Scalextric (Pre-1980)

Powertrack (UK) and Speedtrack (US) are brandnames for Matchbox's foray into toy slot cars. Introduced in the late 70's Powertrack/Speedtrack featured cars that could be seen in the dark as the cars had headlights. Matchbox's H0/00 (approx. more...

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Scalextric (1980-Now)
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1/64th) cars were smaller than Scalextric 1/32 scale cars.

In the UK, Powertrack was a more affordable product than Scalextric and traded heavily on the Matchbox brand. With the smaller size the layouts could be quite complex yet still fit in the typical 8' x 4' board size. Additionally, it did not sit out of place with H0/00 railway sets and Matchbox's own 75 die cast range. Coupled with very dynamic packaging, the Powertrack Product was a big turn on for a child of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Peter Kay commented in his autobiography The Sound of Laughter that the Race 'N' Chase set he received for Christmas in the late 1970s was the best Christmas present... ever.

With the collapse of Lesney/Matchbox in the early eighties, the last official year of production appears to be 1982. Various attempts to buy the Lesney stock and continue selling the products were tried but subsequently died out. Most notably, Proops Brothers, of Tottenham Court Road, London packaged together sets in plain boxes and sold existing sets with all sorts of car combinations. Latterly, several vehicles appear from time to time rebranded as 'Counterlane' but these too were short lived.

The sets either came with a 6V or 12V Power Unit. The 12V cars are extremely quick due to the size and weight and handle very well with the aid of a magnet on the underside.

No longer in production, cars and sets can be purchased via eBAY with some rarer cars commanding keen prices, like the Saab 900 Turbo and the yellow livery Ford Escort. Sadly many of the cars for sale come with poor quality tyres, leaving the cars with no grip. The lack of grip results in the cars just wheel spinning without any forward movement. However, there are replacements available and it is still possible to buy brand new cars in sealed cartons.

Powertrack sets

Powertrack sets came in different sets featuring different cars and track type.

In the UK this consisted of:

Powertrack PT-1000 - Grand Prix (Launched 1978);

Set comprised: 1 x McLaren F1, 1 x Ferrari F1, 8 x 90 degree 9" Curve, 1 x 9" 6V Track Terminal, 1 x 9" Straight, 2 x 6" Straight. 6V 'Grandstand' Battery Box and 2 x Hand Controllers. 8 Crash Barriers, Sticker Sheet & Bridge supports.

Factoid: This is Powertrack's only UK Battery powered set. The cars do not have headlights. RRP in 1979: £14.99.

Powertrack PT-2000 - Monza (Launched 1978);

Set comprised: 1 x Porsche 911, 1 x Chevrolet Corvette, 8 x 90 degree 9" Curve, 1 x 9" 6V Track Terminal, 1 x 9" Straight, 2 x 6" Straight. 6V Mains Transformer and 2 x Hand Controllers. 8 Crash Barriers, Sticker Sheet & Bridge supports.

Read more at Wikipedia.org