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‹‹ Hot Wheels Meets The Beatles: Yellow Submarine Collection Show Horses»THEPASSION,PRODUCTS&PERSONALITIES Group B Golden Age Chevy’s Original Pony of Rally and the Latest Ferrari Thoroughbred 66 Bburago Replicas Inside Ferrari 488 GTB Muscle // Sports // Race Auto World Hot Christine Camaro Shot! PLus Jack Daniel’s Fire Brigade Pump Truck High-Roller Display until November 29, 2016 Kyosho 1:12 Rolls-Royce WINTER 2017 $6.99 US $8.99 CAN Phantom Drophead DCXMAG.COM Indy Innovation 1967 STP-Paxton Turbine from Replicarz







CONTENTS DIE CAST X | VOL. 13 | ISSUE 1 FEATURES OUT OF THE BOX 44 | Going Out a Winner in the Final Group B Argentina Rally 16 | Wheels of Fury 22 | Buddy Repperton’s Ride Resurrected in Scale AUTOart 1986 Lancia Delta S4 e cars of Stephen King’s Christine Auto World Christine 1967 Chevrolet Camaro 48 | e Wind of Change at 34 | e Golden Age of Rally (Almost) Swept Indy 26 | Drop-Dead Drop-Top Is Top-Shelf Group B brought unprecedented speed, Replicarz 1967 STP-Paxton Turbine excitement, and danger to WRC Kyosho Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé Series II 52 | Concours-Grade Custom Caddy from the Blackhawk Collection 30 | Maranello’s New Benchmark Is Bellissimo Minichamps Saoutchik 1948 Cadillac Series 62 Cabriolet Bburago Signature Series Ferrari 488 GTB 54 | e Most Famous Name in 40 | e Day Senna Roughed It in a Firewater Has Its Own Fire Truck! Group B Rally Car Fire Replicas Jack Daniel’s Fire Brigade Sun Star 1986 MG Metro 6R4 P-7 Pumper QUICK LOOKS UP FRONT REGULARS 62 | Best of Show 1960 Plymouth Valiant 6 | Editorial 58 | Hot Wheels Highway Happy accidents All you need is love! 63 | Maisto Special Edition 2017 Ford GT 8 | Showroom 66 | Rear View New releases & first looks 64 | American Heritage Models ACF-Brill e Citroën Centipede Southeastern Greyhound—Atlanta, GA Die Cast X (ISSN 1551-854X) is published quarterly by Air Age Inc., 88 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 USA. Copyright 2016, all rights reserved. Periodicals Postage paid at Wilton, CT, and additional offices. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40008153. CONTRIBUTIONS: All materials published in Die Cast X magazine become the exclusive property of Air Age Inc., unless prior arrangement is made in writing with the Publisher. Descriptions of products were obtained from manufacturers or their press agencies and do not constitute an endorsement by the Publisher or guarantee their safety. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Go to our website: DCXMag.com. Rates one year (4 issues): U.S. $25; Canada, $28, including GST; all others, $32. All international orders must be prepaid in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. ADVERTISING: Advertising rates are available on request. Please send advertising materials to Advertising Dept., Air Age Inc., 88 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 USA; phone (203) 431-9000; fax (203) 529-3010; email: advertising@ airage.com. EDITORIAL: Send correspondence to Editors, Die Cast X, Air Age Inc., 88 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 USA. Email: [email protected]. We welcome all editorial submissions but assume no responsibility for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. To authors, photographers and people featured in this magazine: all materials published in Die Cast X become the exclusive property of Air Age Inc. unless a prior arrangement is made in writing with the Publisher. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: To make sure you don’t miss any issues, send your new address to Die Cast X magazine, P.O. Box 420134, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235 USA at least six weeks before you move. Please include an address label from a recent issue, or print the information exactly as shown on the label. For faster service, go to DCXmag.com/cs, and click on the customer service link. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address changes to Die Cast X magazine, P.O. Box 420134, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235 USA.



EDITORIAL Happy Accidents PHOTO BY STEVEN STRAITON, COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS WINTER 2017 | VOLUME 13, NO. 1 O ne of the most challenging (read: terrifying!) things that can happen to EDITORIAL those of us in the magazine biz is to have a big story fall through at the last Executive Editor minute and have to scramble to replace it in time to make deadline. But we Matt Boyd ›› [email protected] at Die Cast X owe it to you guys to put out a first-class publication—on Editorial Director/Surface Group time, every time. And so the mad dash was on to make sure that we had a Peter Vieira ›› [email protected] full selection of features and reviews we can be proud to present to you. Sometimes, Copy Editor when we’re really lucky, a crisis like that ends up inspiring a better story than the one Suzanne Noel ›› [email protected] we had originally planned! Such was the case this time, and rather than have a couple of unforeseen delays in model release dates compromise the issue, it actually ended up CONTRIBUTORS making it stronger. And while a few sleepless nights made my life “interesting” during Bill Bennett, Peter Celona, Wayne Moyer, production, I think the final result ends up being a more interesting magazine for you Alan Paradise, Ron Ruelle, Dan Townsend, guys to read—and that’s what it’s all about, after all! Mike Zarnock One story I’d been wanting to do for a while was to check out page 48 for Replicarz new 1967 ART on the legendary Group B years in the World Rally STP-Paxton Turbine Indycar—one of the most Creative Director Betty K. Nero Championship. e speed, drama, and danger of innovative and highly engineered designs ever to Art Director Kevin Monahan that era is positively unmatched, and the spectacle race (and come within four laps of winning!) the Photographer Peter Hall exploded the sport to new heights of popularity and Indianapolis 500. We show you Bburago’s new manufacturer involvement. It was short-lived, but it Signature Series Ferrari 488 GTB and a high- DIGITAL MEDIA was glorious! Sun Star and AUTOart have glorious rolling 1:12 Rolls from Kyosho. And we give you a Web Producer Holly Hansen new Group B rally cars—Ayrton Senna’s MG Metro shot of an ultra-scale emergency-service vehicle 6R4 and the Argentina-winning Lancia Delta S4, with Fire Replicas’ 1:50 take on the fascinating Jack ADVERTISING respectively—so check out the reviews starting on Daniel’s Fire Brigade Pierce Pumper. Hot Wheels Director of Advertising and Marketing page 40. A guilty pleasure of mine has always been expert extraordinaire Mike Zarnock explores the David Glaski ›› 203.529.4637 the Stephen King-written and John Carpenter- new Beatles-inspired Yellow Submarine series, Senior Account Manager directed horror-film classic Christine, from 1983. and our pal Ron Ruelle from hobbyDB.com shows Mitch Brian ›› 203.529.4609 Auto World’s release of the Buddy Repperton ’67 us a bizarre Citroën built by Michelin to test tires. Senior Account Executive Camaro from the movie in 1:18 was the perfect And there’s plenty more new, cool, weird, and wild Ben Halladay ›203.529.4628 opportunity to look back at the film that put the real items in the rest of the issue too. I hope you enjoy Account Executive “Fury” in Plymouth! what we—and a lucky twist of fortune—bring to Diane de Spirlet ›› 203.529.4664 you in these pages! If your tastes run to the more exotic, be sure CONSUMER MARKETING/ PRODUCTION SERVICES e Media Source, a division of TEN, e Enthusiast Network MARKETING & EVENTS Marketing Assistant Erica Driver Event Manager Emil DeFrancesco PUBLISHING Group Publishers Louis V. DeFrancesco Jr., Yvonne M. DeFrancesco FOLLOW US On Facebook: diecastxmagazine On Twitter: @DCXmag On Instagram: @diecastx On Google +: DieCast X Magazine Visit us online: DCXmag.com Comments may be sent to: [email protected] EDITORIAL MAIL 88 Danbury Road, Wilton CT 06897 USA Phone (203) 529-4635 Email [email protected] Remember, to come find us online and on social media too. e Association of e Network for RCX.com Plenty of news and products that we receive between issues Magazine Media Global Media get released there, so please be sure to check us out—and sign up for our newsletter for even more bonus content! PRINTED IN THE USA Matt Boyd ➜ DCXMag.com SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES Executive Editor ➜ On Facebook: diecastxmagazine [email protected] ➜ On Twitter: @DCXMag To subscribe, go to DCXMag.com/cs. ➜ On Instagram: @DiecastX For a change of address, write to DCX, P.O. Box 420134, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235.



