Promos

[chevyfever2009]

This might sound like a stupid question but how do you get promos othet than ebay and do they still make promos for the new cars coming out. And how did you gey promos back in the day

[gtx6970]

Back then they were toys given away ( sometimes sold ) at the dealerships. usually trinkets for the kids that looked like mom and dads new car. Same thing today ( IF they're avail ) Dealerships sell them today for the same reason ( nothings free nowadays)

Not all makes today have them avail and even if they do most are very limited on color selection.

[Edsel-Dan]

Those that do sell them do so in the Parts Department.

I asked around here in 88 when MPC brought the Silverado back out.

I was told there was No interest in them.

If I wanted them, I had to buy a Master Case. 144 total of One item!

No idea if I could have broken that to color options!

The ONE dealer I saw any in was Cravelli Chevrolet in McKees Rocks Pa.

He had the 50 Chevy Pickup on display right in the show room.

It was also the Only dealer in a Shopping center that I have ever seen!

Don't know if they still sell them.

I would not be surprised to find them in larger Local hobby Shops now.

Just Not chains like Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

Edited March 29, 2013 by Edsel-Dan

[Art Anderson]

This might sound like a stupid question but how do you get promos othet than ebay and do they still make promos for the new cars coming out. And how did you gey promos back in the day

Promotional (Promo) model cars had their heyday in the 1950's, for three purposes: First of course was to promote interest in, and the sales of, new cars. They could be bought for a dollar or two back then, at the dealership. Dealers often would use them as a "come on" to persuade people to come into the showroom, take a test drive after which the salesman could give your son a model of a car like your Dad tried out. One other use, particularly at Ford and Chevy dealerships, was to have a display of promo's in a variety of color combinations, something that was available for several years in the 50's, to show prospective buyers a wider selection than was was in the showroom and on the lot. (Bear in mind, in the 1950's, new car dealers were not yet the "superstores" with dozens of new models in just about every color and trim level that they are today).

In very short order, companies such as AMT, SMP and JoHan began offering slightly different versions of their promotional models to retail toy and hobby stores, as toys, sometimes without interiors--and in early 1958, AMT marketers had their '58 Promotional model cars put in styrene kits with a few customizing and racing parts, and the concept of the 3in1 model car kit was born, and our hobby took off like a rocket leaving a Cape Canaveral launch pad.

Art

[gtx6970]

Yes, there were retail store versions of some avail as well.

As an example

Johan did the 1969 Plymouth GTX promo for Plymouth dealers distribution. Avail in White, Dark Red, Dark Metallic Green, Medium Metallic Blue, Medium Metallic Bronze, and Metallic Silver. All the metallic colors were painted bodies and the solid colors were molded in color . All had a matching but unpainted molded in color non-metallic interior and chassis. ( I have the white, bronze and metallic blue ( looking for the other colors )

They ALSO did a friction gear version for general retail store sales. They were the exact same body and trim but with a generic friction motor chassis . Friction motor cars were only avail in non metallic colors , Red, blue, grey + white . Pretty sure all of these were grey color interiors with the afore mentioned flat friction motor chassis . By most collectors these are not considered promos and 'usually' will not bring anywhere near true promo $

Best I remember 1969 was the last year to find the friction motor chassis under any promo by any manufacturer , at least that I know of .

Edited March 29, 2013 by gtx6970