As you know, the Proton Saga, introduced in 1985, was Malaysia’s first mass-produced car to be built and sold by a Malaysian company. Based on the second-gen Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore, the Saga – the name was both an acronym for “Safety, Achievement, Greatness, and Ability” and also referenced the Malay word for the tough seed of the Saga tree that looks like a ladybug, at least to me – was a huge success, and was largely responsible for launching the modern Malaysian automotive industry.
These first generation of Sagas came with 1.3 or 1.5-liter Mitsubishi Orion four-bangers, and in 1990 they launched an advanced-for-the-era three-valves-per-cylinder option called the Megavalve. And soon, finally, you can carry one in your pocket with the blessing of Hot Wheels. The reason Mattel, the parent company of the Hot Wheels brand, is making a version of the Saga is because it’s the company’s 40th anniversary of making Hot Wheels at the Perai, Penang plant called Mattel Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MMSB). The plant makes nine million Hot Wheels every week, and is the world’s sole producer of Hot Wheels single packs. You almost definitely have some of this plant’s products in your house right now, probably within arms’ reach, if I know our audience. Let’s check out a video of this massive car factory:
Mattel is increasing production by 20% this coming year, and if you ask me the least they can do is make some of those cars their Malaysian factory is cranking out be the Car of Malaysia, the Proton Saga. It’s about time, Mattel. Jeez. (Photos of event from Piston Automotive News & Reviews Facebook Page, and thanks to Carlos Ferreira for the tip! Here’s hoping they let you back in Target!] Please tell me you’re not a stalker. I deal with stalkers quite a bit, and you’ve just described the perfect behavior of a stalker. I deal withy these guys all the time, and it’s off the chain. And it gets dangerous. Several years ago I had to deal with a stalker who wanted to kill me – no joke. I wond up getting him kicked out of stores in Montgomery and Demopolis, AL and he’s also been banned in Tuscaloosa and entire Birmingham metro area. And the scalpers in Mississippi have already threatened to finish him off if he ever crosses the state line. If you think Hot Wheels scalpers are monsters, watch out for the Barbie and Star Wars folks. Yes, it’s that serious and dangerous.