SHOWROOM NEW RELEASES & FIRST LOOKS High-End Resin Replica e F40 wasn’t the first factory special Ferrari. It isn’t the fastest (at least, not anymore). But it has of a Maranello Legend a certain magic about it that captures the attention of enthusiasts. It’s generally considered the last of the legendary specials from Maranello—a short list that includes such legends as the original Kyosho Ferrari F40 Testa Rossa and 250 GTO. Its provenance traces to the second-generation 288 GTO of the early 1980s, with which the F40 shares some of its chassis and powertrain layout. But the F40 took it all 1:18 | $395 to extraordinary new heights—just like Kyosho does with its high-end resin rendition of the F40 in 1:18. With exquisite detailing and a first-class presentation Kyosho looks to elevate itself to the realm of top-shelf resin manufacturers, like BBR and Minichamps. Perks like a genuine leather base with an etched plaque and a hinged display box help deliver an upscale feel. Kyosho proudly proclaims that this is the most detailed F40 the company has ever done—eclipsing even its own previous 1:12 diecast F40. Still, engines and interiors are among the things that have defined Kyosho over the years. Both can be seen reasonably well through the crystal clear glass on this F40, but without opening panels to get an unobstructed view, it will be interesting to see how many longtime Kyosho fans follow the brand up market to this lofty price point when this model goes on sale later this fall. Kyosho; distributed by Minichamps carvillemodelsshop.com Hyper-Detailed Crawler Classic Road Pair from ROS Trippers Sennebogen 875 E Material Handler and TSM Porsche 356 6113 E Telescoping Crane Cabriolet and 1955 Land Rover Series/Oxford and 1:50 | $320 (875 E); $268 (6113) Cambridge Far Eastern Fans of industrial and construction-equipment models will surely Expedition want to take a close look at these two crawlers due out in the fall from ROS. e distributor, b2bReplicas, expects them to be among 1:43 | $86 ea its best sellers, and given the amount of detail, we understand why. Differentiating between model years and options can be tough given the e 875E Port Material Handler on Crawler Tracks is just what it Porsche 356’s 17-year production sounds, but that’s only part of the story. is monster can hoist run, but a keen eye can spot certain 165 tons and has a reach of 27 meters, and with its raised crawler telltale signs. TSM’s Ivory Cabriolet, tracks, it can clear train cars beneath it for loading directly from for example, has the A-series (pre- dock to train. e 6113 E Telescoping Crawler Crane can hoist up 1960) marker lights and absence to 120 tons with a boom length of 67 meters and can operate on of hood-mounted scripts, but the inclines under full load. ey’re amazing machines, and the models taillights and license-plate housing convey that nicely. ey’re impressive in their own right, and would mark it as made after 1957. Model look even better as part of an O-scale display or diorama. year notwithstanding, the detail on ROS; distributed by b2bReplicas b2breplicas.com; it looks great, with lots of separately 3000toys.com (retail) molded and etched pieces. And it looks ready for a road trip with that big trunk on the rear cargo rack. But if we’re talking ’50s-era road trip, the king of them all was the Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition, an unbelievably ambitious trek undertaken by six recent graduates in 1955 driving from London to Singapore overland in two Series 1 Station Wagons donated by Land Rover—one painted Cambridge Blue (shown) and the other in the darker Oxford color. e vehicles were stock, other than some additional jerrycans, a winch, a spotlight, and an enlarged fuel tank. It took the crew six months to travel the more than 18,000 miles—a tremendous achievement, and a brilliant bit of marketing testifying to the robust capability of the Land Rover. “Brilliant” is also an appropriate term for the detail on these TSM replicas of the two Rovers. ey are sold separately, but to properly tribute the expedition, you really should buy both! TSM tsm-models.com 8 DCXmag.com

