thanks for answering my question before hand,
i am a operator more so than a collector and reletivity new at both my question is why does some auotloaders have the # on left side verses right side and ive also noticed that some have weights over the top of the trucks any reason other than different production years? the reason im asking is that i want to alter some that i have to put a custom name on them and would rather use one that is not as valuable ?
thanks hank
It is just variations. No value if on left side, right side, decaled, etc. The real value comes from what cars it has. Premium cars, green cars, red cars, brown cars, etc.
The early 6414’s were numbered on the right side of “Lionel” and had heavier metal trucks. Thier load was four premium autos (green, red, yellow, white) with chrome bumpers. Later 6414’s were numbered to the left of “Lionel” and carried either four darker red autos with gray bumpers, four brown autos with gray bumpers or four kelly green autos with gray bumpers. The later 6414’s also had lighter weight plastic trucks. As stated previously, the value in these auto carriers is the auto load. The kelly green and brown cars are the most valuable, with the darker red next and then the premium autos with chrome bumpers. There is another version of the auto loader that has decal lettering and is considered the most valuable. It carried “cheapie” autos that had plastic wheels molded into the plastic car body. Since there were not so many made, the loaders with the cheapie autos are the most sought after among collectors. Unless you come across a decal lettered version of the auto loader, there is no difference in value if you’re just talking the auto carrier without autos.
According to Greenberg’s pocket price guide the auto carrier with green cars with gray bumpers is listed as the most expensive in the group, then four brown cars with gray bumpers, then the four cheap cars, 2 red 2 yellow.
The cars are listed differantly in the price guide but that is how I see the listings by price.
Lee F.