96 replies to this topic

[TSR]

This company made only one model, in kit and RTR versions. There are variations in colors and packaging. More pictures on the LASCM website HERE. 
 
1) Original kit issue, December 1965:


 
 Reduced: 94% of original size [ 850 x 487 ] - Click to view full image


Note that the front wheels are fully assembled.

2) Second issue, without the wheels assembled (outer box remains the same):


 Reduced: 94% of original size [ 850 x 459 ] - Click to view full image


Note also that the bottle of salad oil is gone and the reshuffling of the motor and other parts on the tray.

3) Third issue, the RTR model, in a new window box:





Note the rubber goggles on the geekoid driving the thing:



4) "Series 2" kit uses the RTR box with a sticker:




 Reduced: 89% of original size [ 900 x 587 ] - Click to view full image


Note the white tray and slightly different packing... you can see a lot more detailed pictures of these kits and the RTR in the LASCM website.

The company folded in early 1967 as a slot car manufacturing concern, but kept in the rubber goods business (no, not THAT one!) until the early 1970s when its assets were bought out by Firestone. Apparently, the GRC corporation still exists in Los Angeles but as in name only.

www.lascm.com

[Bill from NH]

GRC Spitfires were the rental cars when I started commercial slot racing in the fall of 1967. These cars were evil!

[Gator Bob]

Dokk, what color are those motor cans?

[SlotStox#53]

What made them evil Bill? Bad handling?

Seen one or two of these in scabby condition on ePay.

 

Thanks for posting the history of the company, Dokk. 

[Gator Bob]

What made them evil Bill? Bad handling?

That, too...

[Foamy]

They were the rental cars at San Diego Model Raceway. They got a massive workout on Friday and Saturday nights. Pretty much bomb-proof...

[TSR]

The motor is a dark metallic gray, same color as those on Competition kits and RTR cars.

The cars handled horribly, they were top heavy with a massively heavy body on top of... no chassis, so you can figure what happened. Last time I tried one, it behaved like a modern Carrera 1/24 car, it could not take the King's banking at ANY speed, slow or fast, it simply fell off it.

But those goggles are cool!

[Gator Bob]

The motor cans are a unique and very cool color.
 
I was sorry to see that you took down 'my' picture of the yellow Spitfire off of the LASCM that 'someone' put a copyright on.

That car was 'not' korrect, wrong rears on it. Good thing it's gone. 

[TSR]

Bob,

No idea of what took place there. I did not take any picture down from anyone. Where was it posted?

[Bill from NH]

What made them evil, Bill?

 
Everything stated above, plus they were noisy as all get-out. When there were more than two rentals on the track, you had to go outside the building to hold a conversation. Those Maine winters were cold!

[Gator Bob]

Bob,

No idea of what took place there. I did not take any picture down from anyone. Where was it posted?

 

On the LASCM site under GRC Spitfire. I used the same picture stage with the checkered flag background as the Atlas BRM I put up. I'll look for the original just for kicks. "Someone" got the image off of my ePay post over ten years ago.
 

The motor is a dark metallic gray, same color as those on Competition kits and RTR cars.

The cars handled horribly, they were top heavy with a massively heavy body on top of... no chassis, so you can figure what happened. Last time I tried one, it behaved like a modern Carrera 1/24 car, it could not take the King's banking at ANY speed, slow or fast, it simply fell off it.

But those goggles are cool!

 
And the motor transmits ALL its vibration to the plastic mount that sits so high up and attached directly to the 'shell' of those turtles.   But I love them. The rentals were totally trashed and headless. At my local... the bodies were painted to match the lane... total chipped-out, flaked-out scene. The yellow and red cars were the only ones not painted. 
 

Everything stated above, plus they were noisy as all get-out. When there were more than two rentals on the track, you had to go outside the building to hold a conversation. Those Maine winters were cold!

 
Evil... noisy buggers. I would go to the front counter and have them put my time on "hold" when those cars came on the track after one slammed my Gar-Vic and cracked the nose... no match in a wreck with those 'hard' bodies.   Never thought to pick up the lil heads with the now 'rare' goggles off the track.. LOL.
 
We didn't call the tracks by name.
If you were on the blue lane on the King you would ask, "Please hold my time for repairs... blue on blue".
Then on the way home that day... this came on the AM radio as I held my cracked Coronado...  Great memories... Thanks for reading this and giving me a place to share that... because you (old now) guys might understand. 

 

[Hworth08]

My Spitfire has a dark blue Hawk motor.

 

The Spitfire might not have been so good but GRC made the best front tires in the business. Always still soft and pliable after 40 years.

[don.siegel]

... and supposedly GRC made these in eight colors, especially for rental... not sure if that's ever been confirmed. A thingie-crazie collector buddy, Danté Gates, was trying to put together a complete collection of these many years ago, and I sent him my purple one to help out - haven't heard from him in awhile, unfortunately. 

 

Anybody have any other weird colors? Let's see: yellow, white, red, purple...

 

Don 

[tonyp]

They were the rentals at Sebring Sport Center where I worked in Irvington, NJ. 

[alainprost22]

These were the rentals of choice, at Gran Prix Raceway, Bronx, NY. Everything snapped back into place.

[Gator Bob]

[TSR]

and supposedly GRC made these in 8 colors, especially for rental... not sure if that's ever been confirmed.

 

I have seen white, yellow, blue, red (like the one Bob posted above), yellow with gray marbleized, green, black, purple and a gold-ish tone. So it is possible, but not truly proven.

[Gator Bob]

There may have been some shortages of colors at my local as I remember chipped-up painted cars. 

 

Great idea for GRC to do eight molded colors.

[don.siegel]

Here's the cover photo from the January 1966 issue of Rod & Custom, where the Spitfire, in prototype form, got a rave review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don 

[gas]

Somebody put Cox gears on the GRCs at Arcadia Grand Prix, a lot quieter.

[Dennis David]

When I see these vintage slot cars in original boxes I always wonder how that could be. Did the person think of preserving the car at point of purchase or are there counterfeiters who's speciality is period packaging?

Had I been given that kit as a young boy that box and the rest would have lasted all of 30 secs. Come to think of it, it's not too much different today.

[Steve Deiters]

Like so many other cars from the era. Interesting concept with potential, but not executed very well.

[Gator Bob]

But those goggles are cool!

 
The blindfolds, too.

[Gator Bob]

My previous GRC.

[TSR]

When I see these vintage slot cars in original boxes I always wonder how that could be. Did the person think of preserving the car at point of purchase or are there counterfeiters who's speciality is period packaging?

 
Dennis,

A simple question of unsold merchandise after the 1967-1968 hobby crash, languishing in old warehouses or in the attic of a bankrupt retailer, now surfacing again because unlike in the day, they are worth something!
 
The same applies to old race cars, and as you well know, when one has been destroyed and all remains dispersed in the day, more often than not, it miraculously re-appears in pristine condition, along with a fine lie so serve them hot.

At least it is not an easy thing to do for old slot cars because it is not worth the trouble...