Spider and Cat Hail to is Iconic British People Mover TopSpeed Models Jaguar F-Type R Coupe Sun Star London Taxi TX4 and Alfa Romeo 4C Spider 1:18 | $50 1:18 | $135 ea e London Taxi Company’s signature little black hackney cab wagon—the Austin FX4—was an Both Jaguar and Alfa Romeo have reinvigorated their respective institution in inner London going back to the 1950s. In 1983, Austin handed over the rights to the sports car traditions with the F-Type R and 4C. By downsizing coachbuilder who had been assembling the vehicle. at became the London Taxi Company, and in from its previous XK8 grand tourer, Jag has shed weight and the years following the FX4’s retirement in 1997, it has designed a succession of cabs following the added a more visceral driving experience, along with taut, same design philosophy. e latest—the TX4—is a spiritual successor to the FX4 and shares a clear aggressive looks that are the best in a generation from the family resemblance, but the current model is significantly roomier and more accommodating as well British icon. TopSpeed’s 1:18 model captures the latter splendidly as being more efficient, with its 100hp turbodiesel engine. Sun Star does several versions of the TX4 in with its 1:18 curbside replica. e model also comes in white, 1:18. e model makes clear how deceptively bigger the TX4 is than it looks in photos—riding on a 114- but this Firesand Metallic version is more dramatic. Speaking inch wheelbase and measuring 6 feet tall, it’s really more like a small SUV than a compact wagon. is of dramatic, you can’t get much more dramatically styled than version is a sealed-body model with no opening features (although Sun Star also offers versions with the raucous and elemental 4C—Alfa’s mid-engine take on pure an opening hood and passenger compartment). e finish is good, and there is a fair amount of interior sporting tradition. About the only element that it lacked was a detail visible through the extensive glass. proper open-air driving experience, which was addressed with Sun Star sunstarmodelcars.com the introduction of the Spider. It features the same carbon- fiber tub chassis and potent little 240hp turbo-4. e Spider prototype was introduced in a new and exclusive yellow color, and that is the version TopSpeed has chosen to reproduce in 1:18. Subtle changes to the headlights and rear deck join the new roof section, and all are present on the model. TopSpeed Models topspeed-models.com Dandy Dick’s Super Stock Hemi Auto World 1969 Landy Dodge Charger R/T 1:18 | $95 “Dandy” Dick Landy is one of the biggest names in Dodge drag-racing history. And in 1969, he was at the top of his game, competing in a number of stock and modified-stock “door-slammer” classes with Dodge’s top performance model, the Charger. Dodge also enlisted him to conduct a number of the Mopar Performance Clinics that year, showing Dodge owners tips and techniques to get the most out of their own Chargers and other Mopar muscle at their local drag strip, and Landy was one of the most respected authorities on the Hemi engine. Auto World has just released a replica of one of Dandy Dick’s Super Stock/ Performance Clinic cars: a Charger R/T Hemi 4-speed, wearing his signature colors. ere’s great detail on the Landy-blueprinted 426 Hemi with a set of tubular headers; wide slicks on Cragar 5-spoke rims; and a detailed, surprisingly stock interior. e body uses Auto World’s excellent Authentics Series Charger casting, and the vibrant Landy livery looks expertly applied, making it a nice complement to any drag racing collection. Auto World autoworldstore.com WINTER 2017 9

SHOWROOM e Quintessential Bond Car Made More Affordable Hot Wheels Heritage Edition Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 1:18 | $60 Often credited as the car—and the marketing coup—that saved Aston Martin, the appearance of the preproduction DB5 in the iconic 1964 Bond film Goldfinger changed both automotive and cinema history. It has subsequently appeared in seven installments of the Bond franchise but never so crucially as in its debut. Mattel has previously released the Goldfinger DB5 as part of its Hot Wheels Elite line, with prices and limited-production runs commensurate with that collector-oriented market. But the Bond car to beat all Bond cars has mass appeal like few other movie machines, so Hot Wheels has now released a more mass-market-oriented version as part of the Heritage Series. While not as detailed as the Elite version, it rings in at less than half the cost—and it includes the removable roof panel for the ejector seat. Does Hot Wheels expect us to talk? No—they expect us to buy! Hot Wheels Collectors hotwheelscollectors.com Least-Seen Lambo M2 Delivers the Goods AUTOart 2013 Lamborghini Veneno M2 Auto-Haulers Release 19A 1:18 | $240 1:64 | $16 ea For its 50th anniversary, Lamborghini introduced the world to its most exclusive supercar at the 2013 Geneva Show. e 750hp, 6.5-liter V-12 powered Veneno reached 62mph in just 2.8 seconds and Each of the Big ree gets a chance to shine with this trio of topped out at 220mph. Its carbon-fiber body (the chassis is carbon fiber, too) was aerodynamically race haulers. First up is a 1956 Ford COE Ford factory Candy optimized to match the efficiency of current World Sportscar Championship contenders (hence, the Apple Red chrome Budd wheels with redline tires. In the tunnels between the rear fenders and body) but still be capable of being driven on the street. Only clear-side show trailer sits a 1970 Ford Torino Cobra, painted three were built, with a price tag of $4 million each, and were sold before they were built. One was to match the truck and riding on E-T Fueler wheels with recently offered for $11 million, so there’s no chance any of us will ever see a Veneno in person, which Goodyear tires and sports a supercharged 429 engine. Both makes AUTOart’s superb model welcome. AUTOart has the aerodynamically chiseled profile, wasp- truck and Torino feature vintage Ford Cobra graphics. e GM waisted planform with aero tunnels, and all the many scoops and vents; there’s fine mesh in all those contingent is represented by a 1958 Chevrolet Spartan LCF openings, too. Multibulb headlights nestle behind clear covers all the way down to the carbon-fiber- hauling a 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 H.O. e LCF and trailer detailed splitter. Tiny Lamborghini badges and silver body latches are the breaks in the flawless unique are painted Placid Blue with vintage GM and Pontiac graphics, light lime green metallic paint. Push forward on the latches to unlock the spring-loaded scissor doors, white Daytona wheels, and blackwall tires. e 1968 Firebird which, for some reason, are snubbed well short of full open. Seats have a realistic representation of the is Cameo White with black side stripes and green interior, and Veneno’s woven carbon-fiber fabric and detailed belts, while the panel and console’s many-colored has black steel wheels with redline tires. Mopar fans will enjoy switches and controls are all there. Yes, the glass tach/speedometer display really is yellow. Lift off the 1969 Dodge L600 COE truck with matching ’69 Dodge the rear hatch (held in place by tiny magnets) to check out the wired and plumbed V-12, multitude Charger Daytona 440—all painted Goodyear Blue and Yellow of hoses and lines, carbon-fiber structure, transaxle, and rear suspension with transverse coil-over with Goodyear graphics. e truck and trailer have yellow shocks.—Wayne Moyer Budd wheels and blackwall tires. e Daytona is running AUTOart autoartmodels.com experimental clear yellow Goodyear Polyglas tires on the chrome Magnum 500 wheels. e Dodge is part of the Tire Testing Division. And of course, there is a 300-piece limited- edition chase version: a 1969 Dodge pair with clear tires and a white M2 logo in the back window. M2 Machines m2machines.com

