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 ddyke |
Shelf Queens |
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Posts: 3087 (02/27/08 11:26 AM) |
I know, I know some of you don't like shelf queens, but here is a question for those who do. Do you take out the running gear like motor, gears, guides,
etc.? I got a couple Lola T70s where they have had this done to them. When used as scenery, they looked great and it kept people from running them. A shelf
queen is of course different than an investment car.
Dan
Scrappy Dan
panem et circenses = the next election's motto |
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ElSecundo |
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Posts: 5712 (02/27/08 12:29 PM) Home Racing Guru! |
I look at shelf queens and investment cars the same way, Dan. Removing bits and pieces, putting them on the track for display, both of those things make them
'used' in my opinion. Collecting dust on the track might it 'lightly used', but it's still used. I could hand a Fly Lola T-70 to a 6 year
old to go 'vroom vroom' all around the house, and it still doesn't see the track. He might hand the car back to me in perfect condition, but the
car is still 'used'.
I wouldn't say the same if somebody pulled the car off its base to look at it, but the kind of handling it gets makes a difference. I like to keep a shelf queen because it has that perfect new car shine. I could take my GaugeMaster Lister Storm and set it on the track to collect dust for a while. Once it looks like crap, I can't very well put it back in the box and say "NIB". But I don't have a problem pulling the guide out of a used car and setting it on the track. No need to pull the motor or anything... Does that help at all?
I'll tell ya...fellas......you're gonna want more cowbell!
Rock legend Bruce Dickinson |
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DogFish |
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Posts: 408 (02/27/08 12:58 PM) Home Racing Guru! |
It's your shelf-queen to do with as you please. And on not so rare occasions, it may still fetch high prices if it becomes a hot item. Once you dust it
off of course
If you're asking whether you can still claim that it's mint afterwards, then I like El's answer. allen |
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SJSlots |
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Posts: 1794 (02/27/08 01:19 PM) HRW Feature Editor! |
A 'true' slot car shelf queen, to me, has to STILL be a slot car and in its original condition. You take out the motor and use it as a display model
its no longer a 'perfect condition' slot car in my opinion. Remove the guide to use on a different car, put it back in the case it is no longer in its
original condition...
My shelf queens could, if I so desired, be removed from their bases, have the braids adjusted and be placed on the track with full expectations that they will move under their own power. If anything about the car has been removed or altered I'm with Kurt and consider it 'used in like new condition'. Some may argue that you could later drop in a new motor and no one would know but in my mind that removes it from the 'new, in perfect condition' catagory. Plus we all know these things are made of plastic, some times not the best plastic, and you run the risk or breaking or weakening a chassis each and every time you pry a motor from its mounts, pull an axle bushing out of its mount etc... Just the other day I had to email the person I sold a rally car to that I had taken the magnet from. Wanting him to have it in original condition I tried to put the magnet back in and when I did one of the tabs that holds the magnet cracked off. I felt horrible and offered him the option to not take the car. I've been so serious about the 'untouched' shelf queens lately that on some cars like SlotIts, that come shrink wrapped to dealers, I have been asking Bruce to not remove the shrink wrap. I want to be the one to break that seal if I plan to run that car or keep the seal on to make 100% certain that car remains 'perfect'. 
I may never sell this car... but whether I do or not I know that car is truly 'new in the case'.
"It's better to have raced one day than to have been a spectator your entire life!"
Shawn J. Smith Shawn@HomeRacingWorld.com Cincinnati, Ohio U.S.A -------------
Last Edited By: SJSlots
02/27/08 01:26 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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 HomeRacingWorld |
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Posts: 10381 (02/27/08 04:43 PM) The Lazy Administrator |
The only ones I have are gifts from friends. Most are custom builds with a few vintage as well.
They stay intact. The way they were given to me. Yet, everyone of them were given to be raced. So, all have seen at least a few laps. Then, put away on display. |
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ddyke |
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Posts: 3088 (02/27/08 05:28 PM) |
The way El Secundo and Shawn define them is what I call investments. When I sell a used 1:1 car people get a list of known defects that borders on the
ludicrous. I would call a slot car that I had used in the pits or a diorama as display car. I never had a display car get even minor damage except three when a
shelf above them collapsed and smashed them flatter than flat.
