19 replies to this topic

[TSR]

The whole adventure of Mini-Dream, Polistil, Unicar, Monza, and all the other slot cars derived from the original Cox IFC design is simply fascinating. I posted below a few pics of some of the Mini Dream examples presently at the LASCM.

The company was created in 1967 in Milano by Giorgio Pelucchi et R. Vermaglione. From that year, the Italian championship will be won by Mini-A cars as the long-popular modified Cox Cucarachas became uncompetitive.

While it appears the the 1/24 scale Mini Dream cars were only sold as RTR , the 1/32 scale were sold both as RTR and kits. These models were produced in their original form in early 1968 and their last models were produced in 1976 according to the information I was able to gather.

This is the first type of kit packaging (in this case the Mini Can-Am):



The "kit" bodies were left unpainted:



This is the second type of packaging, using a 1/24 scale body as previously shown by Sire E the 1st:



Now this is interesting because the Mini-Dream body in this kit is an exact copy of the 1972 M.A.C. Porsche 917-20, including the M.A.C. trademark in the cockpit area! The molding is not quite up to the truly remarkable M.A.C. standards but is quite acceptable.



Thanks to Lucio Cocchi, new (very nice) bodies are available to restore the many remaining chassis. Indeed a factory-painted NOS body like shown below is hard to find:



The 1/24 scale Mini Can-Am new in its original packaging:







The tires came in several colors, black, blue, green, orange, gray and red.

One of the last kits produced was of the 1976 Ferrari 312T formula one as driven by Clay Regazzoni:



The kits came with well-illustrated assembly notices:



A brand-new Mini A in its original box:







The models came packaged in soft tissue paper to protect them during shipping.



Of course these models as well as the over 10,000 other new-old-stock slot cars collected over the past 20 years, will never be run and will be kept as museum pieces, a testimony of the genius of Italian slot car enthusiasts in the late 1960s to the mid 1970s. The LASCM is still collecting all possible versions of these hard-to-find Italian beauties, and hopes to complete its Mini Dream collection soon, with the help of its Italian friends.
Soon, all the models will be visible by anyone at a push of a few keys in the new LASCM website that is being constructed at this time.

[Edo]

Cute little collection, Dokk.

Of course, we, at the MSCRG&C (Montagnola Slot Car Royal Gallery & Collection) have more Mini Dream toys. And, of course, we could afford a track to run them on, unlike the Emperor, who does not have the space to have one.

Here, look at these and tremble in envy:







The One and Only

E. The 1st

PS: I cannot wait for the day the Emperor's Gang of Four Imperial Rugrats find their way to the Museum's toy cupboard and proceed to tear apart all those precious kit boxes with their sticky fingers.

[don.siegel]

Do we detect a hint of Imperial Jealousy?

I will try to add a couple shots of my - very modest - collection of 1/24 vac-formed Policars. But if you guys have some pristine examples, please go ahead!

Don

[TSR]

Your Edo-ness,

It is quality that counts, not quantity of course. However the LASCM has quite a few more of these Italian beauties. I only posted a few for your enjoyment, because those surviving with their original packaging are obviously harder to get, and any and each of such rara avis (that's latin for "totally bitching") acquired by the LASCM is a true museum piece.

The LASCM will soon have a track to run the "loose" cars of all creeds, but there are priorities to take care of before this, like installing and fitting all the electrics and plumbing to my permanent suite in the Slot Temple, complete with a fully-functional spring-loaded toilet seat.

Yr Hmbl Srvnt,

[Bill from NH]

Won't Scott allow you to park your trailer on the roof?

[Mike K]

PS: I cannot wait for the day the Emperor's Gang of Four Imperial Rugrats find their way to the Museum's toy cupboard and proceed to tear apart all those precious kit boxes with their sticky fingers.

They will need to negotiate the VAULT DOOR (no kidding!) in order to do so!!

[Edo]

...It is quality that counts, not quantity...

"There is a quality in quantity" (as spoken by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin).

They will need to negotiate the VAULT DOOR (no kidding!) in order to do so!!

Hi Mike,

I bet those rascals will manage to steal the keys of the vault while the Emperor is putt-putting around with his private helicopter.

[Stefano Sbravati]

Good morning, Sirs.

Don't you mind me adding my humble contribution to this amazing pictorial story?

[Stefano Sbravati]

... And here is a catalogue/price list from 1968: some of the 1/24 cars were sold as kits.

[TSR]

Stefano, thanks!

Here is another less-seen Mini Dream "Mini C" chassis with stronger motor and axle mount, the whole chassis visibly inspired (as the whole range) by the idolized Cox "La Cucaracha", the most influential American slot car to ever descend on the country of Giuseppe Verdi:







Lots of fun stuff with the great Mini Dream cars...

[tjsguns]

Wow, never seen one that's anodized...

[scuderia venturi]

The first photos of Mini Dream are '80s production.

Here is my Mini C in original condition.

[TSR]

Marco,

According to the Mini Dream's founders in their interview with Lucio Cocchi, the company would have shut down in 1976.

Am I missing something?

[Stefano Sbravati]

Marco and Philippe, you both are right. 

Mini Dream shut down in the late sixties, but they made so many cars that it was easy to find them in hobby-model shops until mid '80s. 

Maybe there was some big dealer, like Bona or anybody else, with lots of left slot cars from Mini Dream Car (mainly 1/32 scale), and they kept on selling until the stock expired. 

[NSwanberg]

"There is a quality in quantity" (as spoken by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin).
 

 

I thought it was Khrushchev that said, "Quantity has a quality all its own." I apply that theory to pizza toppings.

[TSR]

Lucio Cocchi's story in the Italian forum along with an interview of the founders, clearly gives the dates. The company ended its manufacturing in 1976. So no production could have been "in the 1980s", only the marketing of unsold old stock by distributors and retailers.
The most 'modern" body in the line appears to be the 1/32 scale Ferrari 312T2 F1, and that is a 1975 model, so it sounds right.

 

Stefano shows what is possibly the most difficult version to find today, the boxed kit for the 1/24 scale cars.

Stefano, the LASCM gladly accepts donations! 

[Stefano Sbravati]

Another hard to find item: the Boxed Mini Can-Am (earliest version, with 26D motor)

The car inside has been improved with front and rear ball bearings, and the motor is a screaming 26D (maybe from the hands of some Milan pro racer of the time). 

All the set-up comes directly from the Roaring Sixties.

 

Does this box remember anything?

 

[don.siegel]

Nice one Stefano! 

 

Kind of looks like the GRC Spitfire box, no? 

 

At least that's what it reminds me of... 

 

Don 

[Stefano Sbravati]

Nice one Stefano! 

 

Kind of looks like the GRC Spitfire box, no? 

 

At least that's what it reminds me of... 

 

Don 

Don, it reminds me the Cucaracha boxes: different colors, of course, but identical idea of boxing and displaying a slot car...

 

Stefano

[don.siegel]