Category:Marklin Sprint slotcar system

The Marklin Sprint slotcar system was sold between 1967 and the early 1980s.

The Marklin system seems to have been really rather nice, with three different radius curves, allowing up to six lanes of track. The system included straight and curved lane-changer section, banked curves, inclines, and chicanes, and allowed some extravagantly sophisticated layouts. Unfortunately, in waiting to see what other manufacturers did, and then waiting until they had a really good competing system, Märklin kinda missed the boat ... Their system launched in 1967, which was just after the UK slotcar craze had peaked, and retailers were finding themselves with a glut of manufacturers trying to sell to fewer buyers, not a good time to be launching yet another new system.

We're not sure about the timing of the market on mainland Europe, but we're assuming that it was probably broadly similar to what was going on in the UK.

1969 promotional text:

Märklin Sprint For fast and exciting automobile racing in your home

Running the lightning fast slot cars in the MÄRKLIN Sprint sets provides an exciting hobby quite different from our model railroads. Thus both hobbies compliment each other.
1:32 Built in the popular 1:32 scale, minimum is space is required for the MÄRKLIN Sprint raceway. The track is designed to clip together very strongly for complete electrical and mechanical connection, yet goes together and comes apart with ease. No fussing around with track sections that do not fit and are hard to connect. Thus your track will stand even the longest and most hard racing.
Your race track can be built with two, four or six lanes, long straight ways, esses, banked curved, inclines, overpasses, chicanes, lane crossovers and many other exciting accessories including our reliable lap counter. Everything is available to build up almost any racing circuit and, wherever required, to safeguard all your tracks with strong crash barriers.
Every MÄRKLIN racing car is a miniature masterpiece. The high speed motor is located in the best position for correct center of gravity, providing good road holding ability. In addition a special designed gear train is installed so that the car can respond to any small change in voltage. This means short quick braking action before curves and immediate acceleration during the curve. It also gives you superior hill climbing ability and MÄRKLIN incline sections. Because of these many features, MÄRKLIN race cars can attain unbelievably fast lap times.
Another feature typical of the high MÄRKLIN quality is the solid ski type current pickups of the cars. They are sprung and are thus very reliable for current pickup, while at the same time they provide a cleaning action on the pickup rails. The tires of the cars can be changed and adapted to the running characteristics of the track.
The speed controller can be operated without any steps in the speed regulation or it can be set to uniformly increase step by step. Using the built in key the controller can be locked in a given voltage and then released with the panic switch in case of emergency. The hand controller can be connected to the track at any location that is convenient to you.
A host of suggestions for building different exciting raceways are contained in the interesting MÄRKLIN Sprint Handbook. It also contains racing rules for many different types of races, always providing thrilling entertainment in your home for all participants, young and old.

1969 range: Racing and Sports Cars

1300 FORMULA RACING CAR

– A model of the Mercedes W 196 Monoposto – The front wheels are steered by the guide slot in the track sections – Scale model front axle assembly – The car is driven by a high–speed motor through a multi–ratio gear box and current is picked up by two sprung ski–type current collectors – Silver plastic body with figure of driver in white – 5" long – Spare tyres for this car: Front, No.1500; rear, No.1501 or 1504

1301 FORMULA RACING CAR

– A model of the Ferrari Supersqualo – The front wheels are steered by the guide slot in the track sections – Scale model front axle assembly – The car is driven by a high–speed motor through a multi–ratio gear box and current is picked up by two sprung ski–type current collectors – Red plastic body with figure of driver in white – 5" long – Spare tyres for this car: Front, No. 1500; rear, No. 1501 or 1504

1302 SPORTS CAR

A model of the Porsche Carrera 6 – – The front wheels are steered by the guide slot in the track sections – Scale model front axle assembly – The car is driven by a high–speed motor through a multi–ratio gear box and current is picked up by two sprung ski–type current collectors – White plastic body - Cockpit enclosed by clear plastic hood – With figure of driver – 5¹⁄₁₀" long – Spare tyres for this car: Front, No. 1500; rear, No. 1503

1305 SPORTS CAR

– A model of the Porsche Carrera 6 – Technical details the same as No. 1302, but with red body

1306 FORMULA 2 RACING CAR

– A model of the BMW 1600 with Lola chassis – The front wheels are steered by the guide slot in the track sections – Front axis assembly – The car is driven by a high–speed motor through a multi–ratio gearbox and current is picked up by two sprung ski–type current collectors – White body with blue underframe – Visible imitation engine – Figure of driver in white – 4¹⁄₂" long – Spare tyres for this car: Front. No.1503; rear, No.1504

1307 FORMULA 2 RACING CAR

– A model of the Lola–BMW – Technical details the same as No. 1306, but with red body and underframe

1313 SPORTS CAR

– Technical details the same as No. 1302, but with open cockpit and windscreen – Silver body with black underframe – With figure of driver – 5¹⁄₁₀" long

1314 SPORTS CAR

– Technical details the same as No.1313, but with orange body and white underframe

1315 SPORTS CAR

– A model of the Chaparral 2 E with vertical stabilising fin – Front wheels are steered by the guide slot in the track sections – Front axle assembly – The car is driven by a high–speed motor through a multi–ratio gearbox, and current is picked up by two sprung ski–type current collectors – White plastic body with figure of driver in white – 4¹⁄₂" long – Spare tyres for this car: Front, No. 1500; rear, No. 1503

1316 GRAND PRIX CAR

– A model of the Porsche Carrera 6 – The front wheels are steered by the guide slot in the track sections – Working front axle assembly – Car is driven by a high speed motor through a multi–ratio gearbox and current is picked up through two sprung current collectors – Silver plastic body – Cockpit enclosed by clear plastic hood – Two working headlights – With figure of driver – 5¹⁄₈" long – Spare tires fitting model: front 1500, rear 1503

1317 GRAND PRIX CAR

– Technical details the same as 1316 except for open cockpit with windshield – Red plastic body – With figure of driver – 5¹⁄₈" long – Spare tyres fitting model: front 1500, rear 1503