Don,
I actually saw that Porsche being offered, body cracks all over but still a scarce model. Please congratulate your friend for a smart purchase.
Here is the story:
In late 1967, all the Russkit "Carrera Series" were re-issued, the chassis no longer black anodized, just plain aluminum but with the vent for motor cooling, and most were fitted with a Russkit "27" motor made in Hong Kong while others received an Igarashi "Hemi" obtained from Strombecker. Axles were now anodized clear, and the bodies sported new colors that dissed the original "scale" aspect for more attractive liveries for the teens who were after all, the main customers. The new colors were all metallic: silver, dark blue, dark green, orange, all with black fogging. Examples exist of all the models except (so far) the Eagle and the Iso Grifo, that I have not yet seen in these colors.
By that time, Champion also purchased Russkit bodies which they painted in different and rather garish colors, not to be confused with the Russkit issues.
So this Porsche is nothing special except that it is a scarce model since sales were down to a trickle by then.
Most of these cars were no longer sold in kit form, but factory assembled and presented inside clear plastic boxes, the cars affixed to the bottom of the boxes with a piece of thick two-sided sticky foam tape. Two sizes of these boxes also exist, the standard type also used by Dynamic for their kits and RTR cars, and a wider type shown below with one of those fogged Honda F1 cars. Some have a black base. The LASCM has examples of the Chaparral 2D, Lotus 40, McLaren MK2, Honda F1, Lotius 38 4WD, and Porsche 906 in such colors.
The LASCM is interested in purchasing any such models to enhance what is likely the finest collection of 1960s slot cars in the world.
The building is now in the process of completion (at last!) and the collection room will receive its permanent display within 90 days.