Mighty McLaren AUTOart 2012 McLaren MP-12C 1:43 | $60 McLaren shook up the supercar world when it introduced the F1 in 1992, but by the time production ended in 1998, its competitors had caught up. Never one to stand still, in 2011, McLaren introduced the MP4-12C, with a carbon-fiber chassis and centrally located twin-turbo V-8 pushing 591hp through a 7-speed transaxle. e “4” was dropped in 2012, and with about 25 percent new parts (and more horses), it became the 650S in 2014. Unlike the competition, McLaren managed to create an aerodynamically efficient body with appealing, softly rounded curves; that subtle rear wing is also an airbrake. e compound-curved inner turning vanes in the big rear scoops are exception- ally thin (photo-etched?) and neatly fitted, and yes, there is fine mesh behind them. at classic McLaren Orange paint is super-smooth with a really fine metallic or pearl pigment—maybe it’s Volcano Orange? Panel lines are crisp, and the tiny hood badge is printed. Both the console and dash are fully—and accurately—detailed. Everything you can see through the rear hatch is there on this model, with crisply printed carbon-fiber and mesh details. Wheels, calipers, and big flat black carbon discs all look just right, too, although the latter don’t rotate.—Wayne Moyer AUTOart autoartmodels.com Bargain-Priced Woody Briggs Cunningham’s Other Le Mans Caddy Brooklin “Limited” 1941 Pontiac Deluxe Custom Station Wagon Spark 1950 Cadillac Series 61 1:43 | $140 1941 Pontiac “Torpedoes” came in three series: Deluxe, Streamliner, and Custom. Only the top-line 1:43 | $80 Custom series offered wood-bodied wagons: “Station Wagon” and “Deluxe Station Wagon” versions, Brothers Sam and Miles Collier had raced at Le Mans before with a six or straight-eight engine available in both. Brooklin has revised its handcrafted white-metal line; World War II and took their buddy Briggs Cunningham to “Brooklin Limited Models” will cover the years 1920–49, while the original “Brooklin Models Collec- watch the 1949 race. Cunningham left convinced that a big tion” will run from 1950 through 1979. Some models will be transferred from the original series to the American V-8 was ideally suited to the race. When the FIA Limited series with new paint and/or details, but others, like this very good-looking 1941 Pontiac Station wouldn’t let him enter a “Studillac,” Briggs bought a pair of Wagon, are all new. References show that both the front sheet metal and wooden body by Hercules are 1950 Cadillac 61 Sedan de Villes. One remained basically accurate—another supplier’s wood body had a more rounded rear end. e short hood ornament and stock, while a Grumman aero engineer designed a more lack of “Pontiac 8” in the hood trim make this a 6-cylinder, while the lack of fender skirts and chrome aerodynamic aluminum roadster body for the other, which trim between the stamped “speed lines” and single taillight all indicate that it’s the base “Station Wagon.” the French press dubbed “Le Monster,” while the stock Caddy Brooklin’s Paddock Gray paint is glossy, and the wood-grain detail is well done. Most photos show the was stuck with “Petit Petaud” (“Clumsy Puppy”). Cunningham canvas top matching the body color, but that might only apply to the Deluxe models. ere’s lots of sepa- had the last laugh—the Colliers drove it to 10th place, with rate, carefully applied chrome trim; only the windshield frame needs to be plated to make the outside fully Briggs and Phil Walters 11th after Le Monster spent an hour detailed. Yes, the side spear did end at the B-pillar. Brooklin has the faux wood dash and plated radio panel in a sandbank. ere have been several models of both, and correct, along with the offset center seats and the plain seat upholstery. But the “headliner” was wooden Spark’s resin-cast stock-bodied Caddy is easily the best to planks while side panels were varnished date. e shape is dead right, the two-tone paint is perfect mahogany plywood, and interior as are the separation lines, and every last detail is reproduced handles and cranks are missing. with plated or perfectly scaled photo-etched pieces. “Petit Accurate lines and dimensions Petaud” scripts and American flags are decals that were and that beautiful “woody” applied before the clear gloss top coat. e added exterior body make this one very gas cap is correct, and both rear-deck antennae can be welcome.—Wayne Moyer seen in photos. Spark really did its homework on this one. Brooklin; distributed (Sample supplied by Motorsport Miniatures, motorsport by Brasília Press miniatures.com).—Wayne Moyer brasiliapress.com Spark sparkmodel.com e Return of the Winningest Le Mans Marque WINTER 2017 11 Spark Porsche 919 Hybrid 2015 Le Mans Winner 1:43 | $80 After watching Audi dominate Le Mans for a decade, Porsche returned to the Sarthe circuit in 2014 with a similar gasoline/electric hybrid. Its turbocharged 2.0L V-4 supplied 500hp to the rear wheels, while the electric motor, fed by a lithium-ion battery and kinetic-energy recovery system, sent up to 400 more horses to the front wheels. e composite body had F1-style air channels and a big vertical fin for stability at 200mph. Neither 919 finished in 2014, but Porsche returned to win convincingly in 2015. It took Spark a year to get this superb resin-cast model ready, but it was worth the wait! e complex body shape, including the blunt front fenders, is precisely right from every angle, and all the scoops, vents, ducts, and airflow-control devices are just as they should be. e paint, including the chrome cabin top, is as good as you’ll find, and the graphics are complete and correct for race day. Spark uses photo-etched parts for the dive planes, small nose inlet screen, side tunnel, vanes, and rear-wing-end struts for excellent scale fidelity. It takes a good penlight to see them, but the seat, belts, and wheel- mounted display are all there. Discs with detailed calipers are visible behind the accurate wheels, whose wide slicks have authentic sidewall logos. Spark hasn’t missed a thing with this Le Mans winner. (Sample supplied by Motorsport Miniatures, motorsportminiatures.com).—Wayne Moyer Spark sparkmodel.com

