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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 2, 2022 18:05:01 GMT -5
Remembering Vic: The day that Vic Elford passed, I remembered that Grand Prix Models had a model of the Porsche 911 he drove to victory on the Monte Carlo Rally in 1968 in their “Rarities” section. I had looked at it before, but never was quite motivated to pull the trigger. To further remember Vic in my collection, I bought this older white metal build by Mini Racing. Its missing a front driving light and could use some wheel detailing, but that can be sourced or made. Having it in hand, I’m glad I bought it, a nice remembrance of a friend.
Porsche 911T - 1968 Monte Carlo Rally Winner - Mini Racing
Vic Elford started out in motorsports as a rally co-driver and later as a driver of Ford Cortinas, made a name for himself. He switched to Porsche, which he would always be linked thereafter, winning the European Rally Championship in 1967. Teamed with David Stone in 1968 on the Monte Carlo Rally in this car, Vic took advantage of the Spring like weather to show his quickness in the mountain stages. This was the first of three consecutive Monte wins for Porsche. 1968 was also a banner year for Elford, winning not only the Monte, but the Daytona 24-Hour a few weeks later and the Targa Florio later in the year.
The 911T (Touring) was the lower end of the Porsche 911 line up. Its 2.2L flat-six carbureted engine produced 130 hp. While down slightly on power its sisters the 911S and 911E, the 911T engine was favored for rallying because of its better torque. Indeed, this car was rallied four times in 1968, winning along with the Monte, rallies in Austria and Germany in the hands of Pauli Toivonen and Tiukkanen Moiti (who finished 2nd on the Monte in another Porsche 911T.) While this car was entered as a 911T, it had the lighter 911R body.
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Post by Tom on Apr 2, 2022 18:16:15 GMT -5
Great way to remember him, model looks more than decent for an older issue too.
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Post by JSB33 on Apr 3, 2022 7:58:30 GMT -5
A perfect tribute to his early career.
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Post by Alfaholic on Apr 3, 2022 17:29:19 GMT -5
He achieved things that I don't think we'll see again. The Porsche is a very apt tribute.
I have been listening to a lot of conversations with Vic over the past week, as the different podcasts all pay tribute. He seems to have been an interesting and at times polarising character, as well as a bloody good steerer.
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Post by jager on Apr 6, 2022 18:26:10 GMT -5
A fitting tribute to Vic, Jerry. He drove such a variety of machinery, I wonder if anyone has pulled together a list of all the models that are available of cars he drove.
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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 7, 2022 19:45:32 GMT -5
Great way to remember him, model looks more than decent for an older issue too. Thanks Tom! I thought it was a good looking 911 model with a great provenance. A perfect tribute to his early career. I have an Austin Healey 3000 from even earlier in his career. He achieved things that I don't think we'll see again. The Porsche is a very apt tribute. I have been listening to a lot of conversations with Vic over the past week, as the different podcasts all pay tribute. He seems to have been an interesting and at times polarising character, as well as a bloody good steerer. As you know, the days of drivers competing at the top level across multiple disciplines week in week out are gone. He loved to drive and in the days when drivers made little money, he raced whenever he could to get by. It was great to see in his later years he was able to make some money off his name and past accomplishments. He was indeed interesting and had a trove of great stories both on and off the circuit. 😁 A fitting tribute to Vic, Jerry. He drove such a variety of machinery, I wonder if anyone has pulled together a list of all the models that are available of cars he drove. Thanks Ian. No one has that I know of, but is an interesting question. I have his book and might take this on. Unfortunately, he didn't keep a detailed diary like Stirling Moss, so may miss some of his rides. 😁
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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 8, 2022 19:10:31 GMT -5
Old War Horse: I have been a collector of the Historic Replicars models handbuilt by John Haynes for some time, but only have his 1/24 models. Before he switched to the larger scale models, he was an early pioneer in 1/43 white metal handbuilts and kits in the 1980's. So, when this beauty became available I took advantage. John was a prolific model builder. His 1/24 scale hand built models were made in runs of 250, the 1/43 in runs of 500 or less (he didn't keep great records). This Ferrari 500/625 F1 is #353, but its hard to know for sure of how many were actually made. Regardless, this is Ferrari model number 450 in my collection and a fitting piece to achieve that milestone with.
