Home Site Map Postwar Lionel Modern Lionel Soviet Trains Contact Us

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: April 15, 2025

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
175-200 Rocket Launcher Control Panel ===> ===> ===> Need something to launch some artillery from 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.
224 United States Navy
Alco diesel
AB units		 ===> ===> ===> Looking for something to head up your military cars?
Click here to go to our Diesels, Electrics & Motorized Units Page
to read about a very, very nice set of UNRUN Navy Alco units from 1960-62.
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.
6017
(-200) 		U. S. Navy
Caboose		 ===> ===> ===> Click here to go to our Caboose Page to read about a sharp Navy caboose from 1960 only.
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!
(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
(We will bring you back)		 How can we help?
 ~~~ Ready to Order? ~~~
Click here to
Place an Order

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.

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 ~

Return to the Main Menu of Dave's Trains, Inc.

Home Site Map Postwar Lionel Modern Lionel Soviet Trains Contact Us