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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 8, 2022 18:44:36 GMT -5
WRC Triple Champs: I came across this 1993-94 Toyota Team Europe rally support van recently and decided I needed to add it to the race transporter and track support collection. From the packaging I know its part of the DeAgostini/Altaya partworks collection, but I'm not sure which series. Its a pretty nice model of a rally support van from a very successful team and goes with the Toyota Celica from that period, even if it is a different car number than that on the van.
Mercedes Benz 814D Long wheelbase van - DeAgostini/Altaya
The Mercedes 814D was a member of the second generation of T2 family of full size heavy commercial vans. Produced from 1986-1996, the 814 had a 5.9L six-cylinder diesel engine (132 hp) coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission. The 8-ton van (7.5 tonne) sat on a longer wheelbase and had an overall length of 23 feet (6996 mm). The van was used by Toyota Team Europe from 1992-1993, a period in which it won three WRC Championships.
Toyota team drivers won the World Rally Championship three consecutive years with Carlos Sainz in 1992, Juila Kakkunen in 1993 and Didier Auriol in 1994. Toyota also won the Manufactures Championship in 1993 and 1994. The Championships all came with the 2.0L (300 HP) Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185) which dominated rallying in the mid-1990’s. Unfortunately, caught part way through the WRC 1995 season, resulted in a season ban from Toyota Europe’s direct WRC participation and another possible championship.
I am no rally expert but did have some questions about the livery. Toyota Team Europe which was founded in 1972 and is now Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe was sold by Ove Andesson to Toyota in 1993 and renamed Toyota Motorsport, so I question the Toyota Team Europe logo on the van. However, the restored van in the image above has the old logo on, so did they continue to use the Toyota Team Europe name too? The van shows three WRC Championships, but the 1994 Championship wasn't decided until the last rally, so the van wouldn't have had them in the 1994 season? The number 8 was used on the San Remo Rally in 1994 by Auriol, which he won. In 1995, which was only a part season, they used the numbers 1 & 2 in each rally entered. So some mysteries, but doesn't detract from a nice model.
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Post by Alfaholic on Apr 8, 2022 22:34:33 GMT -5
It’s interesting that considering Toyota has similar sized trucks via their Hino concern and a variety of Toyota vans that they went with a M-B.
my understanding is that Toyota Continued to use the TTE moniker throughout their rallying period with the Celica.
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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 9, 2022 0:15:50 GMT -5
It’s interesting that considering Toyota has similar sized trucks via their Hino concern and a variety of Toyota vans that they went with a M-B. my understanding is that Toyota Continued to use the TTE moniker throughout their rallying period with the Celica. I'm not that familiar with Hino vans that size, but a quick search makes me think they weren't heavy enough. The fact that Toyota didn't own the team when they were purchased probably gave TTE the freedom to buy the MB rigs which were the most popular heavy vans in Europe at the time according to Wikipedia. 😉 Thanks for the info on TTE.
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Post by Tom on Apr 9, 2022 1:20:15 GMT -5
The usual sketchy research by PCT? Very nice van, I've been eyeing a different version of the same casting that's issued as an Ixo retail model. These vans add a lot to your displays.
BTW the 814D was an extremely strong van and continued in production for years after 1995, then called Mercedes Vario.
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Post by JSB33 on Apr 9, 2022 7:50:35 GMT -5
As I have said many times, this is truly the golden age for for race transporter collectors. This one is awesome. I like everything about it.
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Post by jager on Apr 10, 2022 20:51:13 GMT -5
That's a great addition Jerry. Given the popularity of Toyota's Celica WRC cars, I'm surprised we haven't seen that on the forum before.
I don't think the number of the van corresponds to the cars, its just to differentiate between the different vans and maybe helped team members locate spares (eg, engine parts in van #1, bodywork in van #2 etc). You can see in the last picture the vans are numbered 5, 6, 7, ? , 9 & 10 which has nothing to do with the car numbers.
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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 10, 2022 22:01:21 GMT -5
That makes sense. Thanks, my old eyes didn't catch the numbers on the trucks in the picture.
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glen
Member
Posts: 3
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Post by glen on Apr 13, 2022 14:52:13 GMT -5
Like ian said the number is the differentiate the servicevehicles. Other teams have this too. I'm fairly sure TTE was changed when Toyota started in F1 to Toyota racing. Before that both rally and the Gt One Le Mans car were as TTE. It could be from 1995 butthen they also had Schwarz as a full time driver, I'd think yhey would've put his name on the the van too.
