When did Scalextric become so expensive?

[Whiffle]

My son saw slot slot car racing on the TV, a few weeks back and decided he wanted a go.

Being a child of the 80s, I have loads of it in my loft and I got it all out.

The track is a bit rusty but everything was there except for any cars - I only then remembered that my brother and I used to have fund smashing them up/modding them and it seems none survived.

My initial reaction was to buy a few cheap cars on E-bay and suddenly realised that there is no such thing - cars that I used to happily chop up are now selling for £45.00.

I lost every single bid I put on a car as I had no idea how much they changed hands for, though I was eventually able to get hold of a couple.

What has happened to Scalextric?

Did it go away and come back, recently, as a fashionable retro thing or was it just my changing to things like computer games and I forgot about it?

I also have only just found out about Carrera as an alternative to Scalextric - never new about that, growing up, as a viable alternative.

 

[Whiffle]

Maybe it was expensive, back then - it hadn't occurred to me. I shall ask my parents if they remember.

I think I always assumed that it was pretty basic as a concept, but I suppose you have all the marketing costs that are associated with it.

You can buy new Scalextric cars, still, but I assume that it is indeed pure supply and demand as you say.

I suppose I have properly become an old man, now. Like when my Nan used to tell me about how you could buy a house for £3,000.00.

 

[Whiffle]

I had a set for Christmas as a present once. It got used thay Christmas and never again. Didn't really see the appeal myself.

I reckon that loads of people have Scalextric in their loft and have no idea of its worth.

Seems bizarre that my son is interested at all in slot cars, at all, when I built him a gaming PC, last year - I bet he will want a yo-yo or a slinky, next.

 

[Whiffle]

Did this with the kids recently and they loved it. Told them I had as a kid and were intrigued to setup at home.
Did look into it a bit but not as cheap as I remember them.

That looks amazing - thanks for that. Might have to consider a day there.

My brother has a high spec 3-D printer.

He reckons it would be fun (and definitely possible) to print cars and stick in a cheapy motor - might be fun to have a go with that.

 

[Whiffle]

Im shocked kids today would want it.

As James May explained, you quickly figured out the all you do is go steady and wait until you opponent crashes and is never able to make up the ground lost.

Thinking back, I think my brother and I eventually switched to RC cars as we always felt that the lack of steering did slightly irritate us.

I watched a few videos on Youtube and there are quite a lot of alternatives as well, these days - Real FX and Anki seem possible alternatives.

I actually think that MAG Racing https://magneticracing.com/what-is-mag-racing/ seems to be the best of all - have never come across this, before, but seems like it takes Scalextric up a level.

I remember my Dad told me that he and his brother wanted a Scalextric track but ended up with a similar kit made by Airfix - apparently this was the cheaper inferior version and they were bitterly disappointed. I don't think they ever forgave my Grandma and Grandad for that - people have long memories!

 

[Whiffle]

My old man still has a lot of track and cars and barriers and all the OG controllers. I bet it all works as well. How much are we talking? He's a hoarder and given that he needs to get rid of all his old stuff, I might encourage him to sell it. I can sell the idea via Mum as it will "create space".

Just as an example - I had a yellow Mini Cooper that I just saw on E-bay for £45.00.

Wish I hadn't poured olive oil on all the wheels and cut the lid off, now - you live and you learn.

 

[Whiffle]

It's never been cheap, not sure if serious

It's never been cheap as I wanted this as a kid but it was expensive present.

But isn't this one of those things that is more an adult hobby now than something for kids. Childhood hobbies turned into adult hobbies are expensive as adults have far more disposable. Train sets are the same.

Interesting - I actually feel a bit guilty now as I think my parents bought us quite a bit of stuff and I don't think I fully appreciated that it wasn't cheap and didn't really take that much care of it.

Really good point about the Train Sets/Subuteo - also, those Citadel warriors are still in fashion (Hero Quest, Warhammer etc.). They are also quite expensive - again, I had no idea until recently that they still made those things.