26 replies to this topic

[don.siegel]

With the proxy for vintage dragsters being launched here, I thought I'd give you a quick look at the couple of dragsters commercially produced in the 60s.  That thread and others already have a couple of these of course. 

 

The first was of course the Russkit Mark I Eliminator, but I don't seem to have a complete one built up, so I'm showing this modified version, for a stocker body, with the chassis shortened, and different front wheels, but otherwise stock. It has a Pittman DC85 motor, pretty much the standard drag motor in 64 when this chassis was released. 

 

 

 

The Russkit's main competitiors, the slightly later Dragmaster by K&B. Once again you had to supply your own motor and gears, but it did have a body this time, unlike the Russkit, and fancier front wheels!  

 

 

 

 

The International dragster was less known, and as far as I know only came as a chassis; this one has also been modified, with the addition of a wing and a second set of gears (seemed like a good idea at the time!). 

 

 

 

 

Another chassis that seemed to have been offered, though not in the States that I know of, is by AYG, or Ayogi Metals, a Japanese company that supplied a lot of the American majors... Very neat brass chassis - I assume this is stock, at least the chassis part of it, but don't really know it that well! 

 

 

 

 

 

The main commercial dragstrip was by Eldon of course, in 1/24, and these are now highly sought after on ebay, especially in a complete set, that had the famous Christmas Tree starting lights... 

 

 

 

Slightly earlier, American toy maker Hubley came out with two dragsters intended for slots or running on the ground via a string, using an "instant torque" motor, ie, a wound up spring! They quickly added real slot accessories!. 

 

 

 

 

I'm still missing a few, especially the Strombecker 1/32 dragster, and a couple by Jouef and Scalextric, so please add those photos if you have them! And totally forgot about the HO models and a couple of Little Red Wagons (BZ and Tyco....)

 

Don

[Gator Bob]

Don,

 

 How C00L are those ???  

 

I'm getting pretty excited about this event.      

The AYG slingshot is Nice!!!   

 

Thanks for posting the 'Dragsters!'

[SlotStox#53]

Wow! Thanks for showing these Don

 

Love the look of that K&B Dragmaster built up, recently saw one kit , mint in box under the blister on everyone's fave auction site.

 

That AYG brass rail is a very pretty frame

 

Any of these your entries?

[don.siegel]

No, I don't think so Paul - I'm leaning towards a scratch-built model - although it would be nice to see how the commercial models stack up... I definitely don't want to send that K&B through the mail! 

 

Note that a lot of these found on the Net and elsewhere have Kemtron motors, not Pittman or Ram - maybe because the Kemtrons are so easy to find! 

 

The Russkit dragster was designed by Bob Braverman by the way, one of the top SoCal drag racers and a writer for Rod & Custom. 

 

Don 

[SlotStox#53]

Yeah I can definitely see not wanting that K&B one venturing out in the mail system

 

Look forward to seeing your creation/s that will be hurtling down the strip

[Gator Bob]

Agreed Don,

 

Please don't send any cars that are made of unobtainium or are irreplaceable in sentimental and/or monetary value. 

 

I would give the USPS about an 8.5-9 rating, I've heard the stories but only had one bad experience ... my 2006 tax returns came back in plastic bags over a few day period weeks later .. with fork lift tire marks, shredded pages and the like. 

[boxerdog]

After my latest (very recent) adventure with the USPS, I wouldn't recommend them ever, even to competitors!!! I won't bore you with details, just suffice it to say that they have earned their reputation for being bureaucratic bumblers.....

 

I will be using Fedex or UPS, thank you. 

[don.siegel]

Philippe reminded me of another one... 

 

Don 

 

I had forgotten the Unique, a very odd little beast that would not have lasted long on the strip... but here it is! This was of course derived from their regular road racing chassis, which was sold separately, and with a trio of vac-form bodies, very early in the game. Copper-plated fiber board or a similar material. Mostly for 16D type motors, but I believe they said lots of others could be adapted to it... and when you look at it, a Kemtron would probably slot right in! 

 

 

 

[Gator Bob]

Don,

Now that I hooked up a new monitor and can actually see the cars you posted .... they are all great !  

 

Well ... one of them is a bit too Unique, I'm not too fondre of that one.  

[Gator Bob]

Don, The more I look at the Unique the more I like it.   The crude factor is the cool factor.     

 

The Impala is the total   

[Gator Bob]

Hi Don,

 

Do you (or anyone) know who made the Chevy body and/or is anyone making re-pop?

[don.siegel]

Hi Bob, 

 

If you mean the Chevy back in the first post, on the Russkit frame, I think it's a Pactra - they seemed to do the metallized paint jobs a lot...

