Firestone Darlington soft rubber tires

[dannyi]

Does anyone happen to recall what make/kit these Firestone Darlington soft rubber tire were from? I'm thinking MPC, maybe a Chevy kit, but I'm only guessing at this point.....

Edited June 10, 2011 by dannyi

[Mark]

Those are AMT Turnpike tires. They were used on the 1/25 scale cars made for the AMT Authentic Model Turnpike sets (the cars were sold separately too). AMT used them in only one kit, the first issue Trophy Series 1958 Impala. Two soft Firestone slicks were also included in the Impala kit. AMT also offered the tires separately in a parts pack called "Soft Rubber Darlingtons and Slicks". The tires were probably used in the Impala and parts pack because the Turnpike related items didn't sell anywhere near the numbers expected. When the Impala was reboxed for its second issue in 1966-67, the soft tires and slicks were replaced by conventional vinyl tires that other AMT kits used.

[Kit Basher]

I always thought those soft rubber tires were cool. I had a '66 Galaxie (I think that's what it was) that came with NASCAR parts, tear drop hood, roll cage and soft rubber tires. That thing was the bomb! I also had a Piranha with those tires. They seemed more realistic than the vinyl ones to me.

[Casey]

On 6/10/2011 at 6:27 PM, Mark said:

AMT also offered the tires separately in a parts pack called "Soft Rubber Darlingtons and Slicks".

 

[ChrisBcritter]

Thread from the dead, but those are real nice tires - I have one in my tire stash and wish I had a full set. It's held up well - I can see some fine age cracks in the sidewall, but that's it - no turning to goo or splitting like some do.

[stavanzer]

Does anybody cast these Darlingtons in resin?

[Claes Ericsson]

They were also available from the Turnpike parts rack.

 

[Fabrux]

It would seem as thought Scenes Unlimited was looking into casting them.