SHOWROOM Own a Legend! Fast Feline Hot Wheels ’64 Brooklin 1967 Buick Wildcat Sport Coupe Pontiac GTO 1:43 | $130 1:64 | $20 Buick attempted to revive the Wildcat’s “Gentleman’s Hot Rod” image for 1967 by making a e year was 1964, new 430ci V-8 available. All Wildcats got a thorough facelift for ’67, with a full-width grille, new “Sweepline” semi-fastback roof on hardtop models, and a visible sculpture line running and Pontiac Motor from the top of the front wheel arch to the top of the standard rear skirts. Wildcats were Division introduced further distinguished from lesser Buicks by having their “Ventiports” included in the hockey- the GTO Option stick lower-body molding. Brooklin’s new 2-Door Sport Coupe (BRK-215) is obviously Package for its derived from its earlier 4-Door Hardtop, but all traces of the 4-door panel lines—inside and midsize Tempest out—have been removed, and new door lines are right where they should be. is model’s Blue Mist Poly paint is smooth and glossy, though much closer to Shadow Turquoise than line. e GTO came Blue Mist. Name badges, wheel arch moldings, vent window frames, and all window surrounds standard with a are cast in crisp relief and painted over, but all other brightwork is done with carefully fitted 389-cubic-inch plated metal pieces. ose wide, wide taillights have neatly painted translucent red lenses. engine producing Inside, the pleated seats are correct and the dash layout is accurate, but nothing has been 325hp with a single picked out and interior handles are missing. ere’s nice relief chassis detail in the baseplate, four-barrel carbure- and dimensions are as accurate as the shape.—Wayne Moyer tor, optional 4-speed manual transmission, Brooklin; distributed by Brasília Press and 14x6 wheels with 7.50×14 redline tires. More than five brasiliapress.com decades later, Mattel has reproduced the ’64 Pontiac GTO in all its splendor as a 1:64 Special Edition Adult Collectible, authen- tically detailed with Spectraflame red paint, black top, red inte- rior, and chrome trim. is is one tough-looking muscle car, right down to its original redline tires. Don’t miss your chance to own a legendary Pontiac GTO, designed by none other than the legendary Larry Wood, with deco design by Steve Vandervate and package art by Julian Koiles—available exclu- sively from the Hot Wheels Red Line Club!—Mike Zarnock Hot Wheels Collectors hotwheelscollectors.com Classic Corvette Mystery Died-in-the–wool Mustang aficionados know Mustang about the “7UP” Mustang. It began as a marketing Best of Show 1973 Corvette Coupe promotion; the 7UP Bottling Company was a spon- GMP 1990 “7UP” sor of the 1990 NCAA Basketball Championships and planned 1:43 | $39 LX Convertible to give away 30 special 1990 Mustang LX convertibles—painted Everyone expected the 20th-anniversary 1973 Corvette to “7UP Green”—to the first 30 fans to sink a half-court shot during be a fire-breathing street version of the much-ballyhooed 1:18 | $140 halftime of the NCAA final game. Ford prepped 30 cars with special mid-engine Corvette XP-882. e ’73 Vette, instead, got only an features, including turbine wheels (previously reserved for the impact-absorbing front bumper, radial tires, and (optional) Amer- GT), the luggage rack from the 1989 models (instead of the 1990 ican Racing Equipment alloy wheels. Although disappointed, spoiler), and the first-ever all-white interior seen in a Mustang. But Road & Track called it “one of the best Corvettes we’ve ever at the last moment, 7UP backed out, so Ford marketing changed driven.” e lines and details on the Best of Show 1973 Corvette the paint name to “Emerald Green” rebadged it as a “1990 Limited match photos and R & T scale drawings precisely, and the flaw- Edition Mustang.” is is the first preproduction sample of GMP’s less resin body’s panel lines, including the Targa top, are crisp new 1990 Ford “7UP” LX 5.0 Convertible, and all the changes and sharp. BoS’s paint is equally flawless, if a shade darker than have been made to accurately reproduce the 7UP car. e paint Corvette Medium Blue Metallic. It’s gorgeous anyway. Corvette is smooth and glossy (even on this early prototype), badges are and crossed-flag badges are multicolor photo-etched pieces, bright chrome with inlaid blue, and upholstery patterns are correct, while “Stingray” scripts and “Corvette” letters are scale. Every while fabric belts have photo-etched hardware. e only miss is detail is here. Door handles, lock cylinders, and window moldings the shifter—it has both a clutch pedal and an automatic shifter. are all printed in bright silver, which is fine at this price, but the Lifting the hood shows the nicely wired and plumbed 5.0, wire lower body moldings and rear bumper are a very dull aluminum battery, coolant hoses, brackets supporting the alternator and A/C shade, which detracts from any otherwise superb model. Some compressor, and neatly printed data plates. Suspension parts are carefully applied bare-metal foil will be a big improvement. ose all there and functional, with accurate aluminum-colored exhausts ARE wheels are well done, but Corvettes didn’t have Eagle GT and gold-colored converters. Overall, GMP has done everything tires back then. Many period photos don’t show white-sidewall necessary to make an accurate (assuming it fixes the shifter) lettering, so cleaning the letters off or reversing the tires will give and attractive model of one of the lesser-known Fox- a more period look. in, clear glass makes it easy to see the bodied Mustangs.—Wayne Moyer good-looking authentic upholstery, accurate console and dash- GMP; distributed by Acme Trading Company panel decals, and twin big round gauges.—Wayne Moyer acmediecast.com Best of Show; distributed by American Excellence american-excellence.com 12 DCXmag.com

