Indy Cars
1/24 1957 Kuzma #88 "Schmidt Special" - Eddie Sachs.
After not making the Indy 500 starting field in 1956, Eddie Sachs qualified second in 1957 with a speed of 143.872 mph for his first 500.
Unfortunately, a burnt piston on the 105th lap relegated him to a 23rd finishing position. Eddie, the "Clown Prince" would go on to become a legend at the speedway.
The Slot car shown here uses the #AML1013 American Line "Model T" brass inline chassis and vintage K&B Royal Bobcat 36d endbell drive motor. Any matching 36d motor will work.
The front axle carrier was scratch built from brass tube & 1/16" piano wire and soldered to the chassis pan.
Authentic Ulrich Halibrand mags are used as well as a Revell injection molded driver that resembles Eddie pretty close.
Car body was vacuformed by Dallas Booth and is all hand lettered by MZ except the small sponsor decals.
Exhaust pipe and windscreen are handmade.
After finishing the 1953 Indy 500 in 30th and then 10th in 1954, 1955 would be the last Indy 500 ride for Cal as he finished 16th due to a crash on the 170th lap.
The Slot car shown here uses the same #AML1013 American Line "Model T" brass inline chassis and vintage K&B Royal Bobcat 36d endbell drive motor as the Schmidt Special above.
The Booth body & Ulrich Halibrands as well as the handmade exhaust pipe and front axle carrier are the same. The driver is a Champion brand. The Fred Cady decal sheet was used on this one and is very accurate to the original lettering.
In his fifth Indy 500 start, Eddie would come the closest ever to the biggest win of his life but, it was not to be. After a fierce battle with A.J. Foyt, he pitted with three laps remaining for a "worn" right front tire thus, handing Foyt his first Indy 500 win of the record four he would go on to accomplish.
Many still think that Eddie "threw away" the win because of a promise he had made to his wife that he would retire from racing in the winners circle (as Sam Hanks did in 57') if he ever won the Indy 500. It was not to be and Eddie Sachs was killed in a fiery second lap crash at the Speedway in 1964.
The slot car was built in the early 90's as a test car for a new proposed GSRA race series, and uses a "Ray's Racin' stamped brass inline chassis & stock Parma 16d motor.
Body is a Booth Kurtis Kraft with Fred Cady decals. Exhaust pipe, roll bar & rear bumper are handmade.
Wheels/Tires are Classic brand aluminum spoked from the Manta Ray. Features include a steering wheel from a model kit and a hand painted Champion driver figure.
The class evolved away from this setup due to the limited availability of the chassis, (which was discontinued) and into the running gear of the first two cars on this page.
