Sizzlers were motorized cars that were about the same size as other Hot Wheels cars, or HO scale slot cars. However, the huge jump in technology with Sizzlers was that their motors didn't need a track for power. They were fitted with tiny ni-cad cells that allowed them to be completely self powered! After a (relatively) quick minute and a half charge from the Juice Machine, they were ready to tear up the track!...or kitchen floor!...or driveway!...or whatever you put them down on!
Here are my three examples. By the way, none of them are running right now since the batteries have been removed. It seems the same technology that birthed Sizzlers also tends to kill them, as corrosion is a huge problem with older cars. There are replacement batteries that you can purchase, however, so all is not lost.
 |
| The Hot Head (1970) in its original case. |
 |
| The back of the package, showing other accessories. |
 |
| The Mustang Hoss (1970). I had this one as a kid. |
 |
| The Dark Shadow (1978) is fairly rare since it was one of the last six Sizzlers Mattel made. It has working headlights. Note the mis-matched front wheel factory mistake. |
I also have a Juice Machine, Power Pit, and a couple of track sets. In the 1990's Playing Mantis released some Sizzlers as well, and I have those examples too. Still, the ones that I really love are the originals.
Until next time, keep searching for treasure!
Some reproductions were issued in 2006 as Target store exclusives. Money was a little tight that Christmas and I held off, figuring Target would reissue them the following year. Obviously, I didn't understand the market at all.
ReplyDeleteThe same technology was reissued in 2011, rebranded as "Charge-ups", for a playset themed with the movie Cars 2. Individual cars were also available for sale as had been the case with Sizzlers. The playset used the molds for the black Sizzlers "Fat Track," which had been designed for the wider wheelbase "Fat Daddy" cars, and the chargers were based on the original "gas pump" Sizzlers charger as well as the later one released with the Sizzlers II line.
I didn't make the same mistake twice. :-)
Well shoot! I missed the 2006 releases completely! I would have liked that. I have a Fat Track set called The Breakin' 8 set that is a figure 8 with a plunger that can be pushed to raise a barrier in the middle that made the "8" into two "0's". Or if you timed it right, you could launch a car clear across the room! Good times!
DeleteWell shoot! I missed the 2006 releases completely! I would have liked that. I have a Fat Track set called The Breakin' 8 set that is a figure 8 with a plunger that can be pushed to raise a barrier in the middle that made the "8" into two "0's". Or if you timed it right, you could launch a car clear across the room! Good times!
DeleteI had the "Laguna Oval" set as a kid. It was about as bare-bones as you could get - just one car (in my case, a maroon or dark red Fork MkIV) and a single-laned oval of track with a couple of the white plastic "bridge abutment" segments to add a little elevation if you wanted. I was probably 4 or 5 when I got it.
ReplyDeleteWe added a pink Flat Out drag racer to race with it, and I discovered very quickly that you can't race on a single-laned track. The next vehicle added to the collection was a "Fat Daddy" motorcycle, but since I didn't have any fat track about all I could do was charge it up, turn it on and watch it run into the wall (or worse, into the floorboard gap between the end of the kitchen cabinets and the corner cabinet, where I could hear it ricocheting around until it fell over or jammed itself into a corner, after which I had to use a yardstick to fish it out). Without the ability to race, I didn't play with it much and the track became alternately air guitars or swords.
I still have the MkIV (minus the rear wheels) somewhere, although I'm certain the battery has corroded to the point that it's damaged the motor. Great memories, though.
Don't know if you've seen this, but here's a video of an absolutely amazing Fat Track layout that its builders contend is the longest ever constructed (and I have no reason to disbelieve them). I am amazed that the car had enough juice to complete the course.
ReplyDeleteAlso - looking at more pictures, I believe I had the March Formula 1 rather than the Flat Out.
That's totally cool! Great find, Chuck!
Delete