458 ITALIA | from "Foundation" to "Elite"

The 458 ITALIA was officially unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show on 15 September 2009. 

Hot Wheels 1/18th base model

Its innovative aerodynamics and the shape made it instantly a “desired” one. The tuners get it and pimped it up but not in an exaggerate manner, but just the necessary for having in our rear view mirror a real beast.

The scale models producers doesn’t wait long and they make it at all known scales. In big scale HotWheels produces the most affordable model at 1/18^th scale. Ther are some finishing variants on three detailing levels: Foundation, Elite and Super-Elite. I had the chance to “grab” one Foundation for less then 17€, 2^nd hand, surely.

I decided to turn it in an Elite. 

So, the modifications I made, principally are:

·         black roof paint & California blue body

·         flocking in interior

·         seat belt in light blue fabric

·         details of the dashboard and steering wheel (aluminum & black leather finish)

·         wiring and piping in engine compartment

·         detailed brakes (ceramic painted brke discs, calipers and hub)

·         smoked tail lights

·         flocking front luggage compartment

·         detailed front lights

·         lowered suspension

·         badgeless

·         black engine bay hood

There are a lot of others little details I will not enumerate but which has their touch at the general look of the car.