by BIG E » Mon Dec 12, 2016 11:29 pm
For me it has to be my first Aurora Model Motoring Thunderjet 500 set, Christmas 1963. I had already been racing Aurora "vibrator" type HO cars with some of my friends and had purchased a couple of the new Thunderjet 500 cars and Hop Up Kits during the 1963 year when they had become available. Myself and a few others in the neighborhood also had ELDON 1/32 sets and cars in 1962, but we all quickly gravitated to the newer "high performance" HO stuff in 1963.
My new Aurora set was the $24.95 model, a deluxe two laner including one tan and one grey steering wheel speed controllers, 0-120 mph dials with reverse switch and "brake", 20 volt "tan tin can" power supply, guardrail and bridge post set. The cars included were a standard (not olive) green '63 Buick Riviera and a red '63 Corvette Stingray "split window" coupe. I soon traded away all my model trains after that day! I have been trying to find the 8mm reel to reel home movies my Dad filmed of me running the set (on the former train table) later Christmas day. He says they are definitely still in the house, so with this re-organization project we're going through I hope that box of films turns up. There are lots of other cool childhood memories in that box, so converting it to DVD format is a must.
A close second place would have to be the REMCO "Shark" late 1950s design Indianapolis "U-Control" racer. Fully assembled at the factory, bright orange plastic body/chassis, 18 inches long, tires about 4 inches in diameter by 1 inch wide, with 4 "RayoVac" flashlight (1.5V D cell) batteries under the hood! That's the most fun I ever had without the car following a slot in the track! I now own two of them, one with original box and packaging.
Man, we had some cool stuff back then. A safe and happy holidays to all... Enjoy!! -- Ernie :>)