The Diecast Zone · Model Car Club Since 1997
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Topic starter
13/06/2020 2:57 pm
50 years ago this weekend,
Porsche achieved their first Le Mans 24-hour victory, and also 2nd and 3rd place. Hans Hermann and Dickie Attwood drove the Porsche factory-entered 917K to victory with a comfy 5-lap lead over the second place 917L.
Through the years I've owned at least 5 versions of this important race car. Solido made one with reasonably accurate decals - I found mine in a hobby shop in Chicago in 1973. Must have been a low production run because (in pre-ebay days) I never saw another.
AutoArt, Minichamps, Spark, Ixo, and undoubtedly others made versions. I sold the AutoArt because their casting seemed to make the roof a little flat. The Minichamps (from their Le Mans dealer set) reflects the museum version, not the as-raced car (I think they issued a race version later in a flip box). The Spark had some curious black lining around the engine cover - I couldn't find photos showing this (but they may be out there), so off it went. I've held onto the Ixo (sorry, no pic).
Here's the Solido:
photo no longer available
photo no longer available
13/06/2020 4:50 pm
Did you buy it at Trost Hobbies, Harvey?
That was THE hobby shop for car stuff back in the day.
That's where I got my Solido race cars.
.
14/06/2020 12:04 am
Solido 917 Le Mans 1970
Yes the #23 was from memory a limited production ,not easily found
Topic starter
14/06/2020 3:11 am
I bought a lot at Trost during the early 1970's while in college, but not this one.
You are helping me dig up a lot of memories John! Benty Hobbies on the north side (Belmont I recall) was the source for this Solido. In an era when Solidos were $3.50-$4.00 each, I paid a premium ($5.00) for this one. I guess they knew what they had, or it was just higher prices on Chicago's north side.
Trost was where I bought a lot of Wiking HO models, Rios, Solidos, my first NZG and Gescha (now Conrad) models and maybe my first Schuco 1:43 German cars (1973-1977). Some of these still have the TMAH sticker on them (Trost Model and Hobby). A trip back to Chicago for a frat brother's wedding usually meant a side trip to Trost.
After 30 years in Oak Ridge I still haven't learned a lot of the street names here. But I still recall Belmont was 3200 north, and Trost was on 63rd between California and Kedsie on the south side. Sure miss the era of brick and mortar locally-owned hobby shops.
14/06/2020 4:46 am
I don't remember ever going to Trost! Oh well. They were still there in 2002...
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2002-12-20-0212200380-story.html
And the son tried for a few more years, giving up in 2006, I read.
14/06/2020 5:17 am
Trost was a wholesaler, too
The Trost wholesale warehouse was located on 47th Street. Their retail store was on 63rd, just east of Kedzie.
I lived about 4 miles from the retail store, and would ride there on my bike once a month. Except in winter...you've experienced Chicago winters, Harvey, no need to explain further!
McDonald's had only about 250 locations in the US in the early 60s, so it was still a novel experience to eat there. One of them was on 57th and Kedzie.
So whatever money I hadn't spent on model kits and Profile Publications would be spent on 13 cent hamburgers and 15 cent fries and 20 cent milkshakes. I felt like such an "adult", being able to buy myself an entire meal!
Trost also had a slot car layout in the back room where you could pay 50 cents and race your friends or the hotshots who brought their own modified cars knowing they would whup your ass and hoped you'd be dumb enough to do a side bet with them before the race.
As I got a little older, I noticed the Solidos and Rios they stocked near the store entrance, and, well...there went my "allowance", for the next 50 years!
Wondering how some of you other guys became tiny toy car addicts.
And how kids these days will ever join us now that there are no longer local hobby shops to tempt and educate them.
.
Topic starter
14/06/2020 6:41 am
Nashville still has this one - Karl and I knew it well.
photo no longer available
At least it was still there in 2011 when I made this pic.
Topic starter
14/06/2020 6:53 am
And Karl just reminded me of one I forgot - the Safir Super Champions version.
These were issued in sets of six and the 917 set included both 917K and 917L versions. They were plastic with a metal base. They were, to be frank, a bit awful, especially by today's standards. I also had their Lola T70 set, and I think there was a Ferrari 512 set too.
14/06/2020 7:06 am
Thanks for those nice memories about Trost, quite a place. Later on I joined a model club and met one of Trost's warehouse men before he went to work for Monogram Models. And I also remember those Safir Super Champions even the Lola coupes.
Topic starter
14/06/2020 7:40 am
Just took pics of the Ixo 917.
photo no longer available
photo no longer available
14/06/2020 1:31 pm
Don, was that guy named Bill?
If we are thinking about the same guy...years later I bought a Marsh Models McLeagle from him that he built from a Marsh kit.
His build was just as perfect as a "factory-built" Marsh would have been.
I was in awe of his skills.
.
15/06/2020 1:01 pm
John that was Bill Lastovich and he along with Jack Willer and I started the Strictly 43rd model show. And I also remember you too. Hi!
15/06/2020 3:31 pm
That's him!
Couldn't remember the last name. Bill Lastovich it is. What a great kit builder he was.
Yep, your energy created the world famous Strictly 43rd shows. Good times!
We miss your energy, Don, but you have earned a peaceful retirement.
Thanks very much for getting everything started.