13 replies to this topic

[Dusty_Dog_01]

Hi, I just recently started collecting a few of the vintage Strombecker slot cars from the late '60s and am in need of some sincere help in replacing the old motors and finding new tires that can get these cars up and running like new again! Is there anyone out there that can please help me out and point me in the right direction? Thank you very much and God bless!

V/R,
Jason

[TSR]

Hi, Jason,

What scale are your Strombies, 1/24 or 1/32 scale?

[idare2bdul]

Are you planning on running these on hometracks or on wood tracks? Electric Dreams, Professor Motor and Ebay are good sources once you define your racing goals.

[TSR]

Hi Jason,
Depending on the type of cars, the motors and tires vary greatly. Could you post 3/4 top pictures of the actual cars with the bodies off please?
Regards,

[slowjim]

If you're talking early-to-mid '60s cars, the older ones had a Pittman-style motor, and later ones had a can-type motor with a longish drive shaft. If I remember right, there are replacement tires available, maybe Ortmann or Indy Grips. I recently aquired a complete set (the same as the one that ruined my life in 1962), that had everything but the clear parts for the Ferrari and D-Jag. Would love to come across those pieces and re-live my slot-car wasted youth.

slowjim

[don.siegel]

Jim,

Probably about 20 of these cars come up every day on eBay, and some still have their clear parts . . . one of the easiest slot cars to find!

Go for it!
Don

[Prof. Fate]

Hi,

Actually, the Strombeckers evolved this way:
Early 1/24 add-ons for rail or slot conversion for their shelf models (included a "round the pole" kit, and free-running kit).

1/30 scale ca. '61/2 front-motored 15r Mabuchi with drive shaft.
1/30 scale rear-motored 15r, ca. '62/3.
1/30 scale rear-motored with open frame motor, '63.
the '65 1/32 scale line didn't share anything with the earlier group.

Fate

[don.siegel]

You missed one or two missing links, Rocky! And this was something I had never heard about at the timet, but they have surfaced since then.

The earliest 1/30 Strombecker cars had the little Kako 3-volt motor mounted in the front, with a long shaft!

They also seem to have released a 1/24 set in '59 or so, with two of their 1/24 kits, plus the front slot conversion kits all included . . . I actually won one of these on eBay a few years ago, and the guy never sent it!

PS: a French friend just asked for hop-up tips on the Strombecker cars with the black plastic chassis and open frame motor - any hints? I suggested increasing brush pressure, cleaning the comm, and trying to remagnetize, but any other hints would be welcome!

[TSR]

The earliest 1/30 Strombecker cars had the little Kako 3-volt motor mounted in the front, with a long shaft!

X-mas 1958 . . . a set with a TR250 and D-Type. Transluscent white chassis with notches to clear the magnets . . .

but any other hints would be welcome!

Ortmann tires. Nothing else will be needed.

[Prof. Fate]

Hi,

I didnt mention the race sets because I didn't know we were talking sets!

I was just trying to correct the chronology in a previous post. I haven't done any research, just remembering the bits in order when I saw them.

I didn't mention the 3 volt stuff because the original object of those was the RTP system.

Hop-ups?

In the midwest, the plan was to drill holes throug the sides and hang a brass pan UNDER the car. Ortmans wern't available back then, but we were casting our own silicones.

How 'period' does he want it?

Fate

[Pechuga_VLC]

1:32 all the motors of Strombecker slot cars.

1960 6V red long shaft ( only motorkit´60 )
1960 3,5V Kako long shaft ( only Jag D sets´60 )
1961-62 12V grey Mabuchi 15R long shaft ( all the slot cars 1961 and 1º´62... only 1º units in red )
1962-1964 12V grey Mabuchi 15R
1964-1965 12V ( specific Midget Racer )
1964-1970 12V Strombecker open ( 2 versions )
1964-1965 12V Strombecker Scuttler ( many versions, normally 1º competition motorkit )
1966-1967 12V Strombecker blue-bell TC-32 ( Inicially 2º competition motorkit, but later RTR too )
1967 12 V Strombecker red-bell Hemi-300 ( initially was sold loose, later only 2 semi-RTR models )
1968-80´s 12V green Wasp
1969 6V


I,m nor 1:24 collector but Known some motors too.

end 50´s-1963 3,5 Kako long shaft
1962-64 12V grey Mabuchi 15R
?
1966-67 Strombecker TC-24
1967 Strombecker Hemi-400


hopefully this will help you
If you are interested much we may find out the 2 or 3 engines at 1:24

[Pechuga_VLC]

X-mas 1958 . . . a set with a TR250 and D-Type. Transluscent white chassis with notches to clear the magnets . . .


Ortmann tires. Nothing else will be needed.

If I allow two corrections, Phillip:

the ferrari was novelty in late spring and early summer of 1961, and that's correct, accompanied the Jaguar D (second amendment of print). Just a year after Ferrari and Jaguar suffered a further correction of mold, giving place to second and third variant of body accordingly.


Second correction: white nylon chassis were just the first of Strombecker 1:32, but this happened in 1960, never mounted the Ferrari factory which does not mean that you can mount. If it came to mount only a Jaguar D, from motorkit, but the version the first version of bodywork, 1960.
Also say that other versions of Jaguar (2nd and 3rd not brought him home in his factory which does not mean that it can not mount.


Dusty : Almost all cars and parts Strombecker are very common and are mass produced in large quantities.
The shapes of the cars racing for home and their parts are especially easy and economical to get into e-pay.

[Prof. Fate]

Hi

I didn't see 1/32s until I came back from the Philippines in 63, and they were 1/30!

I had a reasonble collection of the 1/24s, though. I didn't know that the agreed term for the cheap japanese motor was "Kako", though. I assume this is the small motor with separate magnets on each side sticking out of the can.

If so, in 1/24, in the late 50s, there were kits to build up running cars using these models. One was for "round the pole" and another was for using a rail. the rail aslo came as a kit, one version i saw was plastic and you had to either use the battery box internally, or two contacts around the rail, or go to a conventional euro shoe with a steel rail. I did the last. But the motors were short shafts, and I think I still have a couple. I think. The issue is that there was a junk store near my house that had bins of them for 10cents each. Oh, and there was a conversion set for the wheel/slot contact that Scaley was using then for their tin plates. Have one of those.

I aquired the last while looking for new 1/24 Mercedes F1 body, and the one I bought on Ebay had the Wheel/slot conversion.

Like Alan's cars in another thread, I went to pin guides pretty early. It was too easy to "trip" over the rail, pins were easy, the slot was difficult.

Oh, and pittmans!

Fate

[TSR]

Hi Pechuga,
You might have your dates correct for South America but not for the USA. You will find the whole story in the new book when published.