 	Black/Plastic 	Black 	Chrome 	5DOT 	53762	Malaysia 	 	
 	2002	Crash Curve 	White 	Grey Flames 	Chrome/Plastic 	Tinted 	Chrome 	3SP 	69554	Malaysia 	 	
 	2002	Metro City Police 	Red 	Grey Flames 	Chrome/Plastic 	Tinted 	Chrome 	3SP 	89090	Malaysia 	 	
 	2002	Pavement Pounders 	Black 	Grey Flames 	Chrome/Plastic 	Tinted 	Chrome 	3SP 	89043	Malaysia 	Came with Tilt Cab 	
 	2002	Power Launcher 	Yellow 	Black Flames on Front, Black Lines on Sides, Silver HW Logo only on Right Side 	Black/Plastic 	Tinted 	Chrome 	PR5 	47378	Malaysia 	 	
221 	2002	Mainline 	Silver 	Octopus design 	Red Chrome/Plastic	Red 	Red Chrome 	PR5 	54436	Thailand 	 	
 	2002	Hot Wheels Originals 	Black & Chrome 	Red, Blue Stripes 	Black/Plastic 	Tinted 	Chrome 	PC5 	56026	Malaysia 	Target Exclusive 	
 	2002	Toy Fair 	Red, White, Blue 	Stars, Flame Outline, "Toy Fair 2002" 	Chrome/Plastic 	Light Blue 	Chrome 	PR5 	 	Malaysia 	2500 producedPalm Desert Toy Fair Exclusive 	
 	2002	Octoblast 5-Pack 	Silver 	Octopus design 	Red Chrome/Plastic	Red 	Red Chrome 	PR5 	54435	Thailand 	 	
 	2003	Cop Squad 5-Pack 	Red-Orange 	Bomb Squad designs 	Black/Plastic 	Tinted 	Chrome 	SB 	57042	China,Thailand	 	
 	2003	Cop Squad 5-Pack 	Red-Orange 	Bomb Squad designs 	Black/Plastic 	Tinted 	Chrome 	PR5 	57042	China,Thailand	 	
 	2003	Cop Squad 5-Pack 	Red-Orange 	Bomb Squad designs 	Black/Plastic 	Tinted 	Chrome 	5SP 	57042	China,Thailand	 	
 	2004	Mutant Biotronic Kingdom Set	Purple 	Mantis design 	Black/Plastic 	Orange 	Chrome 	PR5 	C4560	Thailand 	 	
 	2004	Zero-G 5-Pack 	Metalflake Light Blue	Circuit Board designs 	Black/Plastic 	Light Blue 	Chrome 	PR5 	B3589	China 	 	
149 	2005	Mainline 	Black 	Red Flames 	Red/Plastic 	Red 	Chrome 	5SP 	H9057	Thailand 	 	
149 	2005	Mainline 	Black 	Red Flames 	Red/Plastic 	Red 	Chrome 	PR5 	H9057	Thailand 	 	
149 	2005	Mainline 	Black 	Red Flames 	Red/Plastic 	Red 	Chrome 	PR5 	H9057	Malaysia 	 	
 	2005	2X Power Launcher 	Blue 	HW Logo & Flames 	Black/Plastic 	Light Orange 	Gold 	PR5 	H6996	China 	 	
 	2005	Toys 'R Us Track Set 	Flat Neon Yellow 	Flames 	Chrome/Plastic 	Tinted 	Silver 	PR5 	H7047	China 	VHTF Short Run 	
 	2006	Crazy Croc 5-Pack 	Teal 	Swamp Rocket designs 	Black/Plastic 	Green 	Chrome 	5SP 	J3294	China 	 	
 	2006	Crazy Croc 5-Pack 	Teal 	Swamp Rocket designs 	Black/Plastic 	Green 	Chrome 	OH5 	J3294	China 	 	
 	2006	X-Pandables: Pizza Palace 	Teal 	Swamp Rocket designs 	Black/Plastic 	Green 	Chrome 	5SP 	J2549	China 	 	
 	2007	Quickshot Launcher 	Silver 	Flame designs, "06" 	Red Chrome/Plastic	Red 	Chrome 	3SP 	J2560	China 	 	
094/196	2008	Web Trading Cars18/24 	Red 	Orange, Yellow & Blue designs 	Black/Plastic 	Blue 	Silver 	PR5 	M6996	Malaysia 	Base code(s): 	
094/196	2008	Web Trading Cars18/24 	Purple 	Orange, Yellow & Green designs 	Black/Plastic 	Green 	Silver 	PR5 	M6996	Malaysia 	Base code(s): A33, A42 	
 	2008	Crash Curve 	Flat Light Blue 	Brighter Circuit Board designs 	Black/Plastic 	Light Blue 	Chrome 	PR5 	H6291	Thailand 	Base code(s): 	
 	2008	G-Force 	Darker Teal 	Swamp Rocket designs 	Black/Plastic 	Green 	Chrome 	5SP 	M1018	Thailand 	Base code(s): 	
 	2008	Black Friday 10-Pack 	Dark Blue 	HW Logo & Flames 	Black/Plastic 	Orange 	Gold 	PR5 	N8256	Thailand 	Wal-Mart ExclusivesBase code(s): 	
 	2012	Multipack Exclusive 	Gray 	Orange, Yellow & Blue designs 	Blue/Plastic 	Light Blue 	Gold 	PR5 	54886	Malaysia 	Base code(s): 	
 	2012	Multipack Exclusive 	White 	Red, Teal& Blue designs 	Blue/Plastic 	Red 	Gold 	PR5 	54886	Malaysia 	New Base Text StyleBase code(s): 	
 	2013	Mystery Models12/12 	Orange 	Orange, Teal & Blue designs 	Blue/Plastic 	Light Blue 	Gold 	PR5 	Y8135	Malaysia 	Base code(s): 	
