MONOGRAM:
Slot racing golden era’s most important company
after Cox, Monogram used their tremendous molding talents to produce the
sharpest injected bodies in the business. They made their entry unlike most,
immediately offering seven 1/24 and two 1/32 kits without ever having offered
spare parts prior to this impressive introduction, in the middle of 1964. The
1/24 bodies were recycled static kits with extra molded parts for mounting on a
3-piece brass flat pan chassis, equipped with the earliest metallic red-painted
FT16 motor. The bodies were sitting in the center of the colorful kit boxes, and
as usual for Monogram products, instructions were very complete and well
illustrated. Racing decals adorned them, most unlikely subjects for slot cars.
The ’34 and ’36 Ford coupes, ’40 Ford pick-up truck and ’55 Chevy hardtop coupe
were joined late in 1964 by a Duesenberg double-phaeton and a Mercedes-Benz
540K, obviously not your everyday drag racing units.
Splendid ’36 Ford coupe kit is a fairly early
version with FT16 motor. Monogram early kit boxes had no “chrome” coat,
rendering them vulnerable to friction. Few have survived without some color
loss.)
’40 Ford pick-up is collector’s delight. Many re-issues
(but not in same color) of the static kit, make low-cost facsimile possible as
chassis can be found.)
Monogram’s glorious Mercedes-Benz 540K
makes an unlikely slot car. It is recommended not to crash with one.)
Before this later introduction, there was a change of motor in
favor of the more torquey FT36 motor, metallic red, then plain red-painted, with
the inner packaging changed to allow a better display of the parts. A colorful
“flap” was added for store display, spelling out all the technical advantages.
Almost at the same time, a line of 1/32 scale kits was released, including
an MGA and a ’32 Ford “hot rod”. The MGA had what became the standard Monogram
“series 1” chassis, a 2-piece flat design with no drop arm. The Ford had a
unique chassis where the pick-up was located behind the front axle, a mistake
not repeated by the designer. The little hot rod is quite scarce today.
A whole new series followed late in 1964, including the 1/24 Scarab, Porsche 904 and Ferrari 275P kits. They had a brass inline pan-type bolted frame, and were fitted with red FT36 motors with unusually long pinion shafts. Bodies were extremely well detailed, comparable to Cox’s. Several other 1/32 kits were also issued at the same time, including a Cooper-Ford, first molded in light blue, then in darker metallic blue.
Delightful little Cooper-Ford was first molded in pale blue. Second series had modified rear fenders, opened to clear wider tires.)
A Porsche 904 and Ferrari 275P, smaller clones of the 1/24
kits, a beautiful Lola GT and another Ferrari, the 250GTO/LM, also joined the
Monogram stable. The technical failing of all the above kits were their poorly
designed crown gears. Most of the examples found today had theirs replaced by
Cox’s or other quality parts.
All these were sold in beautifully illustrated
boxes, with yellow or blue inner trays containing all the tiny parts under
vac-formed clear plastic bubbles. Each car had been lavishly painted with full
background representing various racing situations. It appears that the same
artist painted them all.
Competition was such that Monogram had to renew the line less
than one year later, issuing re-engineered kits in new packaging: there was not
more fancy background around the cars pictures, just glossy white.
The inner
trays were similar but now also white. New inline brass chassis with sprung
steel drop arms and zinc-plated steel motor brackets were fitted with the latest
FT36D (1/24) and FT16D (1/32), with wider rear wheels shod with molded black
sponge tires, were the other major changes. Bodies remained untouched
except for the 1/32 Cooper that had its rear wings opened up and flared to fit
the wider tires.
First and second series Lola GT kits show different
box art and chassis components. Very attractive in either
case.)
Totally new issues were the 1/32 Ferrari and Lotus F1 cars,
using a new slim-line chassis and the Mabuchi FT13UO. They were delightful and
are rightly appreciated today. Numerous plated parts added to their
character.
Ferrari F1 kit: absolute perfection. The 3-piece
brass-steel frame was also sold separately.)
Lotus 33 F1
kit. Scarcer than the Ferrari, it had similar, beautiful, box art and
presentation. Both were powered by Mabuchi’s FT13UO, dubbed the “Tiger X88”.)
They were joined by one of Monogram’s greatest, the 1/24 Kurtis
Midget, using the same running gear as the two F1’s. The little car had a
wonderfully “busy” driver, and a large array of plated “nerf” bars and
suspension details. They were so successful that special races were organized
just for them, and many have survived today.
Kurtis Midget kit
had everything to please dirt oval-racing fans. Body color is a different shade
from static kit.)
Unusual plated Midget with series 1 Scarab and
later Ford GT40 Roadster, expertly assembled by Bill Wessels. Courtesy Joe
Alessi.)
Another issue for the year was the 1/24 Chaparral 2, using the
drop-arm brass frame. It featured prominent front “winglets”, as seen on the
full-sized Chaparral 2 during the ’65 season.
Monogram released a Ford GT40
Roadster kit, using an all-new brass sidewinder chassis to fit the FT36D. It had
a very simple but beautifully made body with superb plated wheel inserts.
This very sturdy kit survives in large numbers today, but is very desirable
nonetheless.
For 1966, Monogram was feeling the pressure from the companies
producing cars with vacuum-formed bodies. But before they joined the fray, two
beautiful kits were issued. The McLaren-Elva had a new stamped aluminum
sidewinder frame with drop arm, with the FT36D driving a new glass-filled nylon
spur gear of much better quality than previously offered by Monogram.
