I have 2 special run cars from the MPC era (and any era for that matter that I'm aware of) and I was wondering if this sort of thing was common. I got this car quite a while back but finally got off my duff and took pictures!
My 6-9467 1982 World's Fair Box Car came with a very interresting and unexpected surprise.
I've never heard of a Lionel car of the MPC era or any other coming with a car blueprint. On a separate sheet the same size is this order form from the hobby shop that comissioned the car:
Note that the run from Lionel was for 2500 units. Nothing special about my car as near as I can tell.
There is a number stamped on one of the inner flaps though.
So is this common? Did Lionel include bluprints in other special runs or is this peculiar to this run only?
This is the only other special run car I have and as far as I know they just bought the cars from Lionel and repainted them:
How could I resist?
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Yes there are others. I'm restricting my answer to individual box cars produced for sale by a thirty party. This eliminates boxcars that came in promotional sets, boxcars Lionel distributed directly to employees, individual boxcars Lionel provided directly to dealers as "specials", or boxcars Lionel distributed and/or sold at events such as Toy Fair.
The two most similar were also produced in '82. The 9466 Wanamaker Rail Line boxcar produced for Wanamaker Department Store for which 2500 were produced. The other is the NIBCO boxcar made for NIBCO Plumbing Products for which 500 were produced.
The very first one was the 6464-500 Timken boxcar made in '70 for a dealer, Glen Uhl of Ohio. My best guess is the quantity produced was around 3500. This boxcar with -1970 & -1971 was also produced for TAC in the two respective years. The last one I aware of is the 7403 LNAC produced in '84 for LCCA.
I know that Lionel produced undecorated cars for third parties to decorate. I don't think they is any way to track any of this during the MPC era. I doubt these cars have much value in the corrector market.
Papa D
That's an interesting boxcar. However the Greenburg's guide does not list it as being that valueable a car. Also from what I have seen you will need to find a person really wants to buy it if you decide to sell, otherwise you are stuck with it.
I bought it because I went to the fair.
I think you got your self a couple of treasures there Becky that mean something to you. Maybe not others but the one car with all the added paper work is a cool addition.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Hey, as long as YOU like it that's all that matters. Who cares what it is or isn't worth?
Papa_DI know that Lionel produced un decorated cars for third parties to decorate. I don't think they is any way to track any of this during the MPC era. I doubt these cars have much value in the corrector market.
I know that Lionel made unpainted EP-5 and F3 shells available in the first half of the 1970s. And I've obtained some unpainted Alco shells. When did Lionel make blank boxcar shells available?
i should have added to my first reply that although the 3MI boxcar might not have much collector value, it is a really neat looking car.
cwburfle
The 3MI boxcar is a 9400 series body sold by Newbraugh Brothers Toys to the Alantic Division TAC for their Nov '79 quarterly meeting held at Westover Country Club. NBT used Pleasant Valley Process to do the screen printing. NBT provided custom decorated train cars for over 25 years in the '70's, '80's, and '90's using various screen printers. Not all the cars were made by Lionel. Many were made using AMT molds in Asia. I've seen a TAC Museum "Carlisle & Finch Co." boxcar box that has on the label this statement; "This is a LIONEL product decorated or with additional markings by Pleasant Valley Process".
I'm not a member of TAC. Long time members should be able to shed more light on the topic.
thanks for showing these Penny
Dave
It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody from Toy Story)
Papa_DNot all the cars were made by Lionel.
I've seen the TMI car also in Standard Gauge using a McCoy car. The O gauge version pictured above has tan paint remnants which make me wonder if it started life as a car from the tobacco road series. It does look in places like it had been sanded.
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