Nice Example of Heathkit RC History

[mrlexan]

Thought I would share this with you guys. They don't get much older than this (I have really gotten into the ancient stuff lately). I don't know the actual release year of these, but they were popular in the late 1960's. This is a 1/8th scale Heathkit with a Ford GT40 based body. I got this from a guy that I worked with at Roush for about 5 years or so. I didn't even know he had it sitting in his garage the whole time we worked together and found out about at week before I was leaving Roush. Everything is aluminum, including the wheels. Tires are hard rubber with Firestone molded in the side. The bodies are really brittle vac formed plastic, one smack and it is completely destroyed....... this one does not have a crack in it. They are really hard to find never run or in this conditon. Even the wife liked it and suggested that we display it in the living room of our apartment (a rarity in itself). Hope you enjoy the pics.

Jay

[badhoopty]

thats pretty stylin'

got any pics with that inside cover removed? whats in there?

[Eau Rouge]

That's cool. Reminds me of my first real R/C car when I was about 5 or 6 in 1975. It was a Jomac/Jerobee McLaren M8B with a tiny little .09 glow engine. Cool little car. They still pop up on eBay every once in a while.

[Halgar]

Pretty darned cool, including the fact the wife wants to display it!

[Asso_man!]

Pretty darned cool, including the fact the wife wants to display it!

She will also have to clean all the fly/bird poo before displaying it, Jay don't let her do that, it could be a trick to destroy it having an excuse for not blaming her

[mrlexan]

That is dried paint dust from we sanding............ I am going to eventually sand it down and give it a period correct paint scheme, racing stripes with a number "meatball" on the sides and hood should do the trick.

[Halgar]

Do you guys have a projects forum over here? It would be fun to watch the process on this car, see what's in the mystery box and all that.

[mrlexan]

No, but I would just simply could make it a project thread.

[Halgar]

No, but I would just simply could make it a project thread.

My God man!!! Get to it!!!

[arf]

Perfect one on Ebay.

[bearrickster]

Thats pretty Cool I have never seen one. you should paint it up Like the Gulf GT forty baby blue and orange

[The Hybrid]

Do you guys have a projects forum over here? It would be fun to watch the process on this car, see what's in the mystery box and all that.

Wow sweet piece of RC history!!!

I agree with Halgar we should have a projects forum...or strange builds like parts from a bunch of cars into 1 RC...Just a thought...

[Bongo Fury]

Wow, sorry for dragging up a slightly old thread, but I simply must thank Mr. Lexan and Arf for posting these pictures.

I can’t remember details, but lusting after a ‘60s HeathKit RC was the seed for my later flashback that got me, and now my kid, in this whole mess. I have asked around a few sites before, but this is the first I’ve had the pleasure of seeing.

Cragar SS style wheels, cool looking bodies with incredible credentials that I followed intensely in the day. Partly because of the Dan Gurney and A.J. connections, did I mention that I grew up “Back Home Again in Indiana”? Man this even makes me feel a little younger. Combined with being around both mentioned Gentlemen in my Stock Car crew days. Later I had a chance to work a little on the new GT-40 too.

Anybody know if these are really HeathKit items, or sourced from someone?

Massively appreciated guys. Please post any follow ups as appropriate.

Cheers, Dave

[mrlexan]

The only new info I have learned was the Spectre came out in 1970 (at least so I have read).

[tomolupus]

Here´s some purdee pitchers n some info.
http://www.rcmagvintage.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=15173
http://www.rcmagvintage.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=15753

in english n french