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Identifying Those Really Shiny Chassis, page 2, the plot thickens.
by Jim Allen, March 19, 2004
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The day I posted Chassis 1 on the Message Board, Graham Windle (UK) and John Secchi (UK)
recognised it as something sold by Davenport and Fordham, distributors for Mura in the early 70s.
John pointed out the location of an ad in Model Cars magazine, March 1970, picturing them.
Sure enough, here are BOTH Chassis 1 (left) and Chassis 2 (right)!
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Mura?
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But this wasn't the end of the story...
On the same day, Bill remembered it as something Riggen might have produced, and sure enough,
in Auto World 1971, page 172, I found this chassis ad. Say, isn't that Chassis 2 again?
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Riggen?
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Several people wrote me emails saying these chassis were made by Champion,
but several others wrote saying that these chassis were often incorrectly identified as Champion!
Indeed, Champion did release a number of shiny chassis, but it seems to me the quality of the finish
was not as mirror-like as Chassis 1 and Chassis 2. Also, the Champion shine seems to yellow slightly over the years,
as my Champion 290 Stamped Pan Anglewinder, pictured below, or Al Penrose's Champion 292, pictured below that, shows.
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My Champion 290 - Not the same mirror-like finish.
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Al Penrose's Champion 292 - Again, not the same mirror-like finish.
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A number of people (including Steve) wrote to me that my chassis can be purchased today from American Line.
At this link, you once could (and still might, somewhere) see the shiny
American Line AML 1011.
Yes, it is Chassis 2 again! I suspect mine is one of these. Really. I think.
Uh, but what is it? An old chassis made new, or a new chassis made to look old?
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The most recent info comes from Doug Azary, who found a 2 column article introducing
the $6 Riggen NCC Group 20 chassis, in Car Model Science, February, 1970. Look, it is Chassis 2 again!
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Riggen again. Right?
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Have we got these two chassis identified yet? I'm afraid to say
one way or another, as there have been several twists and turns!
By what names would you call Chassis 1 and Chassis 2? I welcome comments,
suggestions and further leads into the story of these really shiny slot car chassis.
Jim Allen, March 19, 2004
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