97 replies to this topic

[Rotorranch]

I've got 2 Russkit Iso-Grifos. One is the 4WD Black Widow, with twin Russkit 23's, one is on a Spyder pan chassis.

Did Russkit make a 2WD version of the Iso?

Rotor

[don.siegel]

Not that I know of! 

 

Don 

[bradblohm]

25 years ago I bought 6 new loose Russkit cars at the Toledo toy show.  Two were Iso Super Spyders, and Bill Wessels TOLD me to never sell them as they were so rare.  Well, at the time I was mostly into Monogram 1/32 cars and got talked out of them.  Never seen others.  There is a chance someone took new painted bodies and put them on new Super Sypder chassis as two others in the lot were Porsches on Super Spyder chassis, but we'll likely never know.  In the words of Philippe, "Show me 'ze box!" and I don't disagree, but a BZ 2E box DID eventually show up!  Russkit Iso Super Spyder, not yet...

[Mark Onofri]

One just sold on evil bay for........
$406 U.S dollars. I didn't want it that bad. It was red, supposedly from the original owner.

[PhDr]

PLUG....I believe Russkit. Highly Detailed !!
From a Plastics company in Downey California. (Precision Plastics or Engineering?) 60's/70's.
I think they did sub contract work. Revell also..
Later owned by Storopack. The German Storopack IS affiliated -in later history- with Revell (I believe 🤔)

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[Allan Feldman]

25 years ago I bought 6 new loose Russkit cars at the Toledo toy show.  Two were Iso Super Spyders, and Bill Wessels TOLD me to never sell them as they were so rare.  Well, at the time I was mostly into Monogram 1/32 cars and got talked out of them.  Never seen others.  There is a chance someone took new painted bodies and put them on new Super Sypder chassis as two others in the lot were Porsches on Super Spyder chassis, but we'll likely never know.  In the words of Philippe, "Show me 'ze box!" and I don't disagree, but a BZ 2E box DID eventually show up!  Russkit Iso Super Spyder, not yet...

Years ago i was unemployed and was at the Sandown toyfair an number of Russkit spyder chassis kits were for sale in window boxes.

[Mark Onofri]

PhDr.,a little late but, is this body being re-poped? If so HOW CAN I GET ONE!!!?
Although $406.00 was not a problem, Expensive but, not a problem , I just wanted the body. Better that some hard core collector purchased it. I'm sure it means more to them than me (in the condition it was in).

[don.siegel]

True Scale did a very nice one, but they're not in production anymore. 

 

You might look around to see if Genesworld has repopped that one - he's on here, so maybe he'll chime in. 

 

Don 

[TSR]

Rotoranch,
the only Russkit "Super Spyder" models produced are the McLaren-Elva MK1, the scarce Cooper-Climax F1 and the less scarce Porsche 906, both in RTR form with painted and decaled bodies. The Iso was only ever sold as one of the "Black Widow" series, 4WD, with the Lotus Type 38 and the Lola T70.
However it is possible for a person to mount an Iso body on a Super Spyder chassis because... it will (kind of) fit. Wheelbase is not quite right to fit the wheel wells, but hey.

The standard and original "Spyder" chassis is very flimsy and has a steel wire drop arm that keeps falling off. There were only two cars in the series, both with injected plastic bodies of a 1962 Ferrari F1 and Cooper-Climax F1. These were issued in 1965 and only in kit form. The chassis was also available separately.

In 1966, Russkit modified the chassis, adding meat where needed, and the drop arm was new, made of gold anodized aluminum, hinged from the same mounts as the previous wire arm. The Ferrari and Cooper were updated, now in RTR form and a "23" motor, the body coated with a clear varnish over the decals. They were sold inside rather plain small cardboard boxes with only  an ink stamp for identification. The Cooper is especially difficult to find.
They were not called "Super Spyder" and never appeared in any catalogue or advertising. I believe that the Super Spyder chassis was never sold separately.

The RTR boxes were very flimsy and few have survived. The McLaren body was held by three straight pins that over time, punch a hole in the body sides. The paint also shrinks, bending the body sides inward behind the assembly pins.



The Cooper is the most difficult of the three to find today.



The Super Spyder chassis with its updated aluminum drop arm. This is the RTR version with injected body, a model of the 1962 Cooper T55 F1. The boxed Super Spyder RTR above is of the later 1964 version with a vacuum formed body.



