This Father’s Day on 18th June 2023 you can tailor your gift to your dad or father figure from the affordable and highly collectable Scalextric Film and TV range - can you see him speeding after villains in one of the James Bond cars, pootling along in Mr. Bean’s Mini, or heading Back to the Future in a four-wheeled time machine?

With so many superbly detailed, collectable scale models on offer, how do you choose? Well, we can help you with that with this handy guide to steer you to the right model:

Is your dad into his vinyl records and old school blues? Then the beautifully battered Dodge Monaco police car (complete with speaker strapped to the roof) from the classic comedy film The Blues Brothers will be for him. Or the undented Chicago Police car, if he prefers something a little more respectable!

Does he go on and on about how the old TV shows are the best? Let’s ask K.I.T.T (that features a cool working red strobe light) from Knight Rider.

Does he fancy himself as the next 007? Then grab him the Lotus Esprit from For Your Eyes Only, with skis on the roof for an emergency getaway, or the sleek white convertible Ford Mustang from Goldfinger, so he can practise his smooth moves and handbrake turns!

Does he prefer polishing his car in the garage rather than taking it out for a drive? The best thing about these cars is you don’t even need to put them on a track and race them - they come in superb display cases so you can put them straight onto a shelf, to the envy of the dad next door. But if your dad does want to race, it’s lights, cameras and put the track down. You’d better buckle up - remember, he has one advantage over you - years of experience and a full driving licence!

“At Scalextric, we're proud of our attention to detail when it comes to creating miniature versions of iconic film and TV cars,” says Head of Brand, Simon Owen. “We start by researching every aspect of the vehicle, using 3D printing and prototyping to refine the design. Our cars feature custom details unique to each on-screen appearance, such as the strobing light on K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider and the light-up Flux Capacitor on the DeLorean from Back to the Future. We're passionate about bringing beloved pop culture vehicles to life on the track.”

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SCALEXTRIC
Production of Scalextric products began in 1957 in Hampshire, England, and 1960 saw the introduction of the plastic range of cars as the tinplate cars ceased. Through the years Scalextric has been owned by companies such as Tri-ang and Rovex Ltd, and in 1971 production of Scalextric and Hornby trains began from Westwood, Margate.

In 1982, an independent company was formed – Hornby Hobbies Ltd (later Hornby Plc) – and during the late-1990s production of Scalextric was transferred to China. The accuracy and detailing of today’s Scalextric models remain second to none.

As the world turned evermore to digital technology, Scalextric was not to be left behind and in 2004 introduced its first fully digital racing set (multi-car racing with lane changing functionality). Scalextric SportWorld was also introduced to allow racers the ability to hook their Scalextric sets up to the internet to create a global community through on-line racing.

Today Scalextric offers a slot car system for all ages. For the younger driver there is ‘My First Scalextric’ which is an easy assemble and operate 1:64 scale track system, this is followed by Micro Scalextric which uses the same track system but with larger layout options including special track features. Then for the more experienced racer there is the commonly recognised and loved traditional 1:32 track system which offers a multitude of car, track and accessory options. More recent developments include ARC, a Scalextric App based race management program and Spark Plug which offers the chance to control your Scalextric Car with your phone or tablet.

About Hornby Hobbies Limited
Hornby Hobbies Limited is a toy and hobby product manufacturer that was founded in the early 1900’s. Hornby Hobbies Limited portfolio of brands include: Hornby – model trains, Scalextric – slot car racing, Airfix – plastic model kits, Humbrol – paints and craft product, and Corgi – die-cast models. In addition to these iconic British brands Hornby Hobbies Limited also owns several in international brands including: Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Pocher and Arnold.