'Friction' Car toy/game - Name help please..

[Gompo]

Hi..

Inspired by the 'You Nostalgia..' thread (which I've not finished yet so apologies if this is in their somewhere..)

My brother had a toy/game which involved a friction car that I think went around a track. I seem to remember the track was looked a bit like a lane with grey stone walls (made out of plastic obviously). The car that you used was a grey hatchback, larger rear wheels than at the front, 3-4 inches long that had a little stick on the back which changed the gear of the car - you could rev up the friction mechanism in a low gear and then switch it to a high gear and it would shoot off. Anyone know what I am on about?

Sorry for the really bad description, we might still have the car around here somewhere but not sure if I saw the track more than once.

Cheers, Greg.

[Gompo]

I've been through the Nostalgia thread now and cant find any mention of what I'm thinking of..

Anyone?

[cazzer]

Ljn rough riders are the only thing I can think of.
Goodle em.
They had a gearshift on the top.

[Gompo]

Thanks for the suggestion, but after a Google I dont think that's it - It looks as though they were battery powered whereas this was just friction.

It wasnt exactly a gearstick on top, more of a lever that you pulled down that seemed to literally drop a cog. Looks like I am going to have to search out the car.

[dudleybloke]

when was this, a year might help narrow things down a bit.

[Gompo]

dudleybloke said:

when was this, a year might help narrow things down a bit.

Sorry, something I should have mentioned but cant give an exact date.

Definitely pre 1990s, more likely early 1980s.

[Gompo]

Bump!



This is the car, it looks as though it's meant to be a Fiesta. It made by Rainbow Toys. Could it be from a Dempsey and Makepeace set? After a bit of searching they did make some 'friction' type toys, but cant find anything about this.

Cheers, Greg.