The Exploding Target Car No. 6448 was the perfect target for any of the Lionel missile launching cars or platforms. When struck by one of these projectiles the component parts would fly in all directions. The 6464 Series Box Car was the basis of this design that had shortened rivet patterns to accommodate the lettering. This car was unusual because each side was printed differently in both the WHITE and RED variations. Both sides of each color variation are illustrated above. The rod that secures the spring loaded mechanism from exploding and slides down through the roof of the car is often missing. This car was available from 1961 until 1964 and came with early AAR trucks and disc couplers.

Below we’ve shown instruction sheet No. 6448-14 dated 3-61 that came with this car. This sheet was printed with BLACK ink on WHITE paper and used an 8-1/2" by 5-1/2" fold out four page format.

There were two different injection tools that were used to form the parts for this car. One set created slots in addition to hooks that held the sides to the chassis. This and the reversed color accout for the four variations:

Variation A: RED sides with WHITE heat-stamped lettering, roof, and ends. No slots.

Variation B: WHITE sides with RED heat-stamped lettering, roof, and ends. No. slots

Variation C: Same as Variation A except came with slots.

Variation D: Same as Variation B except came with slots.