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Dave's Trains, Inc.
www.davestrains.com

Phone: 732-271-5124 *** Fax: 732-271-9285 *** E-mail Dave & Joan

Space & Military Cars

This Web Page Last Updated: February 25, 2024

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This page contains our current inventory of cars that were part of the postwar Lionel "Space & Military" series. Included here are those specialized rolling stock items (both operating & non-operating AND both real & fictitious) that were created to stimulate the imaginations of children regarding space exploration and the needs of the armed forces of the United States. Note that military motive power is located on our Diesels, Electrics & Small Motorized Units web page, military-type cabooses are located on our Cabooses web page and space & military accessories are located on our Accessories web page.

* * * Click on "Yes" in the Photo column to see a picture.
* * * Click on "Grade" in the 3rd column heading for an explanation of grading.

Postwar Lionel Space & Military Cars
Catalog #ItemGradePhotoPriceDescription & More Information
44 Mobile
Missile
Launcher
===> ===> ===> Click here to go to our Diesels, Electrics & Motorized Units Page to read about a very nice, boxed U.S. Army Mobile Missile Launcher from 1959-62.
59 Minuteman
Switcher
===> ===> ===> Click here to go to our Diesels, Electrics & Motorized Units Page to read about the last "baby diesel" switcher made in the postwar era -- the very scarce U.S. Air Force Minuteman sold in 1962 & 1963.
175-200 Rocket Launcher Control Panel ===> ===> ===> Need something to fire up your Rocket & Missile Firing cars?
Click here to go to our Accessories Page to read about a nice Rocket Launcher Control Panel from 1958-60.
3535 AEC
Security Car
E+++/OB Yes $210 Interesting piece from 1961 designed to serve as an end car (caboose) on a military train: essentially a black flatcar with a red cab (similar style to the 520 boxcab electric) plus a rotating searchlight and roof-mounted, twin anti-aircraft guns. Has white heat-stamped lettering on the cab and early AAR trucks with operating couplers.
Photo of the other side showing the car in its "security mode" ready for action.
A very, very clean car with nice white lettering. The searchlight, guns and yoke are all original AND all tabs are intact on the cab! A sharp-looking car -- it lights and the searchlight revolves properly.
An "aerial" view.

Photo of the box.
Grade 7 original box (missing the interior coupler flap; tears; creases; a little wavy; tape inside; writing). The box is very presentable as it is clean, fairly square and sturdy!
Another view of the box.
This car is from the "Space and Military Series" and was produced in 1960 and 1961 but the "Picture" box helps to date this one as a 1961 piece.
Photo of the front of the box.

The 3535 is a rather hard item to find intact but this one is very nice -- and it's in a decent box! It is a perfect piece for a layout with a military theme!
Our Archives Page: more information on 3535 AEC Security Cars.
3665 Minuteman
Boxcar
E++/OB Yes $ 160 The operating missile launching Strategic Air Command boxcar from 1961-64: unpainted white body with red and blue, heat-stamped lettering and early AAR trucks with operating couplers.
Photo of the car.
ORIGINAL, dark-blue, 2-part roof (all tabs intact) and the ORIGINAL, red, white and blue missile (rocket).
Photo of the other side with the roof open and the car in launch mode.
A great-looking car with minimal flaws: very, very clean with nice lettering and the mechanism does work!
Photo of the roof.
Has the original instruction sheet (#3665-23, dated 6/61).
Photo of the rocket and the instruction sheet.

Photo of the box.
Grade 7+ original box (creases; tears; tape; price sticker residue). A couple of imperfections but this box is still solid as it is clean, complete, square and sturdy!
Another view of the box.

A sharp car that offers some "play value" -- this car can be operated manually or automatically using a remote control track section.

Still not sure if you are going to like this car? A popular magazine rated the 3665 as one of the TOP 10 Postwar Lionel models from the Space & Military Line -- calling it ". . . a must for any space and military collection!" See page 47 of the March, 2014 issue of the magazine "Classic Toy Trains" for their complete review.
3820 U.S.M.C. Flatcar
with
Submarine
Load:
E+++

Car:
E+++
Yes $325
SOLD
Olive-drab painted flatcar with correct, gray, operating "U. S. NAVY 3830" submarine. This 1960-62 car has white heat-stamped lettering and early AAR trucks with operating couplers. The sub has black heat-stamped lettering.
Photo of the other side.
Flat: minimal flaws! The car is very, very clean with nice vibrant paint, crisp lettering and shiny, rust-free truck rivets! Has the original wire retainer holding clips.
A "aerial" view of the sub and the car's decking.
Minimal flaws on the sub! It is completely intact, very clean with crisp lettering and it is ALL ORIGINAL!
Photo of the original "LIONEL" ID plate ("bottom window") below the sub.

One of the nicest 3820s we have ever seen! This hard-to-find car is one of the most desirable items from the "Space and Military Series." It came in the Land-Sea-And Air set as well as two other sets. The 3820 was never available for separate sale and Lionel never made a box for this piece.
Click here to go to Our Archives Page to read more about 3820 USMC Flatcars & Subs.
6630 Missile Launching Car E+++ Yes $125 A sharp-looking missile launching flatcar from 1961 only: the black flat has white heat-stamped lettering plus arch-bar trucks with fixed couplers.
Photo of the other side.
Minimal flaws! The car is gorgeous -- very, very clean with crisp lettering and no rust on the truck rivets. The superstructure is blue with a black firing pad and it is completely intact with minimal flaws.
An "aerial" view showing the car about to participate in battle.
The red & white two-stage, ALL-ORIGINAL missile has a blue tip and the missile is all intact with very few flaws.

