by Ed Fortune

Cult classic comedy The Blues Brothers has two things that make it very memorable; some amazing songs and the many, many, very silly car chases. The type of car that sees the most use is the Dodge Monaco. It’s the car used by both the Blues Brothers and the police, or as Elwood puts it, “It’s got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it’s got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks.”

To celebrate the movie, Scalextric has released not one but two versions of this car; one is decorated as a regular Chicago Police Department vehicle, and the other is the Blues Mobile, complete with an enormous megaphone strapped to the roof of the car, with Jake and Elwood trying to pay attention to the road.

In practical terms, these cars are identical – they’re 1:32 scale cars with easy-to-change blades, compatibility with any modern digital gubbins you care to add to your track, they are fairly tough, have working lights, four-wheel drive and come in a nice clear box for displaying it on a shelf when you’re not zooming them around your custom track. However, the devil is in the details.

Both of these cars are highly detailed models but very different in style. For a start, the Bluesmobile’s megaphone means you may want to adjust the bridges on your track. It’s also weathered and has this charming lived-in look. 

The cop car is clean in comparison, and the two folks in the driver and passenger seat look a lot less shifty than Jake and Elwood. Racing the two cars together is recommended – not only do they make for a fun and fair race, but you’ll also find yourself quoting the classic movie as you do so.

This is a great gift for anyone who loves the movie, and it’s suitable for Christmas, Birthdays, Father’s Day and so on.