The
other one was Monogram’s most collected car, and one of the most beautiful slot
car ever made, the 1965 Indy 500-winning Lotus-Ford 38. This popular kit had a
new slim line, aluminum chassis with drop arm, and the FT16D motor was mounted
inline. Wonderful plated suspension details and great decals were included,
along with nickel-plated axle spacers.
The McLaren-Elva
was patterned after SCCA National Champion Ralph Salyer’s car. The new aluminum
frame was used in most subsequent kits and RTRs.)
The Lotus 38
kit is one of the finest made by any company in the 1960s. Attention to detail
was let down by driver’s compartment. If Monogram had gone one step further and
made separate moldings for drivers, they would now compete neck to neck with Cox
for the honor of being the very best.)
The last 1/32 kits were then released: a splendid Lola T70, a
Ford GT40 and a Ferrari 330P/LM.
All featured the second series chassis, but
the FT16D motors varied in colors: red, then silver, then nickel-plated with red
end bell, as in the “set” cars (see below), with the rare last issues featuring
the latest ball bearing-equipped “oval hole” FT16DBB with aluminum can bearing
box. The Ford body had factory-painted hood and numbers, modeled after Phil
Hill’s 1964 Le Mans lap record holder. The 330P/LM was modeled after the 1965 Le
Mans winner. They were very simple models of few parts, the only plated bits
being the wire wheel inserts. Boxes were, as usual, superb, with nicely
detailed paintings of the real things.
Lola T70 kit with
assembled car, and underside of “set” RTR car showing the one-piece aluminum
chassis. This kit is regarded as one of Monogram’s best.)
Scarce
Ford GT kit, shown with “set” RTR car. Some late production kits were fitted
with Mabuchi “oval-hole” motor, the FT16DBB.)
All featured the second series chassis, but the FT16D motors varied in colors: red, then silver, then nickel-plated with red endbell, as in the “set” cars (see below), with the rare last issues featuring the latest ball bearing-equipped “oval hole” FT16D with aluminum can bearing box. The Ford body had factory-painted hood and numbers, modeling Phil Hill’s 1964 Le Mans lap record holder. He 330P/LM was modeled after the 1965 Le Mans winner. It was a very simple model with very few parts, the only plated bits being the wire wheel inserts. Boxes were, as usual, superb, with great detailed paintings of the real things.
Monogram went in a big way into home-racing sets, and issued
special versions of the 1/24 Lotus 38, featuring a modified chassis with deleted
drop arm, and an FT16D motor with red end bell and nickel-plated can. Bodies
were green or blue, and they had self adhesive number decals.
The Chaparral
2 (sans winglets) and McLaren-Elva were also fitted with one-piece inline
stamped aluminum chassis, identical to the Lotus 38’s but with an added aluminum
pan. The bodies received a special plastic bracket to affix the pan. The bodies
had the same, rather unattractive, decals as the Lotus.
The 1/32
Ferrari and Lotus F1 had a specially designed plastic chassis and simplified
suspension.
The Ford GT and Ferrari 330P/LM were fitted with a one-piece
inline brass chassis with the red FT16, and a pin-type guide. All had plated
plastic push-on wheels but of accurate design for each car type. A Lola
T70 using an aluminum chassis similar to the previous one, but with a
conventional guide flag and an FT16D motor was next in line, followed by one of
today’s rarest Monogram cars: the Chaparral 2. This had the same running
gear as the Lola and is quite hard to locate today. It was a smaller clone of
the 1/24 kit car, with front winglets. All these were factory-decorated with
identical self-adhesive numbers.
Chaparral and McLaren-Elva “set” cars have a unique chassis not found on any other Monogram cars. Not easy models to find.)
Scarce 1/32 Chaparral 2 “set” car, sold as a replacement in clear plastic box. It used the same running gear as the Lola T70, but had its own proprietary wheels.)
Monogram hedged their bets with a new line of four 1/24 “double
kits” which must have been quite good sellers as witnessed by the large amount
found today. They featured the same chassis as the Ford GT40
kit, but with
aluminum or brass outriggers to hold either one of two factory-painted,
excellent quality but quite simplistic bodies. This gave rise to strange mixes,
as the Ferrari 365P, 330P/LM or Lola T70 paired with a Ford GT Roadster, GT40
coupe or Cobra 427 coupe, a car that was only on Shelby’s drawing board and was
never completed *, or a Chaparral 2 along with a Mustang GT350. All
featured a vac-formed black styrene interior with injected white driver’s head.
Chassis and most running gear were the same as the injected-body Ford GT kit.
* This “427” car was eventually assembled from a kit of remaining parts in
1990.
Most elusive of “double kits” was this Ford GT roadster/Ferrari 330P2 combination. While quality was impeccable, bodies were a bit simplistic in shape and details.)
Three of these bodies were also issued as RTRs in a clear vac-formed packaging with printed built-up display insert, which had to be destroyed to get at the car. The blue Ford GT40 Coupe, green Lola T70 and red Ferrari 330P/LM featured the same aluminum chassis and running gear as the McLaren-Elva kit, and all had the vac-plated “Cooper” style 8-spoke wheel inserts found in the Scarab kit, sometimes in plain black plastic. Each display box was printed to reflect each model, and are scarce today. The cars are not so easy to find in good condition either. All got the same self-adhesive numbers as previous “set” cars.
Lola T70, Ferrari 330P/LM and Ford GT all used the one-piece aluminum frame with drop arm. Although the package had a white protective sleeve, very few have survived.)