Diecast Chassis: Comparing 1/64 Platforms

Lionel Racing has been producing 1/64 scale race cars with diecast chassis for several years. But anyone who is used to buying these cars from the tracks, the shops, or at retail stores may have never realized because those cars have been made specifically for Circle B Diecast. With the announcement coming from Lionel this week that all future 'Gold Line' (ARC) 1/64s would come with diecast chassis, It seemed like a good time to do a comparison.

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Subjects for Comparison:
The two cars that are up for comparison today are both from the 2023 season. The all metal body chassis features the 23XL Racing #23 McDonald's Grimace Camry that was run just once at Miami Homestead in race number 34 of the 2023 season by Bubba Wallace. The other is the Trackhouse # 1 Camaro that Ross Chastain drove in over a dozen races in 2023, and to a victory during the championship race at Phoenix. That car features a metal body with the currently used plastic chassis. Both of these cars feature plastic wheels which is an important detail to be aware of because new 1/64s produced after June 20th will have rubber tires. 

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I realize comparing a Chevy and a Toyota may not seem to make much sense, but there's a reason for that that I'll explain further, later in the article. The most important thing is that these are both from the 2023 season, and both cars are based on the Nascar Generation 7 race car. Both are ARC.

The Toyota Camry was acquired from Circle B Diecast, arguably, the largest online retailer of Nascar diecast collectables. The packaging clearly indicates that this is a 1/64 scale diecast with a diecast chassis. It has that label on both the side of the box and on the foil sticker that contains the details of the model. The Camry is also limited in quantity and has a '1 of 288' designation. 

This car, like a handful of cars that feature certain brands, was mounted on a plastic base. (Most of the diecast chassis 1/64s that have been made do not come attached to a plastic base). This is not a base that is intended to be separated from the model, but it can be done with household tools and some careful hands. 

Like 1/64s with plastic chassis that are mounted on a plastic base plate, these diecast chassis are also held in place by two screws. The screws  have triangle shaped heads which is a minor nuisance. 

Once freed from the base, the diecast chassis version is virtually indistinguishable from cars with a plastic chassis. What's more, is that because of the firmer base, the car's axel pins and wheels seem to stay in place more firmly, so the car rolls without wobbling, and the car also sits perfectly level. 

Turning the car over reveals a very smooth, beautifully painted, and nicely detailed chassis. Each detail of the undercarriage is identical in scale to the plastic versions most collectors are used to. Note, it is clear to see the minor damage in the area of the screw holes that the model endured when the car was separated from the base. The damage was a result of the consumer, not Lionel. 

Hopefully these images demonstrate not only the similarity that the metal chassis have to the plastic ones, but also show the more exquisite and impressive detailing that Lionel is capable of. But it's time to take a look at this model compared to the Ross Chastain example. 

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Comparative Photos:

From the front, it's clear that the template for the diecast chassis and the plastic chassis are exactly the same. Each of the underbody details are precisely the same, and for the most part, align the same. Both chassis are held in place by two pins as is typical of almost any 1/64 scale diecast car. 

Both of these cars are on Lionel's 'EL mould' the better of the two that are typically utilized. (The other mould is the PTC mould that doesn't pop up much, but can be found on some Nascar Authentics waves. It is also used to produce the program cars that can be found at most races. The mould is a bit less detailed, and the plastic chassis and wheels used on those cars are more basic. It is widely recognized as an inferior casting). Because both of these cars are based on the EL mould, aside from the shell body, the rest of the fetuses are the same and the underbody details are identical.

As you can see, everything from the skid plate, to the jack post, to the aero strakes that extend off of the back of the car, are virtually identical and equally proportionate to each other. If anything the areas around the wheels at both the front and the back are a bit different with more clearance around the wheels, but the differences are minimal.

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Comparative Analysis:
Earlier, I mentioned that I chose these two cars for a reason. One of the most common issues I've seen with the plastic chassis that Lionel uses currently, is that plastic tends to warp. When the plastic underbodies warp, the cars don't sit flat, and they tend to have unrealistic clearance levels in the wheel wells. Take a look at these comparative photos. It's a bit subtle, but still clear to see that the Trackhouse Chevy has been impacted by a warped plastic chassis, and so it sits at about a 3 to 5 degree angle. Also, compare the amount of space between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheel well fender on both cars. The Chevy has too much clearance as a result of the warped chassis. So, while the shell bodies are different, the chassis are the same, but I wanted to use the Chevy to show a common issue with the plastic underside. 

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Conclusion:
As it stands, there's really no contest between a metal chassis and a plastic one. The metal chassis is just as detailed, just as accurate, and easily nicer looking than the plastic underbody components. The metal chassis will not suffer from bending of warping, and it gives Lionel Racing's top of line 1/64 scale products extra heft which just makes the cars feel more exclusive, and more collectable. 

With the announcement that upcoming cars will have both metal chassis and rubber wheels there is still some details that remain to be seen. In my opinion, the metal chassis with the plastic wheels are more than a sufficient enough combination to establish the Gold Line (ARC) line of cars as the best that can be bought. Until Lionel offers samples, or until the final copies start to hit the market there will still be some skepticism about the new standards in 1/64, but fear of a diecast chassis shouldn't be one of those concerns. 

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Sources:
-Jayski.com
-Lionelracing.com
-Nascar.com
-racing-reference.info