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Post by oldirish33 on Apr 30, 2022 18:32:10 GMT -5
Lancia Hauler - Fiat 673N Lancia Transporter - Gila Modelli - Even though IXO is soon to release their version of this transporter soon, I took the opportunity to pick this piece up at auction. It was handbuilt from a Gila Modelli kit and while not a factory made piece, it was done by a very competent builder, Giuseppe Alba whose work I have been watching for awhile It was also much cheaper than a Gila built piece. The initial IXO model is going to be a later iteration of the Lancia transporter after Marlboro sponsorship, which is the era I wanted. I am undecided if I am going to do Lancia Fulvia's or Stratos for this transporter's load. The 673N was the successor to the Fiat 643, a medium to heavy duty truck capable of hauling loads to 18 tons. It was produced from 1970-1973 in Italy, and until 1985 in Argentina and Brazil. Powered by a 7.4L, OM 6-cylinder diesel engine, the truck produced 145 hp and had a top speed of 50 MPH (80 KPH). Lancia used the truck as a transporter for its rally team throughout the 1970's. The model came with a PW Stratos, but it has no Marlboro decals. The aftermarket decals aren't cheap, which has me leaning towards the Fulvia. I am hoping to get a similar transporter in Alitalia colors to go with my Stratos models in those colors. Decisions... The working tailgate is a nice feature.
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Post by Alfaholic on Apr 30, 2022 19:20:01 GMT -5
That is just wonderful Jerry. It almost makes me want to get some Marlboro Lancias just to make a case for getting the transporter .
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Post by Tom on May 1, 2022 0:46:01 GMT -5
I already have one of the Lancias and a Fiat 238 support van. Uh-oh...
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Post by jager on May 1, 2022 5:13:48 GMT -5
Congratulations on another great find Jerry. Looking forward to seeing this in another of your dioramas. Personally I like the idea of the Fulvia’s, but the Stratos would look great too.
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Post by JSB33 on May 1, 2022 7:12:13 GMT -5
As I have said before, what a golden age for transporters and support trucks.
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Post by oldirish33 on May 4, 2022 12:10:02 GMT -5
That is just wonderful Jerry. It almost makes me want to get some Marlboro Lancias just to make a case for getting the transporter . It will look good with the Alitalia transporter. I have the Lancias in Marlboro livery and ordered a couple more. It doesn't stop! I already have one of the Lancias and a Fiat 238 support van. Uh-oh... Yes be careful, read above. Congratulations on another great find Jerry. Looking forward to seeing this in another of your dioramas. Personally I like the idea of the Fulvia’s, but the Stratos would look great too. I have decided on the Fulvia's, just because I will put the Stratos I already have on a IXO Altalia sponsored version of this transporter eventually. I'm not sure if Lancia used this transporter during the Fulvia rally era (need to do some more research) but think it will look great with the support vehicles I have regardless. Yes, will be doing some form of diorama with them in the future. As I have said before, what a golden age for transporters and support trucks. Yes you have and yes it was! As simple as these vehicles seem to us now, I am also amazed at the number of vehicles and variety of uses a modern F1 team for instance uses at a race weekend. I have seen some models made to represent a modern F1 team on another forum and they are amazing. Maybe not nostalgic, but amazing all the same.
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Post by oldirish33 on Jun 5, 2022 17:34:04 GMT -5
Cannonball - One of my first memories of riding in one of my Dad’s trucks was in the cab of a truck similar to this when I was five or six. Probably the first time I could see over the dash from the passenger seat. I know Keko has shown this tuck and transporter on the old forum. I was finally able to get one (part of the American truck PW series) for a reasonable price and shipping. Not that I needed it, its just a cool piece! Oh, and while this is a PW (Altaya) model, IXO has released a version of the truck (tractor only) which I bought as well. 1954 GMC 950 COE Transporter - Fleet Carrier Corp - Altaya PWThe GMC 950 COE “Cannonball” was part of the H-series of light and heavy duty GM trucks introduced in 1949 and made for ten years. COE (cab over engine) designs became popular as truck makers sought to minimize tractor length in order to give truckers maximum trailer length under the new interstate trucking regulations in the United States. They were available in two and three axle tractor units, with nine different gasoline engine sizes and two diesel engine options. To carry a load of cars, this truck likely had one of the big block V8 or diesel engine options. While it kind of has the shape of one, the truck got its nickname Cannonball from a short-lived Canadian TV show by that name, which featured one of these trucks. Fleet Carrier Corp. was a nationwide hauler of new vehicles to dealerships based out of Pontiac, Michigan. While they delivered all makes, they were the designated hauler for GM. At one time a familiar sight on the road, the company at one time discontinued its fleet services and was in the truck rental and leasing business, but no longer appears to be in business (at least under that name.) I didn't have a suitable load of 1950's American cars to go on the transporter, so this will have to do for now.
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