AHM's release of the Coil Car dates to late 1972. The AHM model is reviewed by Model Railroader in the October 1972 issue and Railroad Model Craftsman's Test Track column in the January '73 issue. Reviews state the model is the United States Railway Equipment Company's 100-ton coil car. The car is listed as retailing for $3.49 and was first offered in three roadnames (CB&Q, N&W, P&LE).

An earlier AHM catalog includes a listing among freight cars for an Integral Coil Car. There is no illustration for this Integral Coil Car, but the entry includes the 5202-series group of four roadnames (P&LE, CB&Q, Southern, and UP) with a retail price of $2.98. To date, I have not found examples for a Southern or Union Pacific model and therefore can not confirm the 5202 numbered set's existence.

The prototype car was built by Evans around 1966. Jim Hediger's answers a question regarding this car in the September 1997 issue of Model Railroader magazine. Mr. Hediger notes the car was owned by the P&LE and B&LE. Drawings for the prototype may be found in the August 1968 issue of Model Railroader.

In addition to AHM's Taiwan-made example, Kader also produced this car for the Bachmann, Life-Like and '70s Lionel HO lines. As happens often in the hobby, a great many companies and a wide variety of roadnames for a car with actually very limited ownership and exposure on North American rails.