1953 promo models

[Flashback]

Can anyone share a little information on the 53 promo models ? Such as was AMT the only company ? How many variations were there ? Was there any rymn or reason to which ones had glass, were friction. rollers, wind up, DC
powered, or other info, such as the three car kit. THANKS

[jims53]

Christmas 1952 I was 9 years old my father was a mechanic at a Studebaker Dealership. The owner of the Dealership gave me this model as a Christmas present at the Christmas party. The party was held at the local Hotel. It's had a very hard life as you can see... It has a friction motor that still works.




Jim

[drew72mgb]

I have a white with light blue top 1953 Studebaker promo - which was made by AMT. It has windows (clear acetate - which warped) and it is friction drive. i have another "parts car" - the top has been split and pieces of the posts are gone - it is a pea green color, body and top.

I have heard, might have a picture - of the 3 car "kit" - the Studebaker and the Ford (Indy 500 Pace Car) and a third car was included. The "kit" was unassembled promos with little containers of paint.

Have no idea what colors were available, have heard the two-tones were "deluxes" and may be dealer-only. In later years, the friction ones in strange colors were toys sold by stores, and the factory colored ones, with friction drive were dealer items.

Factory promotionals were pretty much a thing of the past when I started to collect them

Studes were done in 1935 - in 2 sizes - the 1/48 ? scale World's Fair - and a larger version.
Promothional Models did a slush cast 1948
AMT did the 1950 Starlight Coupe, revised in 1951, and 1952.
AMT did the 1954 and 1955.
AMT did a Golden Hawk in 1956.
Johan did the Lark in 1959 (without interior), 1960, 1961 and 1962 - with interiors - and hardtops and convertibles. The 1962 Lark was available as model kits.

Drew

[Bordeaux Daytona]

Banthrico also made a slush cast bank, I'm not sure if it was a 53 or a 54 or if they did both years.
They're rare and expensive.

[j.byrd]

Flashback, I have already sold all of mine, but there was a coral like color with a beige top, a gray one with a battery powered handle that made it go forward and back and steered, another one that I can't remember the colors, but had diamond looking headlights, the ones the other fellows have described, etc. All of mine including the 56 G-Hawk were from very slightly warped to badly warped, and the bumpers usually stick out too far from shrinkage on a lot of the first promos. They are all still very neat tho'. I will try to put pics with this of some of them, John

[dusty taylor]

Here are some of the colors of the 1953's that I have. I know there are a lot more colors our there, but I do not know if any of them ever came with windows/glass. There were some that were coasters, and some friction. But, I don't think that any of them were wind up. I know there was a 3 model AMT built, but I do not know which cars it had in it for sure. I think one was a Studebaker, a Pontiac and a Ford. And of course you get into the remote cars. On all the remote cars I have seen more of the gray color than any other. Hope this helps, and I will post pictures of some of the ones I have. Thanks

[dusty taylor]

Here is some more. Dusty

[dusty taylor]

Here is some more. Dusty

[Steve T]

Dusty--

Holy cow! That's a nice selection of Stude promos...

Here's the only vintage '53 model I've got (and still the only '53 I have in 1:24/25 at all). Found it in an antique market in Cambridge ON. Also got one of the remote-control '52s there. The '53 is windowless and a bit warped, but I found the "kustom" paintwork charming...



Here's the '53 again with the r/c '52 Starlight and a not-quite-complete '59 Lark HT for company. I've also got another '52 in maroon (non-remote) and two JoHan '62 Larks, but certainly nothing anything like your impressive stash!



S.

[dusty taylor]

Thanks, Steve but our son has more than I do. He has more '61's than I do. When he sees this tonight, maybe he can post some pics, if he has some taken. Dusty

[klifton1]

I have a 53 promo with 54 colors. Sandusky Beige top and Shoshone Red bottom. It's not a repaint, friction motor, and windows.
Klif

[Studedude]

Very impressive collections!

Thanks for sharing.

[Flashback]

Thanks for all the pictures and info. I have six or seven. One remote, some others, rollers and some friction. I have one wind up. Anyone have a wind up in a color other tan gray. I will try to post some pictures. Hope to hear about others and see more of pictures from eveyone. Thanks

[Effie]

This one is a little larger than a promo, 9" long.

Banthrico also made a slush cast Hawk.