Most domestic AM radios of the early 60s used vacuum tubes. The size of the tubes (approximately 2 inches high and 1/2 inch wide), and the fact that they produced a considerable amount of heat, meant they had to be packaged in fairly large, ventilated cases. Tube radios were made obsolete by the transistor, an American invention popularized by the Japanese. Early transistors were about a quarter of the size of a sugar cube, and produced virtually no heat. Six of them were used in the pocket sized "Corvair" radio at right, which could provide days of normal usage from a small 9-volt battery. When transistor radios first appeared in stores, every kid on the block had to have one. For a Corvair fan, one bearing the Corvair name was the ultimate.

Plastics, which had been aggressively developed during World War II, became popular materials in the toy industry during the 50s. While plastics of the era tended to be hard and brittle, the softer, more durable plastics of the 60s were molded into "unbreakable" toys like this Corvair 95 Rampside, giving the younger kids in the neighborhood a chance to get in on the Corvair action!

The vacant hole in front fender on the driver's side of the plastic Rampside suggests it's missing its radio antenna. The windshield pillars are bowed a little, but otherwise, considering the toy is now over 35 years old, it looks like it may be on the job for a while yet.

Earlier, we saw some marketing photos of the Franklin Mint 1960 Monza club coupe. This photograph shows some of the interior detail, like the horn ring and the chrome trim on the bucket seat. Right down to the trim rim around the lower part of the gas hatch, the simulated louvers under the rear window, and the tail pipe, this scale replica mimics the original so well, it almost looks like the real thing.