Dan
Scrappy Dan
panem et circenses = the next election's motto |
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ElSecundo |
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Posts: 5713 (02/27/08 05:41 PM) Home Racing Guru! |
To be complete, Dan, I do have cars that are used, but shelf queens in the truest sense -- they haven't been off the shelf in years. Those are cars that if you put them on the track as display cars, you make no fundamental change in condition from the collector's point of view. But a shelf queen that you pull out of the box and display on the track has its condition changed, especially if you temporarily pull out components. But like Allen said, and I agree with him 100%, it's totally up to the owner to enjoy it how he sees fit -- even if it means lighting it on fire and driving it through walls of plastic army men.
I'll tell ya...fellas......you're gonna want more cowbell!
Rock legend Bruce Dickinson |
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RAC420 |
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Posts: 845 (02/27/08 06:16 PM) Home Racing Guru! |
Dan,
I think what you are calling "investments" are what most people call "shelf queens" yes you can brake it down into NIB , untouched , ect slot cars aren't like 1:1 cars for one slot cars come in a box so that is then part of the newness like in a 1:1 if it has less then I think 100 miles and still has the wrapping on the int.it's as new as it gets a slot car in shrink wrap is as new as it gets just me 2 cents!! and if you know me you know I have no sense 
Death is
Certain…
Life is Not !!! What has a Man gained who wins the world, but loses his soul? |
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SJSlots |
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Posts: 1797 (02/27/08 07:26 PM) HRW Feature Editor! |
The way El Secundo and Shawn define them is what I call investments. I'm a horrible investor it seems... I've never sold a slot car yet for higher than its original retail.
"It's better to have raced one day than to have been a spectator your entire life!"
Shawn J. Smith Shawn@HomeRacingWorld.com Cincinnati, Ohio U.S.A -------------
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ddyke |
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Posts: 3089 (02/27/08 08:02 PM) |
I have sold several at a higher price but lost all the profits to the dealer the next time I went in and then there are the give aways and sell at less than I
paid for them..
Scrappy Dan
panem et circenses = the next election's motto |
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super8mm |
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Posts: 1694 (02/27/08 09:07 PM) Home Racing Guru! |
I think (here it comes...) shelf queens has no "precise" meaning...sort of like describing a woman as handsome - what does that mean?
So, NIB is just that NEW IN BOX. As it came from the factory. Then you get BRAND NEW IN BOX or BNIB...BNIB > NIB With slot cars its a tricky thing and I truly think you are fooling only yourself if you think ANY Fly car can be BNIB for this simple reason...I can take a car out, run a few laps and perhaps see no signs of wear on the tires...but I can then go online and buy a new guide with braids and even a new chassis and voila, 20 years from now I claim its BNIB and no one will challenge me. Only SlotIt can you have a chance of unused, BNIB since its sealed in plastic - but even that is easily duplicable - just look at the length Hot Wheel nuts (like us, only with teeny cars) will reseal a blister pack with an iron, and even copy a whole car like the VW Bus with the surf boards... In the end, for me, mint condition BODY is all I really care about if that's what I want... Cheers, Mike |
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eddielives |
Shelf Queens | ||
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Posts: 282 (02/27/08 09:29 PM) Home Racing Guru! |
Harry ... I hope you're drivin' the G T O ever chance you get.
eddielives |
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mcr774 |
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Posts: 508 (02/27/08 10:24 PM) Home Racing Guru! |
Ummm.... (see "signature")
I've had Hotwheels and 1:18 die-cast cars to look at before. But I won't pay huge prices for a slot-car that will never run on my track. Cars just look way to good going around my track. Matthew
Shelf queens...I've heard of those, but I bought it to race it, not look at it.
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TomSetzer |
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Posts: 398 (02/28/08 01:51 AM) Home Racing Guru! |
mcr774 wrote:
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Ragnar Tom Slot Car Realm - http://www.slotcarrealm.com/ First you have to finish, to finish first.
Last Edited By: TomSetzer
02/28/08 01:53 AM.
Edited 1 times.
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lightning427 |
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Posts: 9 (02/28/08 03:59 AM) |
NIB to me is never off the stand once the lid is off its not NIB anymore.Shef queens stink run them bad boys its just plastic haha.
