Revell
One of the most well-known names in model plastic kits, Revell made a huge investment in slot racing. by the end of 1963, they introduced complete kits in the 1/32 scale, the first to feature the new smaller Mabuchi FT16 motors. By 1964, a series of three kits in the 1/24 scale were issued with the new, larger FT36 motor. In 1966 Revell issued complete racing sets for home racing use, with performance equal or superior to that of any at the time. The same year, they issued kits and RTR versions of a new 1/24 scale series featuring an offset alloy chassis with vacuum formed painted bodies, beautiful Halibrand cast wheels and award-winning packaging. A second series of the 1/32 scale kits was also introduced, but these are especially scarce. A 1967 catalog promised new bodies and RTR cars but by 1968, Revell had already reverted to home-racing sets and was out of the slot car business altogether in 1970.
One of the most prolific and important slot racing companies of the 1960s, Revell was already one of the world’s largest model kit company when they decided to immerse themselves into the new hobby in 1963.
They began by issuing components that included a simple aluminum ladder frame chassis, wheels, tires and gears, and various other items for the scratch builders. They also made an agreement with Pittman to sell their motors in Revell-Pittman packaging, under the RP66 and RP77 names. Next were complete kits in 1/32 and 1/24 scale, with injected bodies of good quality and accuracy, of typical sports and racing cars of the early 1960’s. Their 1/32-scale Corvette Sting Ray, Ferrari 250 GTO, Aston-Martin DB5 and Mercedes-Benz 300SL kits were quickly joined by a Cobra roadster. All were sold in colorful boxes with the parts sealed under shrink-wrap and presented on a colored card tray. On the 1/24 front, a Lotus 23 and a PORSCHE RS60 followed the original BRM and Lotus-Ford F1s.
Unusual motor-less BRM sent to many potential raceway investors.)
Interesting array of early Revell Corvette body kits, with blue ’65 mixed with ’63 “split-window” in 2 different boxes, and 2 factory test shots molded in gray and clear plastic.)
These, along with re-issues of earlier kits, were available in new styrofoam trays with card tops, sporting updated graphics. All these kits used two variations of the ladder frame, and Mabuchi’s new FT16 motor, supposedly a Russkit exclusive.
RTR versions of all the 1/32 cars were also available in sets, with simpler one-piece stamped aluminum chassis and pressed-on plastic, later aluminum wheels. Mabuchi’s cheaper 15R motor was later upgraded to FT16.
These were sold in several sets, one of them a large 4-lane job in a huge corrugated box.
By 1964, Revell added to the line three 1/24 kits, a Cobra roadster, a Ferrari GTO and a Corvette Sting Ray. These had new aluminum chassis fitted with a blue FT36 motor, wider wheels at rear with molded foam-rubber slicks, and actual water slide decals instead of the earlier self adhesive paper decals. All of the above were also available as separate body kits.
More Revell test shots showing unusual colors: white Corvette, red and white Cooper-Cobras, white Lotus 23 and Lotus-Ford, with never-issued brass versions of the ladder frame. Courtesy, Mark Butcher.)
Also added were two weirdo kits of the Ed “Big Daddy” Roth-designed “Rat-Fink” and “Mister Gasser” based on the BRM and Lotus-Ford kits.
Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s RatFink kit and assembled car. Very strange indeed, but straight out of the Von Dutch, George Barris and other 1960s school of dope-smoking crazies…)
The good-looking 1/24 Cobra roadster. Courtesy Bill Wessels.)
The 1/32 Cobra roadster, made from the available body kit, surrounded by factory test shots in interesting but probably never produced colors. Courtesy Mark Butcher.)
All these were produced through 1965, but the demand for more sophisticated products forced Revell into the vacuum-forming technology.
Their first attempt was the production of kits using a clear plastic Genie-Ford or Ford GT40 roadster body, mounted on a brass rod and plate chassis with soldered joints. This fully assembled chassis had stamped aluminum wheels and molded Firestone slick tires. The sidewinder “Fireball” FT36D motor drove through new molded Delrin gears. Other bodies were also available separately.
The Genie-Ford kit, with removed clear plastic top and body to show mechanical components, flanked by a Mustang GT350 and a Cobra roadster, both using the same chassis and the available Revell clear plastic bodies. Courtesy Bill Wessels.)
