When Matchbox announced they were partnering with Mercedes Benz to make a replica of her legendary Mercedes 220 SE, I was immediately excited, and not just for the diecast. I couldn’t locate one in store but recently my good friend JJ was kind enough to send me a knockout birthday package with this included. I was made up. This is a story that needs to be told, and Ewy Rosqvist is a name that more people need to know.
Born into a farming family in Ystad, Sweden in 1929, Rosqvist learned to drive at an early age. A job as a vetinary assistant meant she would drive long hours on the challenging roads of Southern Sweden. She later recalled her experiences in her book “Fahrt durch die Hölle” (Driving Through Hell):
“The driving which I had to carry out each day amounted to between 150 and 200 kilometres, almost all on unpaved roads, gravel paths and farm roads.”
These testing Scandinavian conditions have helped hone the skills of some of the world’s greatest drivers, and Rosqvist was no exception.
She quickly developed a love for rallying through taking part in events with her father and partner who were both keen drivers, and quickly began competing herself. Trophies followed in due course: in 1959 she won the European Rally Championship Women’s Cup, and also took the 1960 and 1961 win.
Her exploits caught the attention of Mercedes-Benz who were putting together a team to take on the 1962 Touring Car Grand Prix of Argentina, a gruelling 4624km rally across the country. Rosqvist was paired with co-driver Ursula Wirth, forming the only all female line up on the rally.
The conditions were punishing: of 258 cars that started, only 43 made it to the finish, and the race sadly claimed the life of fellow Mercedes driver Hermann Kühne.
Initially the media ridiculed the idea of a female crew merely competing in the event, let alone winning. But Rosqvist and Wirth did just that. Infact they didn’t win, they dominated. They won all 6 stages of the rally, finishing over 3 hours ahead of their nearest competitors and setting a new average speed record in the process. Rosqvist recalled later:
“They said I couldn’t finish. So I finished first.”
A more fitting subject for a diecast it is hard to think of. And when Matchbox bought it to the 1/64 scale world, they decided to work with Mercedes to launch the car in a brilliant way.
This is such a cool campaign with such a powerful message. And the diecast itself… well, it’s brilliant. But it’s here because of what it represents and all of the history that goes with it. And that makes it worth having in your collection.
Instagram: @alex_the_hoarder
I was just thinking about this casting a couple days ago. For me, the top three recent Matchbox would include this release. It’s not perfect. It does, however, make a grand gesture and statement.
Another great article Alex of one of my favourite new Matchbox castings. I’m genuinely surprised you didn’t find any in store though, every Tesco I visit since October 2019 are full of Case A and B which contains this beautiful Mercedes.
I live in the North West of England, it is VERY poorly served diecast wise. Even the shops I have visited in the South are always barren of MBs!
Very frustrating when availability is so patchy. I live in West Yorkshire and never had any complaints regarding Tesco stock issues apart from the lack of new releases of course.
What an incredible lady. Nice Merc and packaging for the acknowledgment of this hero of her time. Mbx done a nice job. Good write up and pictures. Take care.
Thanks man! ☺
I have always said that Mattel knows cars. Anothe example of their knowledge and expertise in the field of automobiles. And they execute these so beautifully.
Matchbox continues to prove that they are far superior to Hot Wheels just a shame that Hot WHeels continue to be stocked everywhere and Matchbox seems to be the poor relation, when they are clearly the KING, this new first release from the Mercedes Licence was a surprise, but a great one, yes it is not the perfect casting, but its the effort that went into it ALL, not just the model, and with all the other Mercs being developed and re-released, Matchbox will remain the best…
Great article Alex. Quite the interesting and inspirational story of the power of the human spirit. This was a rather difficult model to track down, but well worth the effort to get it into the collection.