 	2014	High Speed Racing Wheels9/25	Metalflake Maroon 	Black, Blue, Red, & White stripes & tampos on top and sides, "51" on hood and sides, White skull on rear wheels	Tinted/Plastic 	Dark Blue 	Chrome 	Red & Blue HSRW 	BDW30	Malaysia 	Base code(s): F51 	
 	2015	Track Aces 5-Pack 	Dark Blue 	White & Blue designs 	Yellow/Plastic 	Clear 	Chrome 	PR5 	CDT20	Thailand 	Base code(s): 	
 	2016	Special Edition4/4 	Lime Green 	White & blue Stripes, 68 on side 	White/Plastic 	Clear 	Chrome 	PR5 	DLH90	Thailand 	Kroger ExclusiveBase code(s): 	75px
 	2016	Mystery Models11/12 	Green 	White & blue Stripes, 68 on side 	White/Plastic 	Clear 	Chrome 	PR5 	 	Malaysia 	Canada ExclusiveBase code(s): 	
 	2017	HW Easter6/6 	Green 	Dark purple, yellow & white stripes on sides, 'Easter' '2017' on sides. 	Yellow/Plastic 	Tinted (Pink)	Chrome 	purple & yellow OH5	DWC04	Thailand 	Base code(s): J49 	
==2008 card==
From the back of the 2008 card:
Born: 2001
Birthplace: El Segundo, CA, USA
Designer: Hot Wheels®
Specialty: With twin engines, top and side exhausts, and a mid-body scoop, this car was made to attack from all sides.
==Video Game Appearances==
*Hot Wheels: Burnin' Rubber
*Hot Wheels: Velocity X
*Hot Wheels: World Race (video game) (Replaced the '57 Thunderbird from the movie)
*Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
==See Also==
*Maelstrom (Atomix)
*Maelstrom (Speed Demons)
==Gallery==
ZAMAC Maelstrom.jpg|ZAMAC Body Prototype
Paint Test Maelstrom.jpg|Unspun Paint Test
Originals Signed Maelstrom.jpg|Hot Wheels Originals Maelstrom
Toy Fair Maelstrom Set.jpg|Palm Desert Toy Fair Set
15..JPG|Maelstrom 2001 First Editions
MAELSTROM BRB.JPG|Maelstrom as a playable car in Hot Wheels Burnin' Rubber
Maelstrom VX.JPG|Maelstrom as a playable car in the PS2, GCN and PC version of Hot Wheels Velocity X
MAELSTROM VXG.JPG|Maelstrom as a playable car in the GBA version of Hot Wheels Velocity X
Copy of 32Maelstrom.jpg|Maelstrom as a playable car in Hot Wheels: World Race (video game)
32-Scorchers-Maelstrom.png
X423-1,50-0,95.jpg|Maelstrom 2001 mainline
File:Maelstrom 2004 24.jpg|2004 Maelstrom front by 24/Drawing
Maelstrom 2004 2 24.jpg|2004 Maelstrom back by 24/Drawing
Large 164057 AS bm0YCR9uNO1N gvX9dEItV.jpg|Velocity X 3D model
Pavement Pounder 89043 Car.jpg|Maelstrom front view
Maelstrom 2002 Pavement Pounders 89043.jpg|Maelstrom rear view
Maelstrom wheel error 20220127 160938.jpg|Wheel size error (left)
Maelstrom™-866dc63a1ac500737cd3.webp|Maelstrom in Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
2003 Maelstrom.jpg
2014 Track Stars.JPG
HSRWMaelstromflip.jpg|Transparent base featured on the High Speed Racing Wheels Series verison. 
==External Links==
Hot Wheels Originals: MAELSTROM
Scavenger Hunt Special Edition: MAELSTROM
Category:Unlicensed Hot Wheels
Category:Hot Wheels Original Designs
Category:Fraser Campbell Designs
Category:2001 Hot Wheels
Category:2001 First Editions
Category:Toy Fair Hot Wheels
Category:Track Set Car
Category:Mystery Models
Category:2002 Hot Wheels
Category:2003 Hot Wheels
Category:2004 Hot Wheels
Category:2005 Hot Wheels
Category:2006 Hot Wheels
Category:2007 Hot Wheels
Category:2008 Hot Wheels
Category:2011 Hot Wheels
Category:2012 Hot Wheels
Category:2013 Hot Wheels
Category:2014 Hot Wheels
Category:2015 Hot Wheels
Category:2016 Hot Wheels
Category:2017 Hot Wheels
Category:Web Trading Cars
Category:Vehicles with Multiple Engines
Category:Mid-Engine Cars
Category:1:64
Category:Multipack Exclusive
Category:Discontinued Vehicles
Category:Kroger Exclusive
Category:Toy Fair