New at Old Irish Racing

Without a doubt, that’s one of my all time favourite Bugattis! 💛🖤💛

And, a gorgeous model too!

Magnificent car, both 1:1 and 1:43.

Beautiful Jerry. You must be very happy with that.

HISTORIC TRIO  I have featured the wonderful handbuilt white metal models made in small numbers (250-500) by master modeler John Haynes in the 1980’s under his Historic Replicars brand. These little gems are a highlight of my collection and I always look to acquire them when I can. Besides featuring unique models, Haynes and his small crew of artisans also modeled some subjects that no one else was doing at the time and in some cases, since. I recently acquired these three models from a Canadian dealer. Like a number of Haynes subjects, one is famous, the other two interesting footnotes in racing history, past and the not too distant past.



Ferrari 375 F1 - 1951 British GP Winner - Historic Replicars
A car that needs little in the way of introduction, this is the Ferrari that Jose Froilan Gonzales drove to victory in the 1951 British GP at Silverstone in 1951; giving Ferrari its first of 242 (currently) wins in F1. That performance, plus two more wins in the hands of Alberto Ascari that season, served notice that the Scuderia was a serious contender in F1.





Powered by a big Lampredi 4.5L V12 engine, the 375 F1 broke the dominance pf Alfa Romeo in F1. Although Alfa still took the championship, with Ferrari winning 3 of the 10 races that season, including the Italian GP at Monza the 375 F1 became immortalized in Ferrari history. This well detailed model of the 1951 British GP winner will replace a PW version of the car in my collection.





Connaught Engineering Type B Streamliner - BARC Aintree 200, 1956



When Connaught set out to replace their Type A F1/F2 car, the new car was to be rear-engined, with a Coventy Climax 2.5L V8 for the new 2.5L regulations in F1 in 1954. That engine wasn’t developed, so instead a conventional front engine car was designed with a 2.5L Alta twin-cam four-cyl. engine. The first cars were built with this streamlined aero styling, but much like Mercedes a year later, the drivers complained that they could not see the apex of corners, so more conventional bodywork was fitted for most races.





Despite having very talented drivers with the names of Brooks, Salvadori, Lewis-Evans, Scott-Brown, Moss, Brabham and others from 1954-56, the Type B was just never powerful enough. Tony Brooks did score the first grand prix win by a British driver in a British car at Syracuse in an open wheel car, but in most races they were down the order if they did finish. In 1956, Connaught entered this car for Desmond Titterington in the non-championship 200 mile BARC race. Running against the best British competition, he qualified 3rd and was pressuring Stirling Moss, the eventual race winner before his brakes failed on lap 53 of the 67-lap race.





Ferrari D246/60 - HSCC Historic Racing Championship, 1979 Champion - Historic Replicars



For 1960, Ferrari improved the Dino 246 to include IRS, disc brakes and side fuel tanks to improve weight distribution. These were all stop gap measures until the new rear engine 156 was ready. Three chassis were built and this car is (Ch. #003) was driven by Phil Hill at the Dutch GP and Richie Ginther to second place finish behind Hill in a sister car at Monza in 1960. Luigi Chinetti brought the retired car ito the USA in 1962 and it was prepared using components of other cars as a loan to the Henry Ford Museum.





In 1968, the car was sold to Anthony Bamford and was campaigned successfully by the JCB team, with Willie Green winning the Historic Championship in 1979. Bamford subsequently commissioned Graypaul Motors to make replicas of the car using the original as a pattern and using pieces purchased from the Ferrari stores, such as genuine V6 engines, transmissions, and other original components for the cars. This is Ch#003 as it was raced by JCB in the Historic Championships in Great Britain.





All of the Dino 246 F1 cars from 1957-59 were destroyed by Ferrari. This car and the two or three replicas and two “original” cars in museums are the only examples of the F1 Dino remaining. The replicas shunned at first, are now accepted in historic F1 racing. Having an original Ferrari F1 car with original components as raced in the period is a bit of a puzzle. Ferrari swapped engines, bodywork and other components and even chassis numbers between the cars in their race shop. Ch. #003 has its original engine, various parts and bodywork.






John Haynes was not hesitant to get increased mileage out of molds.  The Historic Replicas model on the left is the Dino 246/60 driven by Ritchie Ginther in the 1960 Dutch GP and the model on the left is the same car restored and as run in the HSCC Historic Championship in 1979.  There may be other variants of the Dino (as well as other Historic Replicars models like the Connaught) but there does not seem to be a written record of their production.  To confuse the issue, kits were also made of most of their model range.  These models were factory built and have the COA.  Unfortunately, the COA's only have the number of the model in the run, not how many were actually made.  Part of the mystery and attraction of these models to me.

That Connaught looks great! What a beautiful car!

The influence of Jaguar is undeniable!

Thanks for sharing Jerry. I had not heard of Haynes models, mind you being so focused on LM models our paths would not of crossed. Love the 375 and it's weathering, looks very realistic. Great history on all three too.