sizzlers

Sizzlers: The World's Fastest Electric Cars

(Author's Note: This article focuses on Mattel Redline Sizzlers produced from 1970 to 1978. Although Mattel did produce spinoffs of the Sizzler line, [Chopcycles, Hot Line Trains, Earthshakers, and Light Speeders] the scope of this article does not cover them.)

In 1973, this first grader was learning what many young boys of the late '60s and early '70s already knew, Hot Wheels were the coolest, fastest toy cars around. I had a few of them by then, but a friend of mine that lived around the block from me had some cars that I had never seen before. I didn't know what they were called, but they looked like Hot Wheels. And, you could fill 'em up with a "gas pump" to keep them going 'round and 'round the track. It was kind of funny, when my friends would be messing around playing outside, and I would hang out in their basement and race those cars

for hours. My dad usually had to come and physically remove me from there!

I just couldn't get enough.

It turns out these cars were Sizzlers, rechargeable cars that were designed by Mattel and introduced in 1970 to supplement their Hot Wheels line. They had redline tires and 1.2 volt rechargeable batteries. Let's turn the clock back to the beginning of the story . . .

"It was 1969 and a designer at Mattel toys, George Soulakis was working on a different breed of Hot Wheels called Sizzlers. They were unique and billed to be the Worlds Fastest Electric Cars. George went to General Electric to have a special battery made for these cars and they came up with the first rechargeable Nickel Cadmium battery. These 1.2 volt batteries took a 90-second charge that would run the cars for five to seven minutes. Subsequently, Mattel developed a longer and narrower chassis that required

the development of a longer and narrower battery." 1.

By 1970, the Sizzlers line was ready to hit the shelves. Cars were

originally packaged on a cardboard pedestal covered with a plastic box. Because these boxes were designed to store and display cars, many of them have survived in remarkable condition. Six 1970 models were introduced:

They were an instant hit. These cars were painted in several different colors. Although the Hot Wheels line used the Spectraflame paint schemes, most 1970 Sizzlers models were painted with straight enamel. Spectraflame was impractical and cost prohibitive for Sizzlers to do on a mass scale. This was because the cars had to be chrome plated first, and then painted. However, there were a few exceptions. The Angelino M-70 came in chrome and green chrome, the Firebird T/A came in a pearl white (see-thru white painted over chrome) and the Ford Mark IV came in red chrome. There are probably other chrome color variations as well. Mattel did many interesting things with paint and color variations. (See the Larry Wood interview).

(NOTE: The Spectraflamed/chromed Sizzlers, and their chrome inserts were extremely susceptible to flaking and deterioration. This was due to the batteries corroding and discharging fumes that ate the finish away. That is why the chrome inserts are usually peeled away. Most of the Sizzler Spectraflame car finishes I have seen are severely deteriorated. It is very difficult to find a Pearl White Firebird Trans-Am that looks nice.)

Orange strip track sets were sold with the 1970 Sizzlers. Single or double lane oval and figure eights made up the line. 1970 sets included:

California 8 Race Set

Daredevil Duel Set (extremely RARE)

National Champ Race Set

As with the Hot Wheels line, the Sizzlers line included accessories for their track sets. 1970 accessories included:

Single Lane Speed Brake and Esses Kit

Dual Lane Speed Brake and Esses Kit

The Power Pit was the ultimate charger. It looked like a '60s service

station, and plugged into the wall. You could then turn a timer, and it would automatically charge the cars for up to 90 seconds. (I now have a power strip with six of them plugged in!)

1971 was a big year for Sizzlers. New body designs dictated the advent of a longer battery. This battery was mounted lengthwise in the car. These are now known as "long-chassis" Sizzlers. There were 12 new models to choose from. This was the most new Sizzler models offered at any one time by Mattel. Incidentally, a yellow 1971 March 1 was the first Sizzler I bought.

The 1971 models included:

Some of these models were made in molded plastic. The Ferrari 512S was offered in molded red only, the Indy Eagle was offered in molded blue only, the Sideburn came mainly in molded black, but molded gray versions are known to exist. The March Formula 1 and Hot Wings came in various molded colors.