Out of a job yet? Keep buying foreign
When you have a choice buy USA its not just low skilled jobs leaving. |
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blueaxe |
Shelf Queens | ||
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Posts: 872 (02/28/08 09:07 AM) Home Racing Guru! |
No offense to anyone, but I don't think "Shelf Queen" is in my vocabulary. I have never been a speculator (read: investor) in any hobby that
might entail collecting. I play all my guitars, and I race all my cars. I get 'attached' to things and would only sell due to dire need, (and there has
been some, at times
 )  .............................Blueaxe
You only let off the gas to keep the wheels from spinning...
Timing is Everything |
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ElSecundo |
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Posts: 5715 (02/28/08 09:15 AM) Home Racing Guru! |
I saw the Slot.It Audi Presentation car sell on eBay for $341 the other day. A used one sells for about $200, so the cost to take a single lap is about $140.
So you guys would rather take a single lap with your NIB Audi Presentation car than sell it and buy 6 new Slot.Its (7 if you have a nice dealer)? Or take a lap, sell it and buy 4 new Slot.Its. Or keep it and say "I'll pay for the next 6 or 7 Slot.Its out of my pocket, thank you very much". Just trying to where you guys draw the line at 'shelf-queenism'... 
I'll tell ya...fellas......you're gonna want more cowbell!
Rock legend Bruce Dickinson |
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SJSlots |
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Posts: 1798 (02/28/08 09:17 AM) HRW Feature Editor! |
Static models are for setting on a shelf, Slot Cars are for racing! Well fellas I agree with you... but its the nature of the beast once the real addiction sets in. I have a 2 lane track and run solo most of the time. I have cars numbering in the hundreds and it stands to reason that many, if not most, wont see a lot of track time. I have collections of cars that are all the exact same model with different paint jobs. I dont have a need to run that Kouros because I have the presentation version well broken in with one mirror already broken off and I have the Suzuka version that I can pull out and run too if I wish. I plan to get the latest black AEG version also but its not likely to see any more track time than the Kouros. Coins are just metal but I have rare coins I dont spend. Guns are made to be shot but I have antique guns I don't shoot. You get the idea...
"It's better to have raced one day than to have been a spectator your entire life!"
Shawn J. Smith Shawn@HomeRacingWorld.com Cincinnati, Ohio U.S.A -------------
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frank9129 |
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Posts: 706 (02/28/08 09:31 AM) Home Racing Guru! |
I have only one car at the present which could be considered a Shelf Queen. It is a well loved car which has given me years of pleasure.
I bought the Classis Astro=V in 1965. It has new rear tires and a burned out motor now. As I don't want to cause any more damage I cleaned it, put on a thin coat of polish, put it in a case and now she rests on a shelf where I fondly watch over her and remember the days at the track on the Blue King, leaving the track and going over the wall. That is my Shelf Queen, retired. Toys are meant to be played with, not necessarily shared. Frank 
Crab Alley Speedway
GIT-R-DONE |
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Tangmere222 |
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Posts: 371 (02/28/08 11:34 AM) Home Racing Guru! |
Some cars can't really be but shelf queens such as my Fly Chequered Flag Lola T70 and the Fly Pedro Rodriguez 917K - both are built with race damage.
Speaking of which, wasn't there a GT40 that got the same treatment or am I imagining things?
I have the same issues as SJSlots, I've a few of the same car but in different liveries. Some get run more than others and others have yet to see the track - but they're technically not shelf queens, they just haven't been asked to dance yet... |
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stev123 |
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Posts: 3061 (02/28/08 12:26 PM) Lee Marvin of slot cars |
Having to dump half my collection really put this topic in perspective. I have run ALL my cars. Some don't get much track time, but they all did at least a
few laps. I don't think displaying a car hurts the value....unless it gets hit by a car going flat out! I think we should all grab a shelf queen tonight
and see why it's on the shelf! I traded Shawn
a shelf queen last week,I was making sure she was running ok and I found out what a great runner it was. some cars are ignored for a reason, sometimes you might be missing out on a lot of fun! Do guys really gut a car for display pourposes?...yikes...that would bug me. Even if it were carefully re-assembled.
I kneel next to the track one eye slowly squinting
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