Model Railroading > Autos for 1960-1970 era Open Auto Racks

Does anyone have suggestions for adding cars/trucks to 1960-1970 era open auto rack cars (HO scale)?  What models would be used to make the auto racks loads?
 

For a couple of bi-level autoracks for the late 1970's and am using the Atlas Ford F-100 pick-up.  They reprsent a 1973 pickup but looked very similar in the late 1970's.  I have some tri-levels too but haven't worked on auto's for them yet.


 

Trident Minatures makes 70's & 80's era Chevy vans, SUV's & pick-ups. Fresh Cherries makes Gremlins, IIRC. Probably best to get both a Walthers catalog (paper, as the website shows just over 25,000 "vehicles" available in HO scale) and peruse the 1/87th vehicle club site, as they have a large European presence, with international companies who make American cars, which model railroaders are typically not exposed to.

<EDIT> - N&W used to haul (just) the cabs for Mack R Truck tractors on bi-level autoracks in the 70's, as well.

Hope this helps.

Russ



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/19 12:26 by NSTopHat.

Vicking made '64 Ford Mustangs. Still a few available at 3000Toys, etc.

You'll see other 1960's Mustangs on eBay.

It depends on how super-detailed you want to get for your cars.  For higher end, I would recommend BoS (Best of Show), Minichamps, Spark, and Herpa for 1/87 diecast autos and trucks.

PasadenaSub Wrote:
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> It depends on how super-detailed you want to get
> for your cars.  For higher end, I would recommend
> BoS (Best of Show), Minichamps, Spark, and Herpa
> for 1/87 diecast autos and trucks.

The dicast cars make a very heavy load.  We pull 9 loaded tri-levels on a layout we opeate. 

santafedan Wrote:
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>
> The dicast cars make a very heavy load.  We pull
> 9 loaded tri-levels on a layout we opeate. 

I bet they do.  I've been looking at some diecast sedans to load a tri-level and 15 of those would probably be very heavy!

> > The dicast cars make a very heavy load.  We
> pull 9 loaded tri-levels on a layout we opeate. 
>
> I bet they do.  I've been looking at some diecast
> sedans to load a tri-level and 15 of those would
> probably be very heavy!

They're certainly heavier than plastic vehicles, but they're not so heavy that they're a problem.  I have two racks with 15 Fresh Cherries vehicles each and they've always run with no problems.

Take care,

Mark

mamfahr Wrote:
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> I have two racks with 15 Fresh Cherries vehicles
> each and they've always run with no problems.
>
> Take care,
>
> Mark

I was a year or two too late for the Fresh Cherry's when then were being sold at Walmart. 

Ken Patterson's What's Neat model railroading series on the tube has has some footage by an HO modeler that models open racks with cars in that period. He does great work. You might check it out. The vehicles in the racks look fantastic.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com