Slazenger Phantom IMF variant find today

[Backspin to the Future]

I was lucky to find a variant of the elusive Phantom IMF at a car boot sale today.for £5
The frame looks identical to the more usual dark blue/cream/gold paint job but this one is a metallic light blue with blue/black and white detailing.
I`ve never seen this paint job before so have no idea as to whether it was a slightly later racket or just a different choice offered alongside the darker version.
The lighter paint job makes it appear slightly larger to the eye but both are identical
If anyone has any additional info on this or other variants I`d be interested to read it.

Photo links below..google drive embed link not working for me at the moment.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15Nme1NkAoYvbSNw7Gp3oqiwJsrAOgY2_/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xBPKy657cpSd2XCdb3Z--Kxllpw4jDqJ/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wo9SKmf_cRfvtZsNXdlhVfLlLeaJUDNj/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CwdjNC46caoN_x-6XrQ2g4FhVNrPFt6v/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10URiSO8BRXU2o3HPlO9KHNG5mPLL5n5k/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VHADXcsY3qeQWJyMPa9UtR9wTP6Toazh/view?usp=drive_link

The racket`s in decent condition but the metallic paint looks like it might be more prone to chips than the matt finish darker model.
Recommended stringing tension is 55lb -same as the Dunlop Max 200G

Thanks in advance for ay observations

 

[michael valek]

I remember those always wanted one at the time.

 

[michael valek]

Same frame exactly I think

 

[Grafil Injection]

Cool! I wonder if Arantxa ever used that paint-job. I think around 1987-89 the Dunlop/Slazenger artists in Horbury went a bit wild trying to keep up with the wide-body revolution. There are some hybrid 200G/300is out there too. I'm beginning to think my recollection of a sand coloured 200G is not just a dream.

 

[Backspin to the Future]

I remember those always wanted one at the time.

The lighter paint job makes them look more modern I think - it`s definitely the first one I can recall seeing anywhere.
I wouldn`t have had the money to buy one new as I would have been about 21 years old at the time .
I can remember my first carbon fibre squash racket (a Head) but no idea what I had to replace my woodie tennis rackets.

 

[Backspin to the Future]

Cool! I wonder if Arantxa ever used that paint-job. I think around 1987-89 the Dunlop/Slazenger artists in Horbury went a bit wild trying to keep up with the wide-body revolution. There are some hybrid 200G/300is out there too. I'm beginning to think my recollection of a sand coloured 200G is not just a dream.

I can`t remember seeing a sand colour 200G but this variant popped up on U.K.fleabay recently..never seen one of these before either .

https://www.****.co.uk/itm/11630336...Tw==|tkp:Bk9SR5ao3_O1ZA&LH_ItemCondition=3000

 

[Grafil Injection]

I can't make your link work, but I'm guessing it was to the 200 LT that recently came up? I've seen that one a few times, but never hit with one.

Yeah, I have a clear recollection of a light sand beige 200G being sold alongside the usual colour ones, around about 1988. I might be wrong, but there are some weird ones out there, as you've shown. That 200 LT has the same paint colour as a 300i, and the same chevrons as the second 300i version Grafil Injection, but says Graphite Injection, so they clearly had some random days in the paint-shop!

I think the glossy navy blue version (called Challenge Comp) is actually the first Phantom IMF, as it came out with a cover that was the same style as the original 200G cover (1982-84 ish). Then that was renamed Phantom Bronze, which is dark bronze coloured and also glossy. Then the bronze/grey one that Arantxa used was 1986-88 ish, and then probably your light-blue glossy metallic version. By 1990 they were on sale for £29!

 

[Backspin to the Future]

I can't make your link work, but I'm guessing it was to the 200 LT that recently came up? I've seen that one a few times, but never hit with one.

Yeah, I have a clear recollection of a light sand beige 200G being sold alongside the usual colour ones, around about 1988. I might be wrong, but there are some weird ones out there, as you've shown. That 200 LT has the same paint colour as a 300i, and the same chevrons as the second 300i version Grafil Injection, but says Graphite Injection, so they clearly had some random days in the paint-shop!

I think the glossy navy blue version (called Panther Comp) is actually the first Phantom IMF, as it came out with a cover that was the same style as the original 200G cover (1982-84 ish). Then that was renamed Phantom Bronze, which is dark bronze coloured and also glossy. Then the bronze/grey one that Arantxa used was 1986-88 ish, and then probably your version. By 1990 they were on sale for £29!

Yes the link was for the 200 LT.
Always interesting to try and get hold of the more unusual beasts though.
Some of the variants you describe seem very rare and the paintshop seems to have experimented a lot...not always for the better -Max 800i graphics for example

 

[Grafil Injection]

Yes the link was for the 200 LT.
Always interesting to try and get hold of the more unusual beasts though.
Some of the variants you describe seem very rare and the paintshop seems to have experimented a lot...not always for the better -Max 800i graphics for example

Yeah, and I think you got a good one there. Works well in that colour.

 

[Grafil Injection]

Your version appears to be mentioned here by jimbo333, along with the other 3 models.

Slazenger Phantom IMF- Dunlop John McEnroe Limited

Does anyone know if these are from the same mold? Same construction? http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=261246 from theee bay http://www. ...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

 

[Backspin to the Future]

Your version appears to be mentioned here by jimbo333, along with the other 3 models.

Slazenger Phantom IMF- Dunlop John McEnroe Limited

Does anyone know if these are from the same mold? Same construction? http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=261246 from theee bay http://www. ...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

Thanks for the link @Grafil.
I now recall reading that article some time ago.
I don`t know if any pictures of the light blue version were uploaded on that thread as some of the links no longer work.
Seems like I`ll have to add a bronze version to my look out for list- along with a sand/beige Max 200G

 

[Grafil Injection]

This advert from May 1986 helps narrow down the timing of your light blue version, although the marketing speak is almost a cut & paste from a 1982, 200G advert.

 

[Backspin to the Future]

This advert from May 1986 helps narrow down the timing of your light blue version, although the marketing speak is almost a cut & paste from a 1982, 200G advert.

Thanks for posting that Grafil ..I`ve not seen any advertisements for any of the Phantoms.
Looks like they had a decent marketing budget for it with the glossy double page ad.
I`ve actually already put my darker version in my tennis bag ready to play with tomorrow morning as I`ve not hit with it for a while.
The strings on my light blue one are too dead to play with really so I`ll keep them as is and just use the one I had re-strung

 

[Grafil Injection]

Here's the same advert but from June 1987 and showing the darker paintjob as used by Arantxa at RG 1987. So the light blue version was either concurrent, or just 1986.

 

[michael valek]

https://imgur.com/a/u4oZ4m7

https://imgur.com/a/PQeFrWL

 

[michael valek]

very nice and ready to hit, the silvery blue one is sooooooooooooo beautiful

 

[Backspin to the Future]

very nice and ready to hit, the silvery blue one is sooooooooooooo beautiful

Great find Michael..they seem to be even rarer than the darker matt blue version

 

[michael valek]

yes and they make my cx200 tours seem like kinder egg toys. they're easier to move than my max200gs I find, more topspin friendly and better for serving (in my opinion)

 

[Grafil Injection]

I know it's not IMF, but I can also recommend the Slazenger Challenge Comp, which Julie Salmon used in 1984. I think that was the first version of that shape. Potentially came at 1/2oz lighter as mine is 355g strung, and has a nice comfortable flex too.