 

That car has been dismantled in the meantime, so I could use that drop arm on a more complete chassis, and the bits and pieces are sitting around, wondering what they'll become... 

 

Don 

[racie35]

The Eldon wins the cool award!

[Lone Wolf]

Great stuff Don, that Impala     

 

Here are 2 you did not mention. 

 

K&B 1/25 with mounting plate.

 

 

K&B ? scale, this one with Pittman power. 

 

 

And some others.

 

Here is an Eldon in blue, the only other color it originally came in, there are repros in different colors. 

 

 

An original K&B without the skin and "better" real wheels.

 

 

And lastly, not really a rail but a seldom seen International that uses the dragster motor mount out back ( check the front "suspension" ) and a NOS body in the rear. 

 

[racie35]

Who makes the eldon repo Joe? The k&b I just bought a spare of

Great stuff Don, that Impala     
 
Here are 2 you did not mention. 
 
K&B 1/25 with mounting plate.
 
DSC05981.JPG
 
K&B ? scale, this one with Pittman power. 
 
DSC05982.JPG
 
And some others.
 
Here is an Eldon in blue, the only other color it originally came in, there are repros in different colors. 
 
DSC05980.JPG
 
An original K&B without the skin and "better" real wheels.
 
DSC05983.JPG
 
And lastly, not really a rail but a seldom seen International that uses the dragster motor mount out back ( check the front "suspension" ) and a NOS body in the rear. 
 
DSC05985.JPG

[racie35]

Sorry....I wasn't trying to quote pics and all. I'll be more careful

[SlotStox#53]

Nice dragsters Joe

Never seen that International before , that NOS rail body behind is particularly sweet!

Got a set of the International ball bearing fronts nos in packet, now gotta find the rest of the rail.. only one I've seen on epay the seller wanted like $1k+

Those 2 wire K&B frames are cool, have to look at copying them as I'd imagine they'd make for quick proxy cars

[don.siegel]

Thanks Joe, didn't think that Impala would please you guys so much - and I'm impressed you could recognize an Impala from just those two not very clear photos! Guess I'll have to build it back up... but with a non-russkit drop arm... Just remembered, I also found a strange one a couple years ago, a sort of 1/32 hot rod, simple vac-form, with the Russkit axle carrier in back and the front chopped off ... and an MRRC steering unit bolted on! 

 

I know about the K&B wire chassis, but mostly wanted to put on the commercially available cars; come to think of it, not sure if the International was available as a complete chassis/kit (with one of their vac-form bodies for instance, like they did with other chassis). 

 

And yep, I've got one of those sports car versions too, with the "floating" front end and a big DC85 in the back... 

 

Don 

[Lone Wolf]

Bruce, someone was repopping kits and parts a while ago. You see them occasionally on Ebay ( the ones I've seen are red ) but I don't know who repopped them. They don't go cheap when they come up, sometimes more than an original. I think whoever did them doe's not do them anymore, thus their increased value. 

 

Thanks, Paul

 

Don, no harm, no foul. There was what looked like an International dragster on a card in a lot of stuff on ebay a couple years ago. Hard to tell as it was an extremely crappy pic. Anyway, I was outbid at the last second, what a friggin' surprise 

[Gator Bob]

Thanks Don.

 

Joe ... you gotta lotta nice cars too.

[don.siegel]

Hey Bob, 

 

Just tried to send you a pm, but it wouldn't go through - is your box full? 

 

Could you send me an email: don.siegel (at) wanadoo.fr

 

Don 

[Gator Bob]

Hey Bob, 

 

Just tried to send you a pm, but it wouldn't go through - is your box full? 

 

Could you send me an email: don.siegel (at) wanadoo.fr

 

Don 

 

Keeps filling up. I'll email ya....

 

Message sent.

Edited by Gator Bob, 08 March 2015 - 12:20 AM.

[Gator Bob]

Don, The Impala was easy, the roof line .... the Chevrolet dealer decal was a pretty good clue too ...  lol 

 

In the year 1973  A close friend had a 63 SS bucket seat car,full street trim except Crager wheels in that color with a factory new 1970 350/350 LT1, 780 Holley, T-10 and 5:13 twelve bolt. A true boulevard 'light to light' 7000 rpm stomper.

 

I'm liking the K&B Kemtron combo.

 

I found a pair of those wheels showing on the lower K&B rail, those are or could be correct as they are a K&B set screw option over the 4 slot 'kidney been' threaded that were so popular.

[Gator Bob]

.....  The k&b I just bought a spare of ....

 

 Bruce, Please build one and join us.   

[hiline2]

Might as well add my vintage collection here, Got the posted on another post but seem to fit in here.

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