Looking For 1/4 Scale 60's Vintage CanAm Car Info & History

[stevster]

I'm looking for some information & history on my vintage, 1/4 scale CanAm
style, RC car that I aquired awhile back. I have to believe that this car was a
production run made unit, for some type of demonstration use, or for an amusement
park attraction. The reason I have come to this conclusion is, that it weighs 45 pounds,
has a very thick fiberglass body, and all the components are profesionally made.
It's powered by a 1 HP Ohlsson & Rice "Compact III" model gasoline engine, with a
centrificul clutch & gearbox. It also has fully independent suspension, and brake lights.
The body has lettering that is silk screened on it, and that just doesn't usually happen
on a "home built" project. I would have to guess by looking at the radio & "servos" that
this was made in the early sixties. It uses a 12 volt gell cell to power up the radio.
It also came with a purpose built stand, that will support the car in the air for tuning &
maintenance. I'll post some pics to see if anybody has any ideas. I'll post some additional pics if anyone's interested . Thanks, Steve

[PTModIT]

Hi, I just Google the Olson and Rice engine and came up with a few sites on Vintage RC cars and boats that used this engine and others . I'am sure they could help you. Not saying someone here might have the info you ask. Just a thought.

[PTModIT]

I also typed in Olson and Rice engines on ebay and some sprint car tether cars came up.

[Mike Casey]

never seen one of those before!!! Definately though, i think you are right. It came from a amusement park of some sort. The tires are built to last too, not for performance. Everything about that screams amusement park to me. Kraft did make all sorts of RC stuff. Its possible they made this too, but more likely it was just the electronics. Very interesting find.

[stevster]

Thanks for all the tips guy. I have spent quite awhile online, Googling Ohlsson & Rice, and a lot of other things, but so far have come up short on anything like this. One of my goals is to find some contact info for Gus Ohlsson, the son of Irwin Ohlsson, who made the engines originally. I seen his name come up at some airplane events. We'll figure it out eventually. Here's some more pics. Thanks, Steve

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

Wow that's such an awesome machine.

More pics please!

[eightman]

wow the steering motor!!! it looks huge!

[stevster]

Yes it is. You have to realize that back then, you couldn't go get a Futaba 1/4
scale servo to do the job. This one is a 12 volt electric jackscrew type actuator.
Not exactly what you would call "quick steering" Take a look at the "throttle
servo". Not much of a "mini servo" there either! I'll post a couple more pics,
Steve

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

Love the suspension setup at the rear.
Please post as many pictures as you want of this.
It's awesome.


So have you started it up?
Did the previous owner drive it at all or is it just for display.

[Mike Casey]

do you have the radio too?

[stevster]

No, I don't have the "transmiter" part, as I do believe this was built for some type of amusement park set up, and if it was anything like you see at todays parks, they have a stationary stand that you drive them from. Just a guess. I'll post some pics of the "receiver unit". I think with as many wires as this thing has, it would take an old school pinball machine mechanic to work on it!!!!

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

Wow that's mindboggling.

So when you say amusement park use, do you reckon it was something that people would pay a quarter for and get to drive for 5 minutes or so?

[stevster]

All this is just a guess. Any car that was built this heavy duty....45lbs, 12v gel cell to run the servos, a fair sized gas tank, and a very thick (8lbs worth) fiberglass body.....it's the only scenario that I can come up with at this time (untill this mystery is solved). And by the way, when this thing was new, it probably only cost a dime to run for 5 minutes! And no, I haven't tried to start it up yet. It's like trying to fire up the old Queen Mary Steam Ship. If it ever runs........your not really going to go anywhere with it! The guy I got it from said he had it in his living room for years, and the wife had finally had enough. He said he purchased it at a garage sale before that, and nobody knew any history. He tried to tell me it was built at Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach Ca. He said that Irwin Ohlsson was working with someone there to help build this/these. I don't know exactly how to check that story out............yet.

[Dirty_Vinylpusher]

Cool cool.


Maybe you'll have to go to one of those Antiques Roadshow things to see if anyone can help you.

I bet someone out there knows a few things about this particular car.


Will be interesting to see where this goes.

[cryo-tek]

First off. That's a very cool car.
The receiver is an old craft brick. It has the receiver and two servos built into it. Some place in the barn is a transmitter and my old brick that I used in my old boats. I used the O&R motors in them. I would take them off of a bicycle motor called a Pony express. I have a box of motors and should have a exhaust header for you. To think, while I was putting the O&R in the boats someone was putting them in cars. Then it was unique, now the gas engines are the norm. I'll take some photos of the transmitter for you. Does the steering turn both right and left?

Awesome car!!