1:32 Lola Aston Martin LMP1 No. 007 slot car from Scalextric
Published:
August 11, 2011
Product: In 2009 Aston Martin teamed up with noted racing chassis maker Lola to create the Lola Aston Martin B09/60 intended to race in the Le Mans Prototype sports car category (LMP1) in Europe’s Le Mans series.
Racing is nothing new to Aston Martin, which won the famous French 24-hour race in 1959. But it hadn’t run a prototype car at Le Mans since 1989.
This new, beautifully detailed Scalextric slot car features the famous Gulf blue and orange livery made famous in the 1960s and ’70s on Ford GTs and Porsches.
It’s enough to tell customers that the Lola Aston won the overall Le Mans Series in Europe with the 007 car depicted here, while fourth at Le Mans. The car, which has a carbon-fiber chassis and V12 engine competed again in 2010 and a team is expected to field the car for the 2011 Le Mans 24-hour race.
Performance: Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but few racing fans will be able to resist this new Scalextric model, which is finely detailed with both a beautiful blue and orange and paint job, but with accurate sponsor markings. Plus it performs!
First, there are working front and rear lights; the front giving a Xenon effect that casts a wide and easy to see beam if you drive it in the dark.
Second, the Magnatraction system here works superbly with the magnets located near the rear tires to give the car good grip for cornering and keeping the back-end under control.
The Lola Aston is fast. On my track the car tested faster than any other Scalextric I’ve driven, except the open-wheel IndyCars and A1s.
For customers it’s good to note too that there are easy-change pick-ups so if the braids get worn they can easily swap them out. Also, for your digital slot car racers, the Lola Aston is digital plug ready so you can drop in the C8515 digital plug in just a minute or two.
Visually, the car is a beauty. Not only thepaint scheme, but there are Michelin logos on the tires and silver discs behind all four wheels to resemble giant disc brakes. On top of the sleek cockpit are three antenna, giving this a more realistic look than many slot cars.
The nose features a thin photo-etched grille. There are air vents on the racer’s side panels and a detailed rear-end with giant black wing, complete with Aston Martin Racing scrawled across it. There are two gas filler outlets on the car, a wiper on the windshield and a detailed driver figure inside. This is Scalextric’s finest to date.
Marketing: Try something different! How about running a night race at the shop with prizes; maybe the winner gets a free slot car, or expansion track for his home layout. But design the race to be run in limited lighting so all the entered cars must have working head and taillights.
Naturally, you’d want to tie in a sale on all your slot cars (be sure some have working lights) and supplies, such as silicone tires and wafer magnets. Give out 10%-off coupons good only that night, but good for slot cars, supplies, or die-cast or plastic models to encourage the car lovers to expand their hobby horizons. Consider giving a 20% off coupon to any attendees who bring a friend or two along for the races.
You could make this an annual, or semi-annual event, but make your shop the spot to go for slot cars and supplies.
VITAL STATS
Product: Lola Aston Martin LMP1 No. 007
Maker: Scalextric
Scale: 1:32
Stock No.: C3188
MSRP: $49.95
Availability: Hornby USA
BOTTOM LINE
Excellent detail; working lights
Digital ready
Great car and livery
It’s FAST!
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