| Scalextric slot cars were initially created in the 1950s | | | | lost some of its widespread appeal and Scalextric |
| by British firm Minimodels. The company had in 1952 | | | | saw some of its biggest competitors, such as like |
| introduced a range of clockwork powered race car | | | | Fleischmann and Märklin, stopping production. |
| systems called Scalex, which were then adapted into | | | | The 1990s saw computer design and 3D printing |
| electric systems and renamed Scalextric, combining | | | | methods create more authentic and detailed models |
| the words Scalex and electric. | | | | than those of the initial slot car boom. New replicas |
| Initially focusing on 1:32 scale models of Grand Prix | | | | of slot cars from the 1960s and 1970s appeared on |
| racing cars, Scalextric cars became a landmark hit | | | | the market, giving enthusiasts the option of racing |
| within the burgeoning slot car racing market, so much | | | | modern and classic cars against each other. The Micro |
| so that Minimodels was unable to meet the demand | | | | Scalextric range was also introduced, using 1:64 range |
| for its popular range and was incorporated as a | | | | cars racing on dedicated Micro Scalextric tracks. |
| subsidiary of Triang. At this time production of | | | | Towards the end of the decade slot car racing saw |
| Scalextric vehicles changed from metal to plastic, | | | | something of a resurgence and Scalextric were |
| which was both cheaper and easier to mould. | | | | joined by new kids on the block like Nico and Fly, |
| The first Scalextric tracks were made of a rubber | | | | whose cars can race on Scalextric tracks without |
| compound and had two parallel grooves running along | | | | modification. |
| the course to allow two cars to race against each | | | | Today Scalextric is as synonymous with slot cars as |
| other at a time. In the 1960s production of the | | | | Hoover is with vacuum cleaners or Tannoy with |
| tracks themselves also switched over to moulded | | | | loudspeaker systems. Scalextric Digital cars have |
| plastic, and this style of plastic track with a new | | | | been introduced, with digital control systems that |
| attachment system is still in use today. | | | | allow up to 6 cars to race in a single slot with more |
| As slot car racing became more popular during the | | | | realistic passing. Today's cars are usually based on |
| 1960s, Triang opened additional factories in Spain, | | | | racing vehicles from F1, A1, NASCAR, Le Mans, |
| France, Australia and New Zealand. One notable | | | | touring, rallying and ordinary road cars. |
| occurrence was that the Australian factory produced | | | | One prominent Scalextric enthusiast is Top Gear |
| some vehicles with obvious colour variations from the | | | | presenter James May. In 2005 he attempted to set |
| parent company's guidelines. These included a black | | | | the land speed record using Scalextric slot cars and a |
| Mini Cooper and an apple green Lotus, which was | | | | scale measured-mile, inviting 42 of the world's best |
| supposed to be British racing green. This is believed | | | | Scalextric racers to break the then-current record of |
| to have been done by local factory workers to spite | | | | 458 mph. He himself used an off-the-shelf 1:32 scale |
| its British parent company. These models are | | | | Scalextric Ford GT to reach the equivalent speed of |
| extremely rare and popular with collectors. | | | | 392 mph, which is faster than the real Ford GT's |
| Towards the end of the 1960s, Scalextric 1:24 scale | | | | speed of 212 mph. The winning speed was 696.6 |
| models were introduced to meet demand in the US | | | | mph, which was in 2008 beaten by actor Dallas |
| and Europe. Sadly, these cars were not financially | | | | Campbell, who set the current record of 983.88 mph |
| successful, and due to high production costs were | | | | using a Scalextric Honda F1 model. |
| discontinued in 1970. Another financial disappointment | | | | The future for Scalextric is looking good, with |
| was the 'You Steer' line of Scalextric cars, which | | | | franchises such as the Scalextric James Bond |
| allowed racers to steer the car left or right just | | | | Quantum of Solace and Scalextric Lewis Hamilton |
| under an inch along the slots in the racecourse. | | | | ranges predicted to be big sellers for Christmas 2008, |
| By the 1980s, Scalextric's parent company had | | | | and other franchises such as Micro Scalextric Disney |
| collapsed and one of its subsidiaries became Hornby | | | | Cars, Need For Speed Scalextric and Micro Scalextric |
| Railways, which to this day is the producer of | | | | and new Scalextric MINI ranges released in 2009. |
| Scalextric vehicles. By this point slot car racing had | | | | |