Pack 83 Vintage Pinewood Derby Kit Information and Planning Templates

Vintage Pinewood Derby Kits

Around 1973, the Boy Scouts of America updated the Pinewood Derby kit by including new wider wheels, eliminating the axle blocks of wood, and turning the body block on its side for a lower, sleeker race car look. They also reduced the maximum car length from 7 3/8" to 7" because the new kit did not position the wheels out in front of the car like the original kits.

The original, sealed "new" old kit, purchased by me on 2/11/2001 in an eBay auction for $3.99 (the auction description did not contain the word "pinewood" so I was the only bidder)

The "new" old kit unpackaged showing the narrow wheels and axle blocks with directions printed on back of package

Here's a close-up of the wheels used in the early kits. Notice the crude cut on the axle blocks!

More soon as I build this recreation of my childhood Pinewood Derby Pack winner for the 2001 Pack 83 Parents' Race!

The original, sealed "new" old kit, purchased by me on 2/11/2001 in an eBay auction for $3.99 (the auction description did not contain the word "pinewood" so I was the only bidder)		The "new" old kit unpackaged showing the narrow wheels and axle blocks with directions printed on back of package
Here's a close-up of the wheels used in the early kits. Notice the crude cut on the axle blocks!