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SHOWROOM Special Indeed Muscle Squared IXO Museum 1936 Buick Series 40 Special 4-Door Sedan M2 Detroit Muscle Release 34 1:43 | $34 1:64 | $6 ea e all-new and widely acclaimed 1936 Buicks can fairly be said to have saved the company. With M2 keeps churning out desirable machines in its aptly named “Detroit Muscle” series. e latest batch is designated the styling by Harley Earl and featuring the new “turret-top” bodies (no canvas roof inserts), hydraulic 34th release, and features half a dozen vehicles of the muscle brakes, and “Vee” windshields, Buick sales soared. Names were added to the traditional “series” num- car’s heyday. Representing the Ford faction are a ’66 Mustang bers, and the entry-level Model 40 became the “Special.” It accounted for an amazing 72 percent of GT fastback and a ’68 Mercury Cougar XR-7. e ’Stang is all Buick sales that year, with the 4-Door Trunkback Sedan, by far, the best seller. at’s the subject Sahara Beige with a white rocker stripe and a deluxe “Pony” of this Museum Series model by IXO, and it has done it very well. e overall lines are correct from interior in Ivy Gold and White. e Cougar is an XR-7G 390G, in all angles, and the two-tone brown paint is smooth and glossy with no visible flaws. While two-tone Grecian Gold with a black vinyl top. Chevy and Pontiac collabo- paint wasn’t a factory option, it apparently was done by many dealers. IXO’s Buick is fully detailed: e rate to carry the GM flag. An Emerald Turquoise Nova SS wears bumpers, grille, and mascot are chrome-plated; the hood hinge, beltline moldings, lower body trim, a black vinyl top and a matching black interior with bucket exterior handles, trunk hinges, and window dividers are bright printed chrome; while the wipers, hood seats and a console. And “here come da’ Judge”—a 1969 GTO vents, and wing-shaped trunk badge are photo-etched. A small red Buick emblem correctly appears Judge in Limelight Green metallic with olive, yellow, and white in the center of the wing and also on the grille. Interior details include the correct “overstuffed” rear stripes with a green interior and gray Pontiac rally wheels. seat, silver-printed relief handles and window cranks, and an accurate dash with printed silver trim and Mopar fans get a first-year Charger—a ’66 383 in Dark Blue speedometer, “banjo” steering wheel, and floor-mounted shift lever.—Wayne Moyer metallic with a vinyl top, and a ’71 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda coupe IXO; distributed by American Excellence american-excellence.com in Tor Red with white top and billboards. A 500-piece Limited Edition Chase Car will be the Charger with the trim, bumpers, and Magnum 500 wheels done in special gold color! M2 Machines m2machines.com Mopar Powerhouse Nifty New Yorker Premium X 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T Neo 1949 Chrysler New Yorker 4-Door Sedan 1:43 | $34 1:43 | $80 “Lavish execution with little or no thought to practical application” was Car and Driver’s sum- Chrysler debuted all-new bodies in 1949, but their upright, stately mation of Dodge’s new 1970 Hemi Challenger R/T. But the Challenger had one thing going for “three-box” styling was distinctly old-fashioned. It was also it: that optional Hemi engine. In spite of C and D’s opinion, the Challenger sold just over 83,000 identical for all four Chrysler lines, with only grilles, trim, and overall units in its first year, and the Hemi-powered version is one of the most collectible cars of the era. length distinguishing lowly Plymouths from the stately Chryslers. Premium X has brought a whole new level of detail and accuracy to the bargain-priced arena Chrysler offered seven different models in its 1949 lineup, with with this really well done resin-cast Challenger. Its body lines and details are excellent, although the New Yorker squarely in the middle. e 4-Door New Yorker the glossy paint is about midway between Dodge’s Bright Blue and Dark Blue chips. e twin- Sedan was outsold only by the smaller, less-well-appointed (and scoop R/T hood’s power bulge has razor-sharp separation lines for its flat black top, and the less-expensive) Windsor 4-Door. Neo has released this beauti- vinyl top’s texture is especially realistic. e scale “3-D” photo-etched Hemi and R/T badges fully made and accurate model of the New Yorker 4-Door. Its deep have red inlays! Premium X hasn’t slacked off on the interior; seat and door-panel upholstery black paint is smooth and glossy, and dimensions are exception- is correct; relief-cast handles, cranks, and door trim are overprinted with chrome; and there’s ally accurate. Every piece of trim is there, with all external details good-looking wood-grain trim on the doors, console, and dash. e latter has a full set of nicely done with either plated or photo-etched pieces; there are no detailed gauges, too. Wheels are accurate, and the tires have “Goodyear Polyglas” sidewall printed details on this one. Up front, the massive plated grille logos. Crisp relief chassis detail with aluminum-painted exhausts complete what might be the carries the 1949 25th-anniversary badge and optional bumper bargain model of the year.—Wayne Moyer guards. e 1949-only Cadillac-style taillights bring up the rear, Premium X; distributed by American Excellence american-excellence.com and in between, the 0.25-inch-long photo-etched New Yorker script is quite readable. Side spears and other trim are done with 14 DCXmag.com photo-etched pieces, as are window surrounds and vent window frames. With all this, there’s not a hint of adhesive. Interior details are all there, too, with authentic upholstery, silver-printed relief handles and cranks, chrome ashtrays (remember those?), and an accurate dash.—Wayne Moyer Neo; distributed by American Excellence american-excellence.com



WHEELS of FURY The Cars of Stephen King’s Christine BY MATT BOYD Based on a novel by one of the most prolific and beloved authors of the modern era—Stephen King—and directed by horror maestro John Carpenter, the 1983 film Christine had all the makings of a cult classic. is ode to late-’50s car and teen culture—an era in which both King and Carpenter came of age and have a special affinity for—did well enough at the box office with general audiences, but it was with auto enthusiasts that it established its enduring legacy. And while King has explored the man-versus-machine theme in a number of other books and films (From a Buick 8 and Maximum Overdrive jump to mind, but there are numerous other examples), in Christine, it isn’t just a plot vehicle; she becomes a character in the story. anks to Carpenter’s filmmaking flair and King’s evocative source material, she is, in many ways, the most fascinating character—with a compelling history and delivering a palpable menace. And this despite having no lines—unless you count a few roars (of the engine), squeals (of the tires), and shrieks (of rending sheet metal). And let’s not forget her sense of style! Deadly though she may be, she brings off her evil with élan, in proper femme fatale fashion. With the introduction of the Buddy Repperton Camaro, Auto World now has a trio of Christine-themed models. 16 DCXmag.com

MOVI E P HOTOS COU RT E SY OF COLU M B IA P IC T U R E S AN D SONY P IC T U R E S HOM E E N T E RTAI N M E N T If you are a regular reader At its core, Christine is a of Die Cast X, you are probably story about obsession— already familiar with the something we collectors fearsome charm of this ’58 Fury. can certainly identify with. But dedicated fans will remind From first sight, Arnie you that Christine isn’t the only was hooked! winsome piece of Detroit iron on display in the film. Protagonist Dennis “Denny” Guilder drives a gorgeous blue ’68 Charger, and villain Clarence “Buddy” Repperton prowls the streets in a silver-blue ’67 Camaro. Not much is specified about these two cars in the film’s dialogue, and they do not appear in the book (see sidebar to learn why). To further confuse the issue, the ultimate fate of the actual cars used in filming is largely unknown, so there is no definitive information on how they were outfitted. ere was just a single privately owned Charger used, and it was returned to the owner after the movie wrapped. ere were at least two Repperton Camaros— one “runner” and one mock-up used in the crash sequence without an engine (you can see the empty engine bay when the hood gets dislodged.) to my knowledge, the Repperton Camaro has never been done as a mass-produced diecast, which makes Auto World’s 1:18 version In diecast, Christine has been done numerous times in numerous (that completes the brand’s trio of Christine movie cars) a first—and of utmost interest to collectors. scales over the years, and the Charger was done at least once as part of the superb 1:24 pair (along with a Fury) from Danbury Mint. But WINTER 2017 17

