1979 Gottlieb SOLAR RIDE pinball machine

Here we have a 1979 Gottlieb Solar Ride pinball machine for your viewing pleasure.
This game is very pretty and has some unique features. This particular machine is running a 2nd generation system 1 soundboard, whereas it likely had the The most obvious oddity here is the flipper configuration, with two flippers on the left and one on the right. The major problem, however, is that there's very little to shoot for on the right side of the playfield, so having two flippers on the left makes little sense other than just to be different.
One neat feature is that the drops don't automatically reset when they're all downed. Instead, the player must get the ball into one of the saucers in order to reset the drops.
Another neat feature is the gate between the main playfield and the shooter lane, which can send the ball back up to the top or down the shooter lane for a plunge from the shooter. Hitting the lit lane at the top advances the bonus multiplier and trying to get that lane requires nudging skill. And perhaps coolest feature of this game is is that if the white drop targets are hit but the red target remains standing, it lights for special.
Overall, this is a solidly mediocre game from Gottlieb on the System 1 platform. It has nice artwork and it's good for a few flips.
Solar Ride was designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Gordon Morison (of course). The EM version of this game was the last production 4-player EM ever released by any manufacturer. See more info on Solar Ride here: ipdb.org/machin...

[@kellyleavitt7738]

I just discovered this pinball machine (3-27-22) locally in an Arcade Bar. Only 25 cents for 5 plays in one game. It’s my new “old” favorite pinball game.

[@guillermovallarino5326]

FANTASTIC !!!, Love Pinballs Gottlieb & Stern... are the Best!!!

[@fantasiyagdcminc1735]

I never was a fan of Gottlieb tables, but this one looks playable and fun.

[@billhaleyrock2471]

Gefällt mir sehr gut der flipper.

[@MrZ281980]

Can hear the shared haunted house sounds and tones .

[@commissairevalentin7120]

nice totem sound card.

[@masturavince]

Hit the 4 white targets first then hit the red one for a free game...

[@sodapopinski690]

Very similar to Captain Fantastic .

[@RR-xg1cm]

How was this gen 2 soundboard interfaced onto the solar ride?

[@londonpinball]

They are the same connector. No modifications required.

[@douro20]

I guess you forfeit a ball when you tilt?

[@companionsytoriginal873]

01:51 Seriously!?

[@Ajaxaxxess]

Has some unique character to it but over all looks slow and lacking.

[@robfassi3297]

Sounds are off on it

[@londonpinball]

You're correct. It had a 2nd gen sound board in it. That's how it came to me.

[@davidlineweaver7235]

Most of them just beep and boop.

[@ulisesrodriguez6004]

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