As proof how much of an impact import culture was ala The Fast and the Furious, this yellow 2001 Honda Civic Happy Meal Toy is exhibit A.
There’s no better indicator that a subgenre of pop culture, in this case, the early 2000’s Import Scene , aided by “The Fast and the Furious” had reached its peak then when McDonalds decides to include a toy from that subculture in millions of Happy Meals across the country. Such was the case with this 2001 Honda Civic decked out in a full replica Wings West aero kit and Honda graphics as part of a full set of Happy Meals toys.
Check out this commercial from 2001 showing this particular set of Hot Wheels below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdWzu8qmdBA
This Honda Civic wasn’t the only import in this set, there was also a Mitsubishi Eclipse. In addition too those two was a pair of monster trucks, a lowered F-150, two open-wheel cars, and a hot rod, the proverbial car mix for every kid.
What’s really interesting is, when I call this Honda Civic a model-year 2001, I really don’t know what year it is. Unironically enough, this car is either a 2001-2005 Honda Civic with a 99-00 front end or a 99-00 Honda Civic with a 2001-2005 rear end. The latter seems more likely given the likelihood of front end swaps from a different era, popular during the time, although newer front ends on older chassis were most common.
Here’s what the rear of a Wings West kit for 99-00 Honda Civic looks like below.
Noteworthy are those large vinyl graphics too, quite popular and super common of the time. Only an import car from the early ’00s would proudly proclaim what make this particular four-cylinder is.
I find this tiny toy very interesting and but a snapshot of car culture, even for kids, of the time. It was just the beginning of a resurgence of import culture in the United States and throughout the world.
Did you ever get one of these small Happy Meal toys, particularly this Honda Civic, as a kid? Let me know in the comments below
