The Modern Lionel Train Company had it's beginning in 1970. Some of the trains were still being made in Hillside New Jersey but not for long. Then the entire train division was moved to Chesterfield Michigan. The 9200 Boxcar was the first that MPC made. It was very popular, because it was a very colorful car. It was bright orange with black printing and it was on a 6464 style boxcar mold. The first 9200 Boxcars came in a banner box and they had a blank a stamp on the end of the car. This means that Lionel used the old 6464 style mold to make these cars. Because it was the first run of these cars, I would estimate a price of $35 per car. The next run of these cars usually came with 9200 imprinted on the end of the boxcars with lots of variations. Some had the space between the IC on the sides of the cars thin or thick. They also, had plastic door guides or metal door guides. Plastic door guides were used when the metal ones ran out . If you purchase a plastic door guide car, be very careful when putting it back in the box without a plastic bag around the car. Why? plastic door guide cars are very fragile and putting the car into a cardboard box without a bag wrapped around the car exposes the door guides to the cardboard box that could foul the door guide and break it off. These plastic door guides are not available any where. If this happens, you might be able to glue it in place. These cars usually sell for $25 each. Finally, the final run of the 9200 IC Boxcar came on a 9700 mold with a single plastic door guide on the top and a slider on the bottom. They came in banner boxes and the new orange and white Lionel boxes. This car also had an imprint of 9700 on one end of the car. I have never seen this car with a 9200 imprint on the end of the 9700 mold car . I estimate that this car is most rare as it was only on the car that were made in 1972, I estimate that this car (if you find them) would sell for $35 each. I think there were more 9200 boxcars made than any other Modern Lionel Boxcar. In summary:
1st run--9200 IC Boxcar with metal door guides and a blank stamp on the end of the car $35 each 2nd run--9200 IC Boxcar with metal or plastic door guides and 9200 end stamp on the car $25 each (there are many variations in this run of car 3rd-9200 IC Boxcar with one plastic door guide on the top of the car and a slider door guide on the bottom of the car. $35 each
I have written a very simplified version of the IC Boxcar variations. The best way to see all of these variations is to buy the cars. Best way to do this is to create file card and put this on the card:
1, Box type--Banner or Orange and White 2. Frame--Dull black with with or without a bubble 3. End imprint--none, 9200 or 9700 4. Trucks--Timken or Symmington Wayne, Wheels that have 4 little knobs on the inside. or smooth 5. Couplers--small rectangular piece of metal or thumb tack 6. IC Imprint on the side of the car--thick or thin space between the I and C 7. Various shades of orange on the car, cars coming on a translucent mold to an orange mold.
Sincerely yours, railbear601