Ferrari 500/625 F1 - 1954 Crystal Palace Trophy Winner - Historic Replicars
By 1954 when the new engine regulations came into effect in F1, Ferrari elected to put a larger engine in the 500 F1 first introduced in 1952. The most successful F1 car of all time, the 500 had become the 625 F1, with a Lampredi in-line four cylinder engine of 2.5L, producing 227 hp. In F1 the car was not fast enough to compete with the Mercedes W196 and Maserati 250F. In non-championship events however, it could more than hold its own. Reg Parnell bought this 625 F1 and campaigned it under the Scuderia Ambrosiana banner in UK races during the 1954 season. He won five of the seven races entered with the car in 1954, including the Crystal Palace Trophy in this livery.
Reg Parnell was an accomplished English driver whose career began in the mid-1930's. After WWII, he built up his resume with notable wins driving race cars he had purchased during the war to launch his car sale business. He attracted the attention of Alfa Romeo, who offered him a drive in the inaugural F1 race in a 158 at Silverstone, where he finished a creditable 4th. He was the only Brit driver to drive for Alfa. He tied his fortunes to BRM, which may have limited his opportunities for greater racing success. He retired from racing in 1957 to concentrate on race team management and his long association with Aston Martin in both sports car and F1 racing. He died in 1964 after an appendix operation went wrong.
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Post by Alfaholic on Apr 8, 2022 22:43:05 GMT -5
That’s a lovely pick up Jerry. The 500/625 is a good looking little racer, even in green
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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 9, 2022 0:18:35 GMT -5
That’s a lovely pick up Jerry. The 500/625 is a good looking little racer, even in green I have a green, a yellow and a red one. Should photo them together and make a traffic light. 😀
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Post by Tom on Apr 9, 2022 1:10:17 GMT -5
That is very nice indeed, but then again you'd expect me to say that.
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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 9, 2022 10:55:57 GMT -5
I can always count on you Tom!
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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 9, 2022 16:11:39 GMT -5
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Post by Tom on Apr 9, 2022 16:19:45 GMT -5
Great to have three national colours on the same car!
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Post by WallOfCars on Apr 9, 2022 18:27:42 GMT -5
That’s a lovely pick up Jerry. The 500/625 is a good looking little racer, even in green I have a green, a yellow and a red one. Should photo them together and make a traffic light. 😀
I think you should GO, rather than STOP with that idea Jerry
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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 13, 2022 17:02:33 GMT -5
Not a Bad Reject: If anything, Bertone should be given a perseverance award for trying to entice Jaguar to adopt one of their concepts. Bertone did several concepts based on Jaguar mechanicals, three of which were Bertone initiated concepts and two which were private commissions the styling house hoped would lead to Jaguar production work. While only elements of one would make it into the production XJ40, this one Jaguar turned down would become the Lamborghini Espada. It may have been that Bertone designs penned by Marcello Gandini were just a bit too angular and radical for the more traditional rounded, conservative styling at Jaguar.
1977 Jaguar Ascot Concept by Bertone - Matrix
The Jaguar Ascot seen here, was designed in 1977, when Gandini was in his full wedge phase of design as seen in the Lancia Stratos, Lamborghini Countach and Alfa Romeo Carabo. Using a shortened Jaguars XJ-S platform and 5.3L V-12 engine, Gandini created a stunning car, borrowing heavily from the previous years Ferrari 308 Rainbow. First unveiled at the 1977 Turin Motor Show, the car was originally painted white for its debut, but subsequently resprayed in gold which I believe shows off its aluminum bodied styling much better. It turned out not to be a design “Jaguar could not live without”, but a fabulous part of its history all the same.
Three decades of Bertone designs on Jaguar mechanicals. The 1957 XK150S, the 1967 Pirana and the 1977 Ascot
Due to a glitch in their shipping, Grand Prix Models initially sent me a white Ascot. We worked a favorable deal to avoid them the cost of shipping a replacement and the other one back, so now I have one in each color. I kind of like the white. Now I need to decide which one goes.
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