15 replies to this topic

[Mark Onofri]

I've pondered many times wether or not to restore a car/ motor. I dawned on me that a grading system is necessary. Granted, it's a far fetched idea. I've established a basic criteria for this, it's not set in stone. Please,by all means, contribute.
1) rarity
2) availability
3) completeness
Like I said, contribute.
Bear in mind,
1) it's only original once
2) is this the way it came
3) will it effect the provenance .
Ready
Set
Go

[Roy Lievanos]

I use use the term “ Survivor “

[Bill Breck]

I've pondered many times wether or not to restore a car/ motor. I dawned on me that a grading system is necessary. Granted, it's a far fetched idea. I've established a basic criteria for this, it's not set in stone. Please,by all means, contribute.
1) rarity
2) availability
3) completeness
Like I said, contribute.
Bear in mind,
1) it's only original once
2) is this the way it came
3) will it effect the provenance .
Ready
Set
Go

 

Maybe CGC will start grading slot cars and parts one of these days?    

 

https://www.cgccomic...ding/about-cgc/

[Mark Onofri]

Your on the right track. But,we should do it as a group. WTF do they know about slot cars?🧐

[Martin]

Not sure if this has any bearing on your grading question Mark?  But a big factor for me is how a certain model and project makes me feel. 

So that could be as simple as.......

I had one as a boy, or, I saw one and always wanted one as a boy.

 

Then there is the history and research of the real 1/1 car the model is meant to replicate, its design, its place in automotive history etc..

Same holds true for the popular 60s slot cars. In the form of, was it the first of its kind, a great design or even the best selling at the time, was there a unique feature of this model, mag chassis, moving wings etc. or you just like the way it looks and makes you feel.

 

I can pinpoint my passion for all things Dynamic for example....

There was a moment in time as a 13 year old when I graduated from a hard body kit car (Revell 250) to a soft body Ferrari 330 P3 kit, and recognized  the meaning of Center Of Gravity and its effects on handling. It was like discovering the another dimension.

 

All these thoughts and emotions affects the way I approach a restoration project. Don't care about resale. Do care about the history of our hobbie and the folks with similar interests I have become friends with while sharing these projects whether when finished, end up on track and/or in the display case. 

 

I realized after writing this a grading system is going to be very much influenced by our personal experience with the hobby.

I only restore 1/24 scale cars from 64 to 70ish. Not interested in HO or 1/32nd as I never had them as a kid they have no emotional value to me.

In 1967 I walked straight into a commercial raceway with a big American track. That was my happy place 

Sorry for the ramble     

[Jaeger Team]

(quote)
"So that could be as simple as.......

I had one as a boy, or, I saw one and always wanted one as a boy"

...I also want to make it a race car using the skills and knowledge of an OLD boy using spare parts available at the time...

[breese]

I've pondered many times wether or not to restore a car/ motor. I dawned on me that a grading system is necessary. Granted, it's a far fetched idea. I've established a basic criteria for this, it's not set in stone. Please,by all means, contribute.
1) rarity
2) availability
3) completeness
4) In the box never run

[Bill Breck]

Your on the right track. But,we should do it as a group. WTF do they know about slot cars?

 

I mentioned CGC as a joke, but they do grade "pop culture collectibles" so it's not really too far fetched that they would grade slot cars if they felt they could make a buck doing it. 

 

You might also want to add "apparent condition" and "degree of restoration" to your grading system list. Of course both of those terms are subjective, so you would need to establish grading and restoration criteria, and a rating scale. Seems like a lot of work for something that probably isn't relevant to most slot car racers.

[Mark Onofri]

It's just that I don't want to f*** something up that is hard to get or rare. It could happen.
Your very,very close on:
"Degree of restoration"
In fact, you nailed it. Knowing when to say when or, setting a limit,is a very difficult thing for me. Probably spend more time thinking about it than doing it.

[Dave Crevie]

It's just that I don't want to f*** something up that is hard to get or rare. It could happen.
Your very,very close on:
"Degree of restoration"
In fact, you nailed it. Knowing when to say when or, setting a limit,is a very difficult thing for me. Probably spend more time thinking about it than doing it.

 

Once the thing is yours, it is for you to decide what to do with it. Unless there is a law that states it must be left in it's historical state, such as landmark buildings, you can preserve it or restore it to it's new condition. This argument has been going on in collector car circles as long as I can remember. Every ding and scratch has a history. Removing them also removes the history. On the other hand, some cars have simply been abused. Removing that damage is a mercy. 

 

To ease your mind, remember that these are "objets d'amor". And different people see them differently. It never hurts to get some opinions.  

[Bill Breck]

 

Once the thing is yours, it is for you to decide what to do with it. 

 

This is exactly my opinion. Any vintage cars or parts that I buy are going to be used and enjoyed for what they are. I understand that some of them may have a collectible value but that's not why I'm buying them.

 

Mark, Are you a slot car collector, or do you have plans to re-sell any of the items you buy? I ask this because it changes everything, especially in regard to restoration.

[Bill Breck]

It's just that I don't want to f*** something up that is hard to get or rare. It could happen.
Your very,very close on:
"Degree of restoration"
In fact, you nailed it. Knowing when to say when or, setting a limit,is a very difficult thing for me. Probably spend more time thinking about it than doing it.

 

If you're that concerned about screwing up something that's rare or hard to find, you should probably sell it or give it away and let someone else decide what to do with it. You aren't a conservator or preservationist (as far as I know) so yeah you are overthinking it (IMO).

[Mark Onofri]

Ok, I'm not going to argue with any of that.
But, it's supposed to be about how to grade these cars in a way we can all agree on.

[pn6]

I think grading the cars as a full restoration to factory specs is only where any type of grading could be done. The rest of the cars will have various uses and intents from the owners and maybe are so far from factory that they can't really be graded. I have or have had cars fresh out of the box that could've been submitted for grading (once you set the parameters) but I wanted to be the 12 year old and PLAY with it.

 

Every car I have and have had has been on the track with at least fresh (not original) tires so I could get some laps in with it. Most all of my production cars have been "updated" in a way I would've done it back in the day if I had the skills/equipment back then and after much playing/laps at the track they get sold to finance the next project. Just like a kid I play with it then get rid of it for something else I couldn't have or afford back then!

 

I see what your getting at as far as what to grade and how to determine where on a scale of 1-100 (or?) all of this would fit. Maybe using something derived from Pebble Beach or Amelia Island Concours events could be used as a baseline? I'm sure the info is out there.

[Bill from NH]

I'm not a slot car collector, I was a racer, but we need a grading system why? Just build every project to whatever level makes you comfortable. If you build something for resale, build it with your highest skills. Potential customers will provide the grading. If there is interest in buying what you are selling, give yourself an "A". If no interest, there are 25 other letters in the alphabet. 

[Mark Onofri]

Not sure what to say about your post Billnh. I do understand where you coming from but, the last part kinda isn't what I had in mind.
PN6, thanks for posting. I'm not sure if a pebbles biach* concourse grading is it. I do however think you are on the right track.
What I had in mind is:
1) Rarity
2) originally
3) I forgot what Three is
4) did Billnh race it?
I'm a only a kidding Bill.
I'm good with the first two. Hopefully,if there is a interest, it can expand. As always, it's not written in stone.( Unless TSR sez so) . I didn't think about putting a monetary value on them. We all know that,as soon as we kick the bucket, into the trash they will go. I've talked to TSR and, I'm going to donate my hord to the museum to do with as they please. I've seen toooooo much stuff go to the dump. Usually, I miss by a day.
Thanks all,keep those suggestions coming!!
* Yes, I know