Restoration project.

[Rastas]

I have wanted one of these for a while now so when I saw this on eBay I bid and won! It was listed as 1/32 strombecker but I don't think it is can any one give me some idea of what brand it is?

[strummer57]

...picture?...

Mark in Oregon

[Rastas]

IMG_20190911_120421.jpgIMG_20190911_120655.jpg

[strummer57]

Thanks. Looks like a nice score!

In my own (very limited) experience, I would guess the body looks to be Strombecker, but the chassis...? I'll be curious to see what someone who knows about this stuff will have to say...

Mark in Oregon

[waaytoomuchintothis]

That's a Strommy, all right. The Chaparral was one of the best looking bodies they had. They did a second Chaparral, too. Yours has screws to attach the body, which will help date it as an early one, as does the model railroad style motor. Most of the ones I've seen had little blue buttons that held the chassis by friction and a Mabuchi "can" motor.

[strummer57]

There you go...

Now I have a question: if this is an "early Strommy", how come it doesn't have the grey plastic frame?

..or were those those not used anymore by the time Strombecker came out with the Chapparal?

Mark in Oregon

[chappyman66]

Yup, Strom Chaparral 2A. They made a 2D coupe as well. Interesting enough, they are actually pretty decent models. The CanAm cars are close to scale meaning tiny relative to what we are used to seeing.

The metal chassis cars can run pretty good when cleaned up.

[Rastas]

1568663458847-90336230.jpg1568663254473-1967369961.jpgThank you, I couldn't find any name on the body or chassis that why I'm asking, on the chassis all there is ,is japan an the number 30291.

[chrisguyw]

Hi Rastas, Both the body and chassis are vintage Strombecker..........unfortunately, the chassis you have is their earliest "metal" (aluminum) 2 piece chassis, powered by their Strombecker "train" motor. Not the quickest/best handling Strombecker chassis (that is more than kind), and while it can be improved, most folks are not interested in the costs/work involved.

They did make several chassis variations....plastic/aluminum,...all plastic, ...and brass, and all of these are much better performing than the one you have,....sorry to say.

Their brass chassis has proper bronze axle bushings, threaded axles/wheels, a "Hemi" can 16D sized motor. and well sorted, it runs extremely well.

The good news is that all of their chassis fit (they are adjustable in length) the Chaparral (and all Strombecker sports car bodies from that series of cars)....and, they regularly show up on the auction site, and are not overly expensive.

Looks like you are missing the windscreen on the Chaparral as well, and these are also fairly easy to find.

Cheers
Chris Walker

I pulled a few pics. off of google images......I don't have access to my own pictures at the moment.

The first pic. is their plastic chassis with "can" motor........a step up from what you have,....while the rear axle assembly "clicks" in, it is certainly more precise that the version you have.



The second pic. is of their plastic/aluminum chassis, with the Stromecker "hemi" motor (a very good motor). This chassis has nylon rear axle bushings, aluminum wheels (press on), and is a better performer than the all plastic version.



And lastly is their "Pro" brass chassis.......hemi motor, bronze axle bushings, threaded axles with aluminum wheels........Strombeckers best by far, and tuned well, it makes for a very nice (quick) running car.

[NHBandit]

This is the other Chaparral they did. Also Strombecker but with the later plastic chassis held on with plastic pins.

[Mitch58]

As said above most defiantly a Strombecker. They had many different types of chassis over the years.