55 replies to this topic

[Gary Bluestone]

I put this up before with a Champion Lotus, to try to get it identified, but I think it was not seen much.

Some thought it was scratchbuilt but now that a second exact copy has been found, it is probably a production item. The blob of solder on the drop arm is for a down stop, as seen on the second copy. It is similar to the Sandy Gross chassis shown on Slotblog but not exactly. I'm guessing 1968?

I stripped it down so it wouldn't show the threaded axles and wheels and wrong motor so I'm assuming plain axles. Can anyone ID this one? The tubes are too big for pin mounts; does this mean screws were used? Any suggestions for bodies, motor, wheels, guide?

[endbelldrive]

What kind of bracket is that? That's really well constructed for a production chassis although it looks like the drop arm stop fell off. Might be interesting to float undersize pin tubing in the body mounts.

Cox quick change guide, Marklin lead wire. Wheels? Riggen, early Associated or Champion 7/8" X 5/8" rears and 3/4" X 3/16" taper ground fronts...and NO spacers on the front axle...there is supposed to be 1/8" side to side slop. Short nose Lola T70, Lotus 40, Russkit Elfin...

[Edwardo]

That's definitely a production chassis as I have the same chassis except mine is the open wheel version.

[Pablo]

That's a sweet chassis and deserves good parts. I say the flag needs to be a Jet Flag.

Is the motor bracket for a 26D or a 36D?

[Bill from NH]

That's definitely a production chassis as I have the same chassis except mine is the open wheel version.

Eddie, can you post a photo of your open wheel chassis? I'd like to see how it compares to the Lancer open wheel chassis I've seen in the past. I think I still have paper photos of one of those.

Pablo, I think that's a 16D bracket. Gary, didn't I see a Trinity Midnite motor in that chassis before?

[Edwardo]

I've seen several chassis just like mine on eBay over the years, but I don't have a clue who made them.

[MSwiss]

PDL will/should know.

They look sort of familiar. I vaguely remember the ad where both were pictured.

Wild stab: early Cobra, Phaze III, or Ferret.

[Bill from NH]

The first one I saw was Mark Manion's from "Mark's Room" at Rohnert Park about six or eight years ago. At that time, PdL said it was a Lancer chassis. I've seen at least one other of these on eBay.

Thanks for the photos, Eddie.

[stevefzr]

Mine's identical to Gary's except it has pin tube inside the thicker tube. Not sure if that's original or not.

Can anyone tell me what the motor is in mine? It has a drill balanced motor. Doesn't look like Mura balancing.





Regards,

Steve C

[Hworth08]

The instructions that came with a Champion of Chamblee building jig shows using 3/32" tube on their narrow Gran Prix frame and placing 1/16" tubing inside.

Then the same frame can be converted to a sports or stock car (wheelbase) by building a pair of wide mounts from 1/16" tubing placed inside the 3/32" and held in place with a rubber band that's placed over hooks welded to the mounts.

The frame shown isn't intended for that though.

[Edwardo]

This is a car that sold on eBay a few years ago, and as you can see, it also has pin tubing inside the larger tubing, so I'd say it's probably a factory feature.

[Jairus]

Can anyone tell me what the motor is in mine? It has a drill balanced motor. Doesn't look like Mura balancing.

Steve,

I don't know exactly but think it's a Tradeship motor. We discussed this back in '06 or '07 when I built up a motor with that endbell for my proxy car "Firefly". I have one of those motors here NOS and the arm looks un-balanced with same green wire.

[Bruce Neasmith]

Waiting for PdL to respond, but I believe the original chassis in this 'thread' is an early 1968 'Champion'. I could be wrong.

Re: post #9, Steve, I think your motor is a Testors Mk 111. In Australia , that motor turned up right at the end of 1967.

It has a cast metal endbell and was quite a good performer due to the arm winding and open brush setup.

Looks like the chassis has taken a lot of front end hits; blobby solder over axle tube.

[Jairus]

Bingo, Bruce, that's the one! ("Testors", knew it began with a "T".)

And mine is indeed balanced just like Steve's.



Never been mounted but I did hook up some lead wires and run the brushes in some to test. Might make a neat project motor someday.

[Bruce Neasmith]

Thanks, Jairus, trust that you are travelling well.

The motor you have would make a great vintage racing car if combined with a suitable period chassis. I think that in America, if you used a Testors Chassis, you would be limited to their pressed aluminium production car units, but luckily here in Australia, Testors had a full-fledged race team, and part of that business was the sale of Team Testors custom (series) built brass inline frames. Oh, yes, some do survive, mint in their packaging from 1968!

[don.siegel]

Hi Bruce,

And do you happen to have one of those Testor's chassis to show us? Very interesting they had a team in Australia, but not in the States...

The Testor Turbo is an excellent little motor, roughly in the 26D class; I believe it's static balanced. The one I've run didn't have too much brakes, but don't know if that's a general characteristic... My impression was that it would do better on a longer track...

Back to the chassis in this thread, can't say I've ever seen one, or recognize it...

Don

[Jairus]

Don, I found the same problem when I put one of those endbells on my Sunchaser proxy car. No brakes! I suspect it has to do with the brush architecture not providing enough pressure.

[Bruce Neasmith]

Don,

If you care to get out your copy of "Australian Slot Car Review" magazine, the December 2000 (last) issue, go to page 50 and you will see a Testors story.

On page 54 is a picture of a 'Testor Team Hutchesson' body, chassis, package grouping. The motor is a brown
endbell 26D. The chassis is all brass. The body is 1/24 Lotus 40. This car dates from late 1967; we here were a bit behind in equipment compared to the USA.

I think that I might be able to rustle up a chassis mint in a bag with header card still attached. It comes without the bits you need to make it a runner (guide, wheels, motor, etc.) Best I have a dig for you.

[endbelldrive]

My first impression was that the chassis originally came from a Japanese factory because of the distinctive rear bracket. Most of their inline rod and plate frames were nickel plated but I'm guessing they shipped a bunch of naked brass ones.

[Gary Bluestone]

It is made for a 16D only, probably meant for the endbell mount, but the Trinity did fit too, can side. I inspected the side mounts, but there is no sign of any threads or pin tubes under magnification, but it might be NOS.

OK now I have seen five of these chassis!

Looking at the 1970 Auto World catalogue, I'd have to rule out Phaze III, which was similar, but had a round brace behind the gear, different bend in the drop arm and different bearing holders. Earlier '68-1/2 Auto World catalogue shows a similar chassis, like Sandy Gross designed but with a three-rail drop arm.

[don.siegel]

Thanks, Bruce! Just went back and checked that issue, and it's a great article on Testor/Testor's/Testors!

Don

[Hworth08]

Edwardo,

Wonder if you might be kin to Jerry Lawley. He was one of the better Sportsman and Nation Sportsman drivers in the '70s. He won the points championship at Nashville in 1975 I believe.

He lived not far from Birmingham and traveled some with Neil Bonnett in '75.

[Edwardo]

Hi Don,

PM sent.

[ravajack]

Don,

Would you care to share that Testor story and scan it for us all to see?

Besides, also a little personal interest, as the company founder Nils Testor, like Johan Fredrik Strömbäck (Strombecker), was from my home turf...

[don.siegel]

Be glad to Bertil, as long as Bruce doesn't mind, since he was the author of the article! (the Aussie Slot Car Review was a great magazine, but only around for a short time, unfortunately...)

The Swedish Connection, eh? So that's where Mr. Strombeck comes from!

Don