An all-original and unusual car that offers some "play value" on a layout. The 6630 came unboxed in one catalogued set and unboxed in several uncatalogued sets as Lionel never produced an original box for this car. Only the second 6630 we have ever offered for sale and it is a nice one!
6650 Missile Launching Car E+++/OB Yes $135 A good-looking missile launching flatcar from 1959-60: red flat (mold #6511-2) has white heat-stamped lettering with "6650" on the left plus early AAR trucks with operating couplers.
Photo of the other side with the rocket on its way to the target.
Minimal flaws! The car is gorgeous: very, very clean with crisp, white lettering and nice, shiny truck rivets -- plus the firing mechanism does work!
Photo of the rocket and an "aerial" view of the car's decking.
The red and white missile is complete and it is ORIGINAL!
Photo of the instruction sheet.
Has the original instruction sheet #6650-92, dated 8/59.

Photo of the box.
Grade 7+ original box (tears; creases; panel partially separated; tape on the inside).
Another view of the box.
A few flaws but this box is still solid: clean, complete, square and sturdy!
Photo of the front panel.
This car is from the "Space and Military Series" and was sold from 1959 to 1963 but the "Perforated Panel" box helps to date this one as a 1959 or 1960 piece.

Nicest 6650 we have ever had; this all-original, sharp car is in a very strong box plus it offers some "play value" for an operator!
6651 U.S.M.C.
Shell

Launching Car
======
E++
Un-run
======
Yes $265 The shell launching Cannon Car -- an unusual item found only in uncatalogued sets (mostly purely military) in 1964 & 1965: this impressive-looking car was nicknamed "Big Bertha" by collectors. The frame is painted olive drab (on a red mold) and has white, heat-stamped lettering plus middle AAR trucks with operating couplers. The launcher assembly is molded in olive drab; comes with four reproduction shells.
Photo of the other side showing Big Bertha in action with a shell on the way to its target.
Usual tarnishing on the metal strip below the cannon plus some box rub in spots and that's about it for flaws! It is very, very clean with nice vibrant paint, strong lettering, nice shiny truck rivets and no rust on the metal parts -- plus it was NEVER USED!
Photo of the four shells and an "aerial" view of the car.

The menacing-looking 6651 only came in eight "promotional" outfits. It is a sharp-looking car and the firing mechanism works great!
6804 Empty Flatcar for:

the
U.S.M.C.
Antiaircraft
Truck

&
U.S.M.C.
Sound Truck
E+ Yes $ 35 Empty red flatcar (mold #6424-11) with white, heat-stamped lettering from 1958-59 for two Marine Corps vehicles. No load.
Photo of the other side.
A couple of light surface scratches on the decking and that's about it for flaws! The car is nice: very, very clean with beautiful lettering & rust-free truck rivets. Has the original vehicle retainer which is completely intact.
An "aerial" view.

Note: the even-numbered flats (6804, 6806, 6808) from the "Space & Military" Series are significantly harder to find as compared to the odd-numbered ones (6803, 6807, 6809).
6809 Flatcar
with a
Marine Corps
Anti-aircraft
Truck

& a
U.S. NAVY
Medical Truck
Load:
E+++

Car:
E+++

OB
Yes $260 Red flatcar (mold #6511-2) from 1958-59 with white heat-stamped lettering and early AAR trucks with operating couplers plus its ORIGINAL load: a Marine Corps Anti-aircraft "Pyro" Truck and a U.S. NAVY "Pyro" Medical Truck. Has the original axle retainer.
Photo of the other side.
The flat is very, very clean with nice, crisp lettering and nice shiny, rust-free truck rivets.
An "aerial" view showing the car's decking and the tops of the vehicles.
Both of the vehicles are all original and gorgeous: completely intact and very, very clean with nice lettering!

Photo of the box.
Grade 7+ original box (tears; tape inside; glue residue; a little wavy; mildly distorted).
Another view of the box.
This box is solid: clean, complete and sturdy!
A third view of the box.

Sharp piece: one of the nicest 6809 cars we have ever had in one of the nicest 6809 boxes we have ever had!
(6824
-50)
First Aid
Medical Car
===> ===> ===> Need something to bring up the rear of your military train?
Click here to go to our Caboose Page to read about a good-looking and very uncommon caboose -- an unused, uncatalogued Sears Rescue Caboose with a BLACK frame.

Hints for buying
Space & Military Cars
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The 1950's and 1960's were marked by the "race to space" and the creation of "world superpowers" -- specifically the United States and the Soviet Union.

Lionel created an extensive line of interesting pieces to keep pace with current events of that era: the world's desire for exploring outer space -- the "last frontier" -- and the need for strong national defense systems in light of the Cold War.

Any layout will be enhanced with either a space exploration theme or one involving the creation of an action-packed and patriotic operation involving Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps equipment.

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Go to these pages to see other Postwar Lionel Items:

Postwar Lionel
Diesels & Electrics Steamers Passenger Cars
Railroad Work Cars Freight Cars Space & Military Cars
Cabooses Accessories Sets
Original Boxes Other Paper ~ Unique Reference Charts ~

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