For those of you with an interest in these 1:24 scale die casts, I wanted to share the arrival of the #96 car that showed up in my mail this past Friday.
It is the prototype that they said they were going to send for my final approval. It has NO serial number. What I was most impressed with was the details and the weight. It is quite heavy and seems to have more details than the one they showed me at the contract signing.
I have enclosed some pictures, but I am not a great photographer. Sorry about that. The trunk shows the fuel valve and the overflow valve. The engine compartment has an air cleaner and spark plug wires. All wheels turn and the front ones steer.
It has all the correct decals and proper signs, including the one just behind the quarter window that is rectangular decal indicating that we were one of three 'underdogs' for that race that Charlotte Motor Speedway (now Lowes) indicated might have a chance of winning the race from a lower funded team.
The 'W' with a 'C' around it that is just to the rear of that decal is my signature. It is how I signed autographs at the time, and I had decsals made to make it cheaper to put on the car. The same "W" /"C" on the hood indicates the name of my race car shop, "White Crown Engineering"
I am somewhat surprised that Lionel company would consider replicating this car after so many years, but it sure has ignited a great flood of memories.
updated by @will-cronkrite: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