Also introduced in 1971 was Fat Track. Fat Track was a three-lane wide strip that allowed for awesome passing action. Full Racing Sets, as well as individual Fat Track Strip Paks and Curve Paks allowed racers to make huge sets. For those who haven't raced on Fat Track, you are in for a real treat when you do! 1971 Track Sets included:

California 500 Race Set

Super Circuit Race Set

The accessories offered in 1971 varied greatly. It was also the greatest amount of new accessories offered at any one time for Sizzlers. 1971 accessories included:

California 500 Layout

Good Timer stopwatch

Sizzlers Lunchbox with thermos

Sizzlers Race Car with Juice Machine

For some reason, probably because of finances, Mattel started scaling back their Sizzlers line in 1972. A meager four new models were offered. The 1972 models included:

These were all long-chassis Sizzlers in molded colors.

1972 track Sets included:

The Fat Track Control Set with it's plastic hay bales undoubtedly destroyed many a good Sizzler!

1973 ushered in what would be known as Fat Daddy Sizzlers. Fat Daddys, as they are affectionately called today, are now one of the most highly desired and sought after Sizzlers. They are oversized bodies with huge tires. The chassis is the standard Sizzler long chassis. Like the 1973 Hot Wheels, these were made for only one year, with scaled back production runs. This resulted in a limited number of these produced, pushing collector prices through the roof today. 1973 models included:

Steering Trailer Set

Running these on the Fat Track is a blast! Track sets for 1973 included:

Steering Trailer Set

Super Road Chase Set

The (Fat Track) Wild Oval Set was probably made to use up old stock. It did not include any cars or charger, and had cheesy printed graphics on the front of the box.

1973 Accessories included:

After 1973, there was a hiatus in Sizzler production. Old stock was still available to fill the time frame until 1976, when the Sizzlers II models hit the stores.

Five old models and the new Vantom made up the Sizzlers II line for 1976. The cars came in chrome and gold chrome. There were slight internal changes to the battery compartment, and the front wheels were changed to the standard "axle through" fare of the current Hot Wheels.

1976 Models included:

The Vantom and Mustang are the most common 1976 models. Probably because they were the main cars included in the Sizzlers II Silver Circuit Set. When I bought the set at Target in 1976, EVERY set I saw included those two models. The Gold Chrome cars are EXTREMELY rare. They were almost impossible to find in 1976. I know, I looked EVERYWHERE and couldn't find them then.

"Also released was a Limited Edition, Gold-chromed Camaro T/A that was sold together with a gold colored goose Pump in a sealed blister showpak." 2 If you find one of these, put it in a safe deposit box!

1976 accessories included:

Silver Metal Stopwatch

The Sizzlers line was now seven years old. There was basically no

difference in the design and performance since 1970. Mattel needed

something different. The slot car scene was starting to be dominated by the A/FX Magnatraction Flamethrower and TYCO Nite-Glow lighted cars. Mattel was losing sales and ground to this phenomenon. As a last run in 1978, Mattel created an entire new, ground-up design for the Sizzlers line called Night Ridin' Sizzlers.

Night Ridin' Sizzlers contained six new models for 1978 which had working headlights. These models were made in molded colors and included:

Corvette 4-Rotor (Bright Yellow)

Dark Shadow (Yellow)

The chassis was redesigned externally (larger switch, hexagonal battery compartment) and internally (light connections), but retained the basic shape and size.

Track Sets for 1978 included:

Day-Night Challenge Race Set

Nightmare Alley Race Set

After 1978, popularity waned and Mattel discontinued the Sizzlers line for good. These cars have regained popularity in the last few years. However, values are still well below Hot Wheels of the same time period, comparatively speaking. This makes it a good buy for collectors or racers wanting to get in the market for some of these cars.

If you don't have any Sizzlers, I would recommend buying a few and racing them. The excitement can't be beat!

1. Sizzlers Collector's Guide by Joseph Stitzel, 1995, Fast Tracks

Sizzlerking's Sizzler reference site (Ton's o' cars and accessories)

Sizzler Joe's Rare Sizzler Site (Awesome RARE stuff)

Yocham's Sizzler Site (Fat Daddy Heaven!)

The Sizzler Hotline/Repair Center (Every Sizzler Repair need)