For the Porsche, Russkit introduced a better body mount made of gold anodized aluminum, attached to the chassis with a self tapping screw. The standard formed wire as seen on most Russkit models held the body on the mount.



The Ferrari returned in kit form, sold with the Super Spyder chassis and a Russkit "23" motor over a large red card, all parts sealed with shrunk clear film.

The "Black Widow" Iso received at first, like the Lotus and the Lola, two "22" motors, but later Iso issues had "23" motors, and at one time the "25", an American made motor that was a real POS with serious quality control issues, the arm dragging on the mags being one of them.

Of course the Iso body was sold separately over a white card, with a shrunk clear film sealing it on the card.
All three "Black Widow" RTR cars were also sold as "Trak Pak" with a controller and the usual Russkit carrying case made of genuine cardboard with a little plastic handle.









Now the "Super Spyder" chassis were also used for all the Porsche 906 sold in a clear plastic box in kit form by Sticktoy in Italy, and they sold a LOT of them.

 

[PhDr]

Anybody make this?

1965 Bizzarrini Monoposto Prototype




http://links.bringat...SkHUJcDvKpC0A==

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[TSR]

No, and thanks God they don't or didn't.

[Mark Onofri]

TSR,I'm with you on that. That car(if you can call it that)
almost, almost made me embarrassed to be of Italian descent . Compared to the other offerings from him,he must have had a rough night,or several.
So, what your saying is that I have a better chance of finding a Iso in Italy ?

[TSR]

Mark,
I think that Sticktoy, that appears to have been the Russkit distributor in Italy, may have sold the Iso Grifo there too. I know that Mini Dream, a manufacturer of slot cars in Italy until I think, 1976, made copies of the body. But as far as finding a genuine Russkit Iso, not so easy nowadays, the market appears to have swallowed what was on offer.
In any case, Toptoys does produce a replica of the body today, see https://www.ebay.com/itm/194488695848

The Iso chassis as I mentioned, is unique to this car, with the body mounts integrated in the one-piece design.

[Mark Onofri]

Tsr, I found one (body) very very rough ,way over priced but,at least I have one. I'll post it soon. It makes for a good laugh or, will bring tears to your eyes.

[Mark Onofri]

Yet another one selling for $478.88+$18.00 shipping + tax
. We're these ever offered in blue by Russkit? Either as a rtr or, just the body or, maybe as a kit?

[don.siegel]

Do you have a link Mark? 

 

I don't think Russkit ever offered it in blue, just the metallic red we all know. 

 

Don 

[Flathead]

I'd agree with Don only available in red or clear, but there was discussion on here a while back about a green body which when you look is actually blue(ish) inside with yellowed body turning it green.
http://slotblog.net/...rs/#entry806257

[Mark Onofri]

I have one in deplorable condition. It is sprayed , that's why I asked.
I'll try to post the link but, I am woefully lacking in Internet prowess (and spelling).

[Mark Onofri]

203981964880 this is the item#. It was listed by "Historic Slots".

[Mark Onofri]

It's the colour of the underbelly. That is a far out green if I ever saw one. Actually, while outside of Seattle, I was taken for a ride to see the sights. There was a stretch of mountain road that seldom ,if ever received sunlight. Everything was that
colour.

[Mark Onofri]

This tag seems original. Try not to laugh to hard at the next photo. It is restorable, I hope.

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[Mark Onofri]

At least it's not cracked.

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[Martin]

Its a pace car, I love it.

FYI factory cars had the decals applied to the outside so I would say this started life as a clear Russkit body, but I still think it has a fun look.

Do all the lights(that are not broken) work? I can see left front is broken and maybe the right rear?

Standard Dynamic Dyna-flex chassis I presume? Lets see the bottom side please.

[Mark Onofri]

Correct! With a twist. It has a strombecker hemmi. I think the intention was a police interceptor. The lights work, except for the broken one.
Martin,I'm not surprised that you could identify a Dynamic chassis from the first photo!
I was looking at the decals earlier, it was inclusive as to inside or outside. I'll put it under the magnifying glass & post the underside.

[Martin]

Last of the V8 interceptors (Mad Max reference) look forward to seeing the underside when you have time.

 

I thought they had the look of decals on the inside, but I will wait for your close inspection and a finger nail test?