Greetings! Growing up, from the time I was little boy, I've been fascinated with cars. The youngest of 7, my mom was 48 and dad, 52 years old when I was born. My sister would take me for rides. In the distance, she said I was telling her the make and model of it. As she approached them, she would check out the name badge and was floored that I knew what it was. I was 2. My folks were retired by the time I was 8. Mom was a nurse and dad - fire chief. I'm sure money was tight, but I never felt without. I had the best childhood - the toys were among my fondest memories. My brothers gave me their Lionel,Marx and American Flyer trains, I had Matchbox, Hot Wheels and every Johnny Lightning. I also had a AMF Fire Chief Car,Tractor,Tonkas and Structo trucks. I learned how to drive when I was 13 - a 73' Pinto and bought my first Mustang in 79 - a 69 Mach I. As an adult, the cars were bought and sold, but my biggest kick has been buying and restoring old toy trains, cars and trucks. Its expanded into a soda and gumball machine. Instead of selling, I've kept them. I still own about half the toys I grew up with. My folks taught me to take care of the things I had and for the most part, I did. My early 1960's tin Marx service station is on my train layout. If there's anyone else out there with vintage toy autos, trucks and trains and other gas, oil and soda related items, post your pics. Rudy
Rudy, my 8 year old asks all the time where my old toys are!! I tell him to ask his grandmother as she is the one who disposed of them! Nice collection thanks for sharing!!
I have some 1960's slot cars and about 50 1970's cars and about 100 feet of track still. I am going to set it up for my 4 year old soon. Get this, I actually found my dad's basketball and baseball cards from when he was a kid, 1948 leaf cards. I traded them all for 1960's star cars, I was only 13 and did not know any better. So be sure that when you pass this stuff to your kids they know to never trade it. I actually had a "Slingin Sammy Baugh" rookie card. Just kills me that I traded them. I got some nice stuff in return but not my dad's actual 1948 cards.
OK your making me feel bad, I have a huge toy collection but I don't have my Structo car hauler, a twin to the one you have. Nice piece. Mark