Wheels BONUS SEE A FULL of Fury REVIEW ONLINE DCXmag.com The Lady in Red Christine herself was the first model in the series to come out—based on an older Ertl casting. ere are two versions. is is the daytime T he first of Auto World’s film-specific models to come out—and certainly the best documented—is Christine herself. Auto model with transparent windows and a full interior. A nighttime version World adapted an older Ertl casting (the car had been released with blacked-out windows has functional headlights. under that brand a few times over the years), and while it has been significantly upgraded, it is the most basic admire the interior upgrades as well. ere is a good close-up shot of of the three. Old-school dogleg hinges on the the engine in the film, and Auto World did a great job replicating the doors and hood are telltale signs, and while dual-quad-equipped 350 V-8—the new top-option 305hp engine that the Dodge and Chevy have functional springs, Plymouth introduced in 1958. Christine herself makes do with a more basic chassis and a rigid suspension. None of that Auto World has resurrected Buddy really matters much to collectors, though; these Repperton’s Camaro beautifully in 1:18. It’s models will sell out—just like every previous only on screen for about four minutes, but version of Christine!—and will only get more valuable over time on the secondary market. the model holds up even in a frame- by-frame comparison! e exterior paint and trim present very well, and there’s no mistaking that one-of-a-kind white-over-red scheme. ere were two versions: a “daytime” version with transparent windows seen here, and a sinister “nighttime” version with blacked out windows and light-up headlights. I prefer the daytime configuration as it allows collectors to Buddy’s Bowtie tooling comes out of the Authentics library and enjoys the added details of that series. Buddy’s car B uddy Repperton’s bluish silver ’67 Camaro has a mix of SS appears in only one (catastrophic) scene, and little is and Z/28 trim, but the lack of badging and other fine details gleaned about its technical details—aside from its knack for opposite- suggest these were à la carte add-ons to a base Camaro. lock powerslides on wet pavement—but the exterior is faithful to the As with Denny’s Charger, that would be in keeping with the movie car’s, right down to the brand markings on the tire sidewalls. ride of the local high-school bully. Also like the Dodge, the Camaro Turn to page 22 to read the full review of Buddy’s Camaro. 18 DCXmag.com

Director John Carpenter (foreground right) is a legend in the horror genre, and he brought his signature flair to the film adaptation of King’s novel. Actor Keith Gordon (left) thought up the idea of having his character Arnie’s wardrobe and hair change to ’50s style as he gradually became possessed by Christine. Fury-ous Factoids: Arnie Cunningham is the hapless high-school nerd who buys Film versus Novel versus Reality Christine and is ultimately consumed by his obsession with her. Actor Keith Gordon came up with the idea to have his character’s S tephen King has said a number of times that, while he appearance—his clothes and hair—change gradually from ’80s envisioned Christine as an archetypical late-’50s finned geek to ’50s hoodlum as he fell deeper under the spell of the ’58 American classic car, he settled specifically upon the Fury. He jettisons his taped glasses and pocket protector for biker ’58 Plymouth Fury because of the symbolism of the boots and a leather vest. By the climactic scenes, he’s sporting a name, rather than any specifics of the model itself. That gave rise red suede jacket and a greaser hairdo and playing chicken behind to some inaccuracies in the original novel, some of which were the wheel, à la James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause. addressed in the film. There are a number of other automotive aspects in which the book, the film, and the real world diverge. Unlike most King novels—which usually take place in the fictional Some of the interesting ones are: southwestern Maine towns of Castle Rock, Derry, (Jeru)Salem’s Lot, and Chester’s Mill—Christine is set in Libertyville, a fictional In the novel, Christine is described as a red 4-door with silver suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The setting was moved trim and a red interior. The actual ’58 Fury came only as a 2-door to imaginary Rockbridge, California, for the film. Interestingly, hardtop and only in Buckskin Beige with gold trim and white John Carpenter has said that he wanted the setting to look like interior, although a 4-door option would arrive in 1959. “Everytown USA,” so he chose filming locations in South Pasadena that could pass for many other parts of the country. (Hardcore The movie corrected the door count and explained away the Carpenter fans might recognize this same neighborhood doubling color discrepancy with a bit of dialogue describing it as a for fictional Haddonfield, Illinois, in his horror classic Halloween.) “special order”—supported by the opening scene in which she is the lone red car among a line of beige models coming down the assembly line…and claiming her first victim! Eagle-eyed viewers will note that a mix of Savoys and Belvederes (identical in sheet metal but lacking elaborate side trim) supplemented the rarer authentic Furys during filming in several scenes. There were reportedly 24 Furys and clones built for the film—only three of which survived! In one chapter, King describes Christine’s column shifter moving on its own. The 1958 Furys didn’t have shifters on the column; they had dash-mounted pushbuttons for selecting gears, which can be seen in the film. King calls the transmission a “Hydramatic,” but of course, Plymouth used the name “TorqueFlite” for its automatics. In the book, narrator and hero Denny Guilder drives a Plymouth Duster. In the film, the production designers upgraded it to a much cooler ’68 Dodge Charger. Nemesis Buddy Repperton drives a blue ’76 Camaro in the book, but the movie trades that in for a silver-blue ’67.

