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I found this model in a box of stuff I am going through. I can't find this variation in Charlie Mack's listing in "The Superfast Years". It has no labels and black wheels.

Does anyone know anything about this?







Thanks for any info you can pass along.

Kevin C

My initial reaction is playworn, but the paintwork is too good for that to be credible. In fact, the paint looks to be unusually matt. (Is it tacky by any chance?) How does the colour compare to a normal version?

Hello kmc500.

Interesting looking model. what is of note is the dull looking paint work i would normally expect to see a glossy finish. With regards the labels, some models did leave the factory without labels however they can be removed from any model with a little care and very little residue is left on the body work. It might be worth a closer look to see if there is any remains of label residue or a ghost image. With regards the silver foiling. Factory errors have occured with models missing the foiling process. Again it would be prudent to examine into the slots on the wheels for any silver foil as the foiling can be removed. I have several models that are convincing black hubbed models, that is until you look through a loupe and see the tiniest speck of foiling that has been left in the spoke.

One tip i would suggest is if the hub is a true black hub without factory applied foil having missed the foiling process then the edges of the spokes/slots should be a nice sharp edge. If the edges look in anyway slightly rounded then this would suggest that it has has some heat and pressure applied from the foiling process and the foiling has been removed after leaving the factory.

It should also be considered that the foiling can naturally be removed through children playing with these toys. The labels also sould be damaged by constant playing and some child in the past may have removed them to tidy up his toy. Just a thought!!

Idris wrote:My initial reaction is playworn, but the paintwork is too good for that to be credible. In fact, the paint looks to be unusually matt. (Is it tacky by any chance?) How does the colour compare to a normal version?

Here are some pictures of the model in question next to another of the same color.






Closeup of the wheels.





Thanks for the info.

Kevin C

motorman wrote:Hello kmc500.

Interesting looking model. what is of note is the dull looking paint work i would normally expect to see a glossy finish.

It may be the pictures I took - looks very similar to my old eyes as the other rat rod in the pictures above.

With regards the labels, some models did leave the factory without labels however they can be removed from any model with a little care and very little residue is left on the body work. It might be worth a closer look to see if there is any remains of label residue or a ghost image.

I don't see anything, but who knows. Probably does not mean much either way, but it was the first superfast variation I've found in a large collection that was not in the Mack book, thus my interest. I also think it looks so much nicer than the one with the RatRod decal/label (but that is just me).

With regards the silver foiling. Factory errors have occured with models missing the foiling process. Again it would be prudent to examine into the slots on the wheels for any silver foil as the foiling can be removed. I have several models that are convincing black hubbed models, that is until you look through a loupe and see the tiniest speck of foiling that has been left in the spoke.

One tip i would suggest is if the hub is a true black hub without factory applied foil having missed the foiling process then the edges of the spokes/slots should be a nice sharp edge. If the edges look in anyway slightly rounded then this would suggest that it has has some heat and pressure applied from the foiling process and the foiling has been removed after leaving the factory.

Thanks for the great information, I will certainly check it out further.

Kevin C

Looks to me like a standard example with stickers removed and wheel chrome worn off

SMS88 wrote:...and wheel chrome worn off

Perhaps more likely to have been deliberately removed given the paintwork?

Idris wrote:

SMS88 wrote:...and wheel chrome worn off

Perhaps more likely to have been deliberately removed given the paintwork?

What do you mean by "given the paintwork"? Do you mean the possible purposeful removal of the decal?

I know the previous owner of this model (who has passed away). I wish I could ask him about this; he was a dedicated collector from his first purchase in the late 60's, and although he made the occasional trade with his mates, as far as I know he never sold anything he collected.

Although nothing is for sure, I can state with fair certainty that he did not remove the decals or the foil. The model was in a five slot plastic matchbox display case, along with four other Rat Rods, two this color and two lighter colored models.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.

Kevin C

kmc500 wrote:

Idris wrote:

SMS88 wrote:...and wheel chrome worn off

Perhaps more likely to have been deliberately removed given the paintwork?

What do you mean by "given the paintwork"? Do you mean the possible purposeful removal of the decal?

I know the previous owner of this model (who has passed away). I wish I could ask him about this; he was a dedicated collector from his first purchase in the late 60's, and although he made the occasional trade with his mates, as far as I know he never sold anything he collected.

Although nothing is for sure, I can state with fair certainty that he did not remove the decals or the foil. The model was in a five slot plastic matchbox display case, along with four other Rat Rods, two this color and two lighter colored models.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.

Kevin C

Idris is highlighting the fact that there is very little wear on the bodywork. If the foiling on the wheels has been worn off through children playing with it as Mick appears to be suggesting then it would seem reasonable to expect to see a respective amount of playwear to the body work of which there is very little in your example. Therefore Idris is suggesting that the foiling may have been deliberately removed.

motorman wrote: Idris is highlighting the fact that there is very little wear on the bodywork. If the foiling on the wheels has been worn off through children playing with it as Mick appears to be suggesting then it would seem reasonable to expect to see a respective amount of playwear to the body work of which there is very little in your example. Therefore Idris is suggesting that the foiling may have been deliberately removed.

Thanks for the clarification.

I would agree that a lack of wear on the paintwork would surely add to the thought that the foil was not worn off. Unless that is the only possible explanation however, I don't necessarily see that that the logic would dictate that this was done purposely. I realize that the two things that make this model different (no decal/labels and black wheels) both can probably be removed without leaving a mark, that doesn't automatically follow, at least in my mind.

I will of course defer to you experts, but knowing some of the provenance of the model, I doubt this was done deliberately.

Thanks again for the help.

Kevin C