Monogram's Big "T" in the Toy Collectors Attic

For our first ever Collector's Attic we are looking over Monogram's Big "T" model from 1962. This 1/8 scale model car broke sales records at a time when building plastic models was the new national pastime.
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These large scale cars were the toy of the Christmas Season in 1962. The first of them was the Big T hot rod, a T bucket hot rod built from a 20's model t ford roadster pickup truck. Because of the success of the BIg T, 3 more hot rods were produced in the next few years. As well as an engine upgrade kit, the PE 62 as well as a Jaguar, Corvette Sting Ray and a 32 Ford roadster.
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From the web:
Monogram was founded in Chicago in 1945, making balsa wood model kits of ships and airplanes. Seaships such as the USS Missouri battleship, the USS Shangri-La carrier and the USS Hobby destroyer were among the very first products. Meanwhile, a company called Revell started making plastic kits in 1953, and Monogram responded with "All Plastic" "Plastikits" the first of which were a red plastic midget racer and a "Hot Rod" Model A - and the modeling race was on (Funding Universe webpage). These two cars, and later an Indianapolis-style racer and hydroplane racing boat, were also offered with C02 "Jet Power". Early kits advertised that the models were made from "acetate parts molded to shape". The wording showed the newness of the plastics industry and how plastics were not yet being taken for granted.
Early airplane models were mainly balsa wood, but more plastic parts were added over the next couple of years. By 1954 the airplane lineup consisted of the 'Speedee Built' series which flew under rubber band power. A few of these planes were all-plastic. Also seen were the Superkits with a prefabricated balsa fuselage, but more plastic parts.
Auto kit makers AMT and Jo-Han started early but focused on manufacturers' promotional models and did not enter the kit fray until the late 1950s. As the 1950s progressed, Monogram increasingly included more automobile models and custom wheeled creations in competition with the other makers. Through the 1970s, competition required increased production of a variety of fantastical vehicles.
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