'Tis the season of Christmas when joy is spread, and gifts are shared.

 

In the world of drag racing fans, there aren’t a ton of readily available themed toys to give.

 

As such through the power of the internet and Google, there are many of drag racing items to explore. Most now are some type of collector’s items and they are not available on the shelves of department stores.

 

CompetitionPlus took a dive into finding drag racing-related items to allow fans to take a trip down memory lane and who knows some of these may be a possible Christmas gift for this year or beyond.

 

Here’s the sample CompetitionPlus found.

 

First let’s start with the track.

 

There’s the Vintage Hot Wheels Redline Era Hot Curves 180 Degrees & Orange 24" Straight Track.

 

Or how bout Vintage Hot Wheels Redline Era Sizzlers Fat Track 24" Straights.

 

Honestly, depending on what you want to spend finding a track is not a problem just search the world wide web and choose one to your liking.

 

Up next is finding cars to race on your track. Of course, there are new Hot Wheels to buy, but who wants those? How about some vintage Hot Wheels.

 

The first 10 years of Hot Wheels production are referred to as "Redline" Hot Wheels because they all displayed a red line on the tires.

 

Many of the most valuable Hot Wheels cars come from the "Redline" era.

 

Check out this link to understand the history of Hot Wheels and their most valuable cars they made through the years.

 

 

At this link, the 1995 Collector No. 271 Funny Car is listed to be worth $7,000. 

 

The most valuable car on the list is worth six figures….and I will not spoil the surprise check it out on the above link.

 

No talk of Hot Wheels and drag racing could be made without talking about the Don Prudhomme and the late Tom McEwen.

 

Snake and Mongoose had a rivalry on the track that spurred into the mainstream through their Funny Cars being made by Mattel Hot Wheels.

 

There are many examples to find – one like the 1970 Hot Wheels Redlines Snake & Mongoose Funny Car with no decals.

 

• The 2 Car Set – Snake & Mongoose – Hot Wheels Team Transport or the ERTL Race Image Snake & Mongoose Semi Transporters 1:64 Diecast Toy Lot Mint.

 

• Now, there’s Big Daddy Don Garlits. His career is legendary and this milestone action collectable that squeezed his notable accomplishments on one Top Fuel diecast dragster

 

• Let’s cruise into the 1990s and how about this gem – the Racing Champions: 1/24 Scale Top Fuel Dragster - 1995 - McDonald's dragster driven by Cory McClenathan.

 

• How about the rare Chase Car – Roland Leong's Hawaiian Dodge Charger Funny Car – 1970s Dodge Charger – White Lightning – Approximately 74 were made worldwide

 

• Then there’s the 1998 John Force 1/24th scale Castrol GTX “Elvis” Funny Car. One King deserves another. And many, many, many more John Force collectables are available online.

 

• Speaking of Force don’t forget the Courtney Force Bobble Head. 

 

• Then, Doug Kalitta’s 2000 1:24 MGM Grand Top Fuel Dragster. 

 

 

 

 

 

While the focus of this piece leans toward drag racing toys and collectIbles let’s take a right turn to some other legendary toys kids back in the day like the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle from the Sears Wish Book, circa 1977.

 

As stated online, the Stunt Cycle was simply the single greatest toy ever. If you’ve never played with one, it sat in a red cradle until you cranked the gear reduction handle to approximately 189,496 RPM, at which point the cycle would eject itself from the base and shoot across the floor at speeds than Evel himself hit a ramp. 

 

There were four different vehicles to choose from, including the Triumph Bonneville-esque Stunt cycle, a sort of Top Fuel dragster, a version of the failed X-1 Skycycle, and a chopper that rode a constant wheelie.

 

There was a Evel Knievel Funny Car and there was a commercial to prove it at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9wbW5fSOMU

 

While Evel Knievel was the gold standard when it comes to toys to open underneath the Christmas tree the Six Million Dollar Man Dual Launch Drag Set wasn’t.

 

Kenner was already printing money with its Steve Austin action figure. In order to cash in on the popularity, Kenner put the Six Million Dollar Man in an air-driven cycle-car, which would’ve been ok on its own, because Steve Austin must’ve had to get to work somehow.

 

The Six Million Dollar Man in a drag race with Bigfoot. Does it get any better than that? I hope so.

 

For those curious and want to learn everything about the Six Million Dollar Man Dual Launch Drag Set visit this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPZPkOm8gJc

 

How about the Zingers!, the “hairiest, scariest fistfuls of muscle yet,” according to the ads for the line of MPC plastic models introduced in 1971.

 

As stated online, in the days when wild show cars reigned, legendary promoter Bob Larivee Sr. drew crowds by commissioning full-scale versions of top-selling toys. Perhaps the most well-known is the Red Baron, built in 1:1 scale in 1969 by Chuck Miller of Styline Customs based on the Tom Daniel-designed Monogram model.

 

When Larivee wanted fullsize Zingers!, he called on Styline to build the VW, the van, and the Vettes shown here in these Mike Brenner photo outtakes from a story in the July ’71 HOT ROD. The dune buggy was built by show-car builder and drag-racer Steve Tansy. The life-size Zingers used real engines with half-scale bodies, and others on the show circuit (and in the model-car line) included a ’57 Chevy and a Super Drag dragster.