By 1966, Revell re-issued the Cobra, Ferrari and Corvette 1/24 kits with a new FT16D silver-colored motor. Dubbed “Fireball” after their motor, with the same boxes now over printed in silver and black, they are very scarce today.
Brand new were the 1/32 Cooper-Cobra and Chaparral 2 kits, with 3-piece brass frames using the Fireball motor as stressed member. The Cooper was modeled after the Pete Brock-designed “Lang” Cooper driven by Ed Leslie and Charlie Hayes. The Chaparral was the 1965 2A model, nicely rendered by Revell.
the 1/32 Chaparral 2 kit is harder to find than the Cooper-Cobra. It was apparently not re-issued in the later short box, as the Cooper was.)
But the big news were the 1/24 vac-bodied, asymmetrical-chassied, FT36D-powered Ford GT coupe and roadster, Lotus 30, Genie-Ford, Lola T70 and Chaparral 2 cars. The aluminum frame had a spring-loaded drop arm, and the motor was centered so that its weight was distributed equally on each side of the car.
Production (left) and hand-made prototype of 1/24 asymmetrical chassis. Note Halibrand-styled mag wheels.)
A new “quick change” guide flag was used on all these cars, sold in either kit or RTR versions. The factory-painted bodies were of superb quality, only surpassed by Lancer’s. The cars had a black card cockpit insert masking the mechanical details, and an injection-molded driver with, as in all Revell slot cars, a big smile on his face.
The beautiful cast-aluminum wheels were of a Halibrand or Cobra design, and exist in various widths. Award-winning packaging was nothing short of fantastic. Kits in particular, had a large box with clear plastic cover allowing complete viewing of all components.
The Genie-Ford kit is superb. Even the bottom of the box has beautifully printed pictures of other cars available in series. Few boxes have survived intact.)
RTR versions of Lola T70, Chaparral 2 and Ford GT40 coupe. Lola and Chaparral are harder to find than others.)
Re-issues of the 1/32 Cooper-Cobra, Chaparral 2, Corvette Sting Ray, Cobra roadster, Mercedes 300SL and Ferrari GTO, using new interior moldings allowing the use of the 3-piece brass chassis, are now very hard to find. They were sometimes issued in previously unseen colors. They had new boxes with photomontage style graphics.
1/32 Mercedes-Benz 300SL assembled from kit, with rare second series test shots in never issued colors. Also shown is the special chassis mount for the 3-piece brass chassis.)
Scarce second series Corvette kit. Box graphics were changed for the third time in 3 years.)
Rare Cooper-Cobra “second series” kit, in shorter box, with new graphics.)
Revell also produced a 1/24 Cobra roadster using their factory-painted vac-formed body and a similar black plastic chassis to their previously issued Lotus and Porsche “set” cars. Main difference was the use of gray sponge tires on new aluminum wheels.
All these, and a large array of spare parts, were available through regular distributors, plus new Revell Raceway centers, opening in the Los Angeles area. Revell sold their commercial tracks worldwide, and the author remembers well the huge racing center that opened on Rue Erlanger in Paris, France.
But the clouds were already on the horizon. Revell announced a whole new line of stock car and Indy-styled bodies, but they were never issued, and, while prototypes were made and survived, the planned Lotus 38, Plymouth Belvedere and Dodge Coronet RTRs never saw production. Revell quit their 1/24 slot racing production in late 1967.
In 1967,well-known engineer/car designer Peter Brock was commissioned by Revell to design a line of slot car “thingies”. This photo shows his handiwork, a never completed clay model of the first car. Courtesy Peter Brock.)
But it continued to make home racing sets through 1970, with plastic-chassied cars using old and new bodies. Joining the line-up were a Mustang, Camaro, Cougar and Pontiac Trans Am cars, and a 1955 Ferrari Squalo F1 car, a very odd choice, with the old Ferrari 250 GTO, now with molded-in front lights, soldiering on.
Last issued were the Dune Buggy, which proved very popular as numerous example can still be found, and the scarce ’68 AMX and Corvette.
This was the end, and Revell sold their track tooling to Riggen Industries in 1971. REH of Cincinnati now owns and continues to produce this good quality track.