While we're looking at favourite cars, heres a nice little model I bought recently on ebay. Schuco Micro Racers have been made since the fifties, so I am unsure as to how old this one is, althought I suspect it is fairly modern, judging by the plastic radiator on the front.
The rubber tyres show age related wear and have begun to soften and break down. As you can see from the last photo, it was pretty knocked about when it arrived, so I touched up the bodywork a little.
The clockwork motor is beyond my means to repair, as the little lever which popped up in the cockpit, has sheared off and the gears inside have stripped one of the bearings.
Still at a discrete 3" long, its a lovely little model. Steering is effected by turning the knurled knob on the end of the exhaust. Its solid diecast construction and quite heavy. Maybe Ill come across another junker at some point and be able to teplace the little motor. Till then, its resting at the finish line.
A page from a Hawkins catalogue, kindly supplied by Andy B
Schuco was a brand I loved as a kid! I had a few of those Mini-Racers, but the prize of my collection was the motorized Schuco Disneyland Monorail. SFZ
ReplyDeleteAgain, I'm being educated. Never heard of these cheeky roadsters before! Lovely work Bill. New word for me too, knurled.
DeleteThese were still being marketed by Hawkin around 2000, having been manufactured in Hungary for a time.
ReplyDeleteThats probably it Andy - the body looks old, but the motor and the plastic front piece are much newer. Bill
DeleteFascinating stuff Andy and Bill!
DeleteDid you add the exhaust Bill?
ReplyDelete