A little while ago you mentioned the Matchbox Snow-Trac model. As a boy, this was one of my favourite Matchbox models, so I thought it deserved a write-up.
The real Snow-Trac was a Swedish vehicle, with a Volkswagen engine, built from 1957 to 1981. It was widely exported, and saw both military and civilian use. It could carry an impressive seven people, with a single entry door at the rear. There is a Wikipedia article which includes a section on toys, and this led to a couple of other Snow-Trac items which I thought might also be of interest.
I had always thought that the Snow-Trac was a fairly large vehicle, until I actually saw one in a movie. It is only about the size of a Jeep. Space Invasion of Lapland, or Terror in the Midnight Sun, is a Swedish science fiction movie from 1959, with several good shots of the vehicle, clearly showing just how small it is. The film was later re-edited, with new scenes, and released as Invasion of the Animal People. Both versions are available on a DVD by Something Weird Video in America. It seems there was also a Snow-Trac in The Shining.
Snow Trac - Wikipedia
The Matchbox Snow-Trac came out in 1964, and was the second model in the 1-75 series to carry the number 35. The first was the ERF motor horsebox. The Snow-Trac was retired in 1969. There was only one colour scheme. Red body, with a silver base and grille, black plastic rollers, white rubber tracks which seldom survive today (although reproductions are available). There is a towing hook. The windows were tinted green, but there was no interior. The Snow-Trac name appears on the body sides, below the windows, either as white decals or cast-in.
The base carries the words Snow-Trac, "Matchbox" Series No35, Made in England, by Lesney.
The site vintagebritishdiecasts.co.uk goes into great detail on all the early Matchbox variations. This is
the entry for the Snow-Trac. Lesney matchbox 35b Snow Trac (vintagebritishdiecasts.co.uk)
There was a series of eight jig-saw puzzles, one of which featured the Snow-Trac. All depicted one or two Matchbox models in a realistic setting. According to this item on Worthpoint, the puzzles were released by the Fred Bonner Corporation in the US in 1969, so I am not sure if they were available in Britain. Size 5 in by 7 in, 40 pieces contained within an outer frame. There is a circular hole in the top of the frame, so I assume these were intended to hang on a peg.
RARE!! COMPLETE SET OF 8 1969 LESNEY MATCHBOX 5X7 PUZZLES EXCELLENT! | #429924540 (worthpoint.com)
The Australian company Rosenhain and Lipman included a Snow-Trac in their line of cereal toys. These were very small snap-together kits. They were re-issued by Aurora in the US in sets (usually of four models) as Snap-a-roos. Was the Roo part of the name a reference to their Australian origin ? The Snow Trac was included in the Antarctic Explorers set, along with a dog sled and figures.
AURORA SNAP A ROOS 1975 ANTARCTIC EXPLORERS SEAL PENGUIN SLED SNOW TRAC MINT | #1843793009 (worthpoint.com)
As my own model is a little battered, the photos here are from Ebay.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Also used by Derek Meddings team in the 'Thunderbirds are Go' movie and the episode 'The Cham Cham'. There's a fun site here that shows the diecast toys that were used in Thunderbirds- https://thunderbirds.fandom.com/wiki/Die-Cast_Toy_Vehicles
ReplyDeleteThere is an episode of 'Salvage Squad' where the team restore one of the real vehicles, with the matchbox toy as their inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHad to dig mine out to check it over (its been sat in a box with a load of my other childhood toys, occaisionally dragged out to bring back memories). Hadn't noticed the windows were green doh! Mine is still in pretty good shape other than missing its tracks and minor paint loss. Now I've got to delve into my memories to see if I can remember what year I recieved it (definitely a Xmas pressie). Tis a very nice toy, thanx for the detailed write-up.
ReplyDeleteI have one of these, kind of a must have when one is a kid in Michigan. I have no recollection of the tracks being white, mine were the dirty pale grey in your top picture. I'll just presume they were white and discolored rather quickly as they got dirty.
ReplyDeleteThere's a nice big plastic version of this toy. I think it was Merehall.
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