We at JNC often discuss diecast cars or model kits, but there’s another world of vintage automotive toys that many have fond memories of. In postwar America slot cars were the phenomenon that bridged the gap between toy models and real motorsport. They turned basements and strip-mall tracks into high-speed battlegrounds. And because they arose at the same time road racing series at SCCA and IMSA hit fever pitch, many of the cars mirrored real-world cars like Shelby Cobras and BRE Datsuns. Admittedly this is a bit of a niche topic, but we’re curious.
What was your favorite slot car experience?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What car did you love as a kid but realized was terrible when you got older?”
It probably isn’t the biggest shocker that most of the answers from last week called out cars from the Malaise Era. From Michael Jue‘s Chevy Vega to Rotor Nutcase‘s Ford Maverick, Negishi no Keibajo‘s Camaro to ra21benj‘s Mustang II, these cars probably had a lot to do with why Japanese cars became so popular in the years after.
Eighties cars weren’t spared, either. Ernie was left deflated by the Pontiac Fiero. And despite their fame from TV and movies, cars brkr12002‘s DeLorean or streetspirit‘s third-gen Firebird left jaws undropped.
Even hallowed names like Corvette, the Jaguar E-Type, and the big three pony cars had no punches pulled, according to BlitzPig. And while we’re at it, Jonathan P. tossed the modern Dodge Challenger onto the pyre.
Beloved Japanese cars couldn’t stay out of the crosshairs, either. dankan fired shots at the FD Mazda RX-7, Ian G. cast aspersions on the box-type Mitsubishi Lancer, and Joe Musashi threw considerable shade at the Honda S2000.
Ultimately, the winner this week was Kris, who was underwhelmed by the wedge of tomorrow.
My favorite car as a little kid was a Triumph TR7. It looked like it was from the future and, for a grade-school kid in the 1970s, that was enough. Fast-forward to the 21st century and I learn that the USA version of the TR7 had even less horsepower than my Datsun 1600 roadster from a decade earlier.
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
smell of burning plastic filling the living room
LOL. A huge part of my youth. Every military base in the 60’s had a slot car track. I had a metallic copper flake Chaparral 2E replete with the wing.
The Chaparral race cars were honored as the feature theme and marque at the 2005 Monterey Historic Automobile Races and special guest was Jim Hall, founder of Chapparal Cars. I brought my mint COX 1/24 scale Chapparal 2E and he happily signed the rear flapper wing. During this slot car era, Chaparral race cars were sponsored by COX and prominently displayed on their bodyworks.
These 1/24 Cox Chapparal 2E’s were designed with special Iso Fulcrum Chassis and a working flapper wing during deceleration. And they still look cool today.
Now THAT is so cool!!
I was not blessed with slot cars in my youth, but lots and lots of hotwheels and the likes.
So it might sound weird, but my biggest and also most recent experience with slot cars was when I played Yakuza Zero on PS4. The character is always over-the-top into whatever he is doing on these side activities, so being a grown-ass man intensely whipping some poor kids asses and taking a victorious pose or in tears when falling off track while playing slot cars was both amazing and hilarious.
Building a drag strip by adding all the straight track together that the me and some friends had; multiple power packs and a cushion at the end to take the final impact. My Revel 1965 Stingray did well … probably as it was heavy and more stable
Domo arigato … thank you for selecting my comment but alas no shag pile carpet or rugs at this point in my life but non the less an appropriate vision … how do I get the set of decals, being in the UK I can safely say I can’t just pop into your offices to collect and postal charges could be prohibitive … maybe I just take comfort from knowing that I was THAT winner
My family had an old Tyco slot car set. Later got we got the Tyco Cliff Hanger set with the track that goes up/down the wall. Tyco slot cars worked better in the TV commercials. When you run it, the cars get stuck or slow down at the joints between the tracks. Still a lot of fun since you have to let off the throttle in the turns or the car spins/runs off track.
I don’t remember what set I had as a kid.. It must’ve been one of those cheaper sets.
What was the problem with those? The little copper ribbons on the bottom of the cars never making contact with the track and the 9V battery always running out. Oh, and one of the tracks never making contact with the rest correctly. Those were plenty fun.
My first slot car was a Cox Chaparral. I asked for it as a Christmas gift after seeing the Chaparral win at Laguna Seca in May of 1965. I was so stoked by the performance and especially the shape of the car. I was so inspired that I drew a bunch of sketches of Chaparrals and sent a letter to Jim Hall. He answered with a letter a brochure which I still have today.
The Chaparral shape was one of my main inspirations to become a car designer. To this day I collect vintage slot cars , especially Chaparrals which I am constantly building.
How could anyone NOT pick the Ed Sullivan Show?
The Show featured a special staged slot car race on November 15, 1970 (Season 24, Episode 9), highlighting the era’s massive slot car racing craze. Oscar Koveleski of AutoWorld fame was the instigator and organizer of the event.
Race Details
The Drivers: Legendary Formula One and Grand Prix racing aces—including Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Dan Gurney, and Graham Hill—traded their real race cars for tiny, fist-sized scale models.
The Event: Sponsored/associated with Aurora Model Motoring (the $50,000 Model Motoring Invitational), it brought mainstream national television attention to the hobby during its peak 1960s and 70s heyday.
Have you got any idea of the “reach” of that show back in the day?