ManicSlots' slot cars and scenery: IMMORTAL: Scalex Mustang

IMMORTAL SLOT CARS

Scalextric Boss 302 Mustang

From time to time, ManicSlots is going to take a look at some of the 'immortal' slot cars that have been produced since the 'Fly' revolution of 1996. In 1996 Fly released the Viper, a slot car that would change the direction of the 1/32 slot car industry forever! Fly let us know that slot cars could actually resemble a racing car and introduced the slot car industry to the 'D' word, detail!

Scalextric really knew what they were doing when they decided to release the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang. The Boss 302 Mustang and Camaro have to be Scalextrics most liveried slot cars and therefore arguably, their most successful.

Of all the Mustang liveries that Scalextric have released, the Parnelli Jones and George Follmer Red, blue and white Mustang from the Trans Am races of the 1960s have to be some of the most popular. Scalextric released both of these cars in Sport and Standard editions, a mint Sport edition, (limited to 4400, this is no. 1874) is becoming quite hard to acquire.

This from Wikipedia: 'The SCCA Trans-Am series (from which the famed Pontiac Trans-Am gained its moniker) was hugely popular in the late 1960s. A version of "stock-car" racing, the five-liter class saw Detroit build some impressive handling sedans to compete. The Boss 302 program was part of an effort by the Ford Motor Company to win the coveted SCCA Trans-Am Championship in 1969 and 1970. The factory effort was headed up by the famed Bud Moore, who fielded two cars in the 1970 season, and won the championship that year, edging out the entries of Roger Penske, who leading driver Mark Donohue lost out to George Follmer. The Penske cars had triumphed in 1968 and 1969. The Boss 302's direct competition in the 1970 series were the AAR Cudas, the Pontiac Trans-Am, the AMC Javelin, and the Penske Camaros. As the cars had to be homologated to compete, the Detroit auto builders came up with interesting models to go racing with. The Ford entry for 1969 and 1970 was the Boss 302 Mustang.'

Graham Smith (Unique Cars May 1998) - 'It exploded into view like a brilliant red starburst and roared past in a blur of colour and noise. It was like nothing ever seen before and along with its driver would rock Australian motor sport to its very foundations in the years to come.'

"The time was April 1969, the place Sandown and the car was a 1969 Trans Am Mustang, the most advanced touring car to race in Australia up that point. At the wheel was Allan Moffat, the first truly professional racing driver to compete here, and on its flanks were Coca-Cola stickers suggesting he had the million dollar backing of the world’s largest soft drink manufacturer.

Rival racers feared the potent Mustang, they feared the determined Moffat, and they feared the Coke money. Their fears were well founded for Moffat and the Mustang would recast the mould of Australian motor racing.

The Sandown meeting was a relatively minor affair, but it pitted the tin-top heroes of the day against each other in a series of three 10-lap sprint races. Against the best Australia could offer, Moffat won all three races in what was a perfect start for a car that would go on to win 101 of its 151 race starts. Sandown was also the world debut of the ’69 Trans Am, and Moffat’s was its first win. Moffat’s rivals were shocked by the ease of the wins and struggled to come to grips with the reality of the car’s potential."

The no. 9 Moffat Mustang was released by Scalextric in 2008 as a limited edition run of 3500, this is car 268. Regardless of its racing history and Australian connection, this slot is one of the most impressive liveries to ever grace my track. If you can acquire one I strongly suggest you do so, the Moffat Mustang is one stunning slot.