To provide a delivery vehicle for the burgeoning SUV market, in 1999 Gunderson began production of the Auto-Max articulated auto rack car. The design criterion was to provide optimal space utilization for delivery of SUVs from factory to marketplace. The new car is capable of carrying 22 SUVs on three sets of internal ramps with a minimum of wasted space. Designing an articulated railroad automobile carrier that pushes the operational and clearance limits of the railroad industry have accomplished this. The prototype is truly massive measuring over 140? long and over 20? tall from the railhead. Athearn has captured the massive lines and unique articulation of this car in its Ready-To-Roll line. The model is available fully assembled with full articulation featuring a flexible diaphragm. Minimum recommended radius is 26?.

Auto-Max features include: - Machined 0.088? tread metal wheels - Accurate profile trucks, rotating bearing caps - Working rubber diaphragm - Magnetic knuckle couplers installed - Separate hand applied detail parts - Additional drawbar for tight radius operation - Recommended radius - 26? - Traditional Genesis? quality and detail - Razor sharp printing and painting, carefully researched from original sources and prototype photographs