Paul V reminded me that Mattel Sizzlers toy cars were motorised. My curiosity to see them 'in the flesh' got the better of me so here's a TV advert from 1970 courtesy of You Tube.
Its a fine looking fleet of cars. Does anyone collect them?
How does the motor work? Does anyone know?
Hi Woodsy,
ReplyDeleteI had regular Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightnings as a child, but never Sizzlers. Always wanted them. About 4-5 years ago the Sizzler line was re-released in the US, both the cars and the track sets. I picked up many of the cars, and one track set. Love them! I never knew anyone that had the originals as a child, but if they are close to the originals (and it looks like they were) I know I would have loved them then!
Jim
Sacramento, CA
Hey that's super Jim! dare I say sizzlin! Any chance of some snaps of your collection for the blog? That would be cool!
DeleteSizzlers have an electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery. The charger looks like a petrol pump, and was included in all sets. To save weight, Sizzlers were all plastic as opposed to die-cast regular HotWheels cars.
ReplyDeleteAs Jim says, they were re-released in the 90s. By a company called Playing Mantis, which initially made use of a lapsed patent or the like, and then got into a huge legal battle with Mattel. Apparently they lost that, I just read, and it's now Mattel again that produces them. http://hotwheels.wikia.com/wiki/Sizzlers
Best -- Paul
Wow, I never knew they were plastic Paul. Thanks for the insights. Playing Mantis were the outfit that gave us re-issues of Aurora kits under the Polar Lights brand weren't they? I wouldn't like to take on Mattel given their size! Thinking about the plastic bodies of Sizzlers reminds me of those later Kidco cars, which were plastic too and came with a key on a fob, which inserted into the rear.
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