Wheels of Fury BONUS SEE A FULL REVIEW ONLINE DCXmag.com Denny’s Dodge Borrowing Auto World’s Authentics casting, the Charger is well detailed inside and out. T he vinyl-top-over-blue ’68 Charger is a great hero car in its own right, and the mildly modded street machine is Charger to leading lady Leigh Cabot (played by future Baywatch perfectly archetypical of the type of hot rod that a high- babe Alexandra Paul!)—which, for continuity’s sake, supports the school kid like Denny might own in 1978 (when the story is thesis of a manual transmission, so I am onboard with Auto World’s set). It’s a standard model (not an R/T), and beyond the set of Cragar choice of gearbox. mags, very little else is known about it, save a brief glimpse or two of the deep-dish 3-spoke steering wheel and black vinyl low-back CLOSING CREDITS buckets—both of which the model captures, although the seats are For fans of both the automotive and horror film genres, like me, oddly pitched back into a semireclined position. e casting is from Christine represents the perfect intersection of fascinations. A key Auto World’s Authentics Series—which is to say excellent. e engine reason, no doubt, why the film has developed such a faithful following. pitch heard in the film suggests a big-block, although we never actually see the motor and the engine sound effects were added in e “Christine” name remains inextricably linked to the film and postproduction, so the actual car could have had anything from a its four-wheeled star—evoking vivid images of that sinister red ’58 slant-6 to a Hemi under the hood. Auto World chose an appropriate Plymouth Fury for almost everyone even today, more than 30 years midrange powerplant—a 383 with a set of chrome valve covers and after the film was released. And while the star car garners most of the an aftermarket open-element air cleaner—nicely detailed with all the attention, the Charger and the Camaro add greatly to the automotive trimmings: belts, heater and radiator hoses, plug wires, battery cables, texture of the film. Having all three now available in diecast from Auto and the correct pale blue-green hue for the block and heads. Movie World as part of a single series should give hard-core collectors a cars are almost always automatics in real life, but no transmission sense of completeness, and the additional details delivered in being is called out on screen, so Auto World had creative license here and part of the Authentics series make them great values and satisfying chose a 4-speed. As a plot point, Denny injures his clutch leg halfway through the movie, after which he surrenders the wheel of the models even beyond their claim to fame. ✇ SOURCE Auto World autoworldstore.com e Charger sits out the final showdown, so it is the one car that survives the film unscathed. You can see that Auto World did its homework with its depiction. 20 DCXmag.com



OUT OF THE BOX BY MATT BOYD AUTO WORLD CHRISTINE 1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO 1:18 | $100 I sn’t it funny how five minutes on the big screen can cement certain objects in our minds for a lifetime? Of course, it has to be the right object, on the right screen, at the right time. Take, for instance, the legendary Bullitt chase scene through the streets of San Francisco. e vehicle driven by the villain in that sequence’s screen time is fleeting, yet that black ’68 Charger is still burned into our memories nearly 50 years after it met its fiery demise in that gas station. e car on these pages shares much in common with that car. It too was “villainous,” on screen for mere moments, chased through California streets by another legendary star car, and went out in a blaze of glory in an exploding gas station. Perhaps Buddy Repperton’s ’67 achieved in the decades since, it is When a car is on screen for so be tough for a model maker like Camaro doesn’t have quite the a worthy subject for replicating in brief a period and there is—as in Auto World to know exactly renown of the Bullitt Charger, but scale—all the more so because it the case with Buddy Repperton’s what to build into a scale replica. the sequence in which it appears is the car that completes a three- Camaro—no dialogue exposition We know that Buddy’s is a ’67 is the origin of the iconic flaming car set of Christine diecasts from detailing its particulars, it can because of several visible clues— visage of Christine that has graced Auto World. movie posters and DVD covers for 30 years, and is a defining image in American horror cinema. So the parallels are there, and the importance of the scene and the car are validated. And given the cult-car film status Christine has Buddy Repperton’s Ride Resurrected in Scale 22 DCXmag.com

most obviously the presence (possibly with the help of his pal Auto World’s excellent Authentics front bumper and one small bubble of triangular vent windows, the Don Vandenberg who works in series Camaro casting. in the paint on the rear quarter. lack of side marker lights, and the service bay at the Mobico But this was a preproduction the shape of the driving lights station…at least until Christine e most obvious modification sample, so one or two such in the grille. at grille also tells comes to visit!). Auto World Buddy made was the sweet blemishes is not uncommon, and us it’s a base Camaro—not an has appropriately chosen to silver-blue paint job. It’s pretty I’d expect them to be rectified on RS or an SS—because of the re-create Buddy’s pride and joy close to the “Elkhart Blue” factory production pieces. e panel gaps standard brushed chrome bowtie with features representative of a Chevy color and is complemented are great, and so is the character emblem in the center and the lack late-’70s high-school hoodlum nicely by a set of black Z/28-style line down the centerline of the of hidden headlights. But a guy that splits his time between shop stripes. e Camaro badges and car. e California tags depict the class and prowling the streets of scripts are present on the fenders, correct “850 TLX” from the film, like Buddy wouldn’t leave it as fictional Rockbridge, California. hood, and trunk, but they are but oddly they are tampo-printed a base model, now would tampo-printed rather than photo- onto the valences rather than he? Clearly he made e basis for this recreation is etched. e window surrounds, onto molded license plates. is is some modifications door handles, wipers, mirrors, distracting on the front because of and light bezels are all separately the angle of the valence; it would molded and chromed. ere’s a probably have been preferable just small flaw in the chrome of the to omit the front plate. Doors swing on scale hidden hinges and open wide enough to let Buddy and sidekick Richie Trelawney bail out in a hurry when they reached the Mobico (for all the good that ended up doing them!). e Camaro’s interior is sharp, with nice pinstriping on the seats, accurate texture on the dash, and legible detail on the instrument panel. Even the sill plates are detailed. e front seats have woven lap belts with metal buckles, and there are carpeting and mats on the floorboards. e steering wheel sits a bit too low (hard to imagine Buddy being able to slide his legs under there!), but otherwise the interior is very convincing. Auto World has chosen to make the car a 4-speed. No shots of the interior appear in the film, so really it could have any gearbox, although the sound when Buddy engages reverse is a distinctly automatic-like “click,” and two upshifts can be heard while his right hand is visibly on the steering wheel. WINTER 2017 23

AUTO WORLD CHRISTINE 1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO Auto World’s Authen- tics series Camaro casting continues to be a real asset, with good proportions and a nice character line down the side. e triangular wing windows identify it instantly as a 1967 model year. IF YOU’RE A DEDICATED FAN OF THE CULT CLASSIC CHRISTINE, FINALLY HAVING A SCALE BUDDY REPPERTON CAMARO ... ADDS A SENSE OF COMPLETENESS TO THE COLLECTION. e L48 “Turbo-Fire 350” V-8 is well outfitted, with plumbing and wiring throughout, e shut lines on the hood are so differential. e rear suspension plus nice labels, paint, and textures. tight you’ll most likely need a pick features multi-leaf springs. to open it. When you do, feast your Technically, 1967 Camaros came I like the pinstriping on the seats and the dash detail. e steering hangs a bit low, but eyes on an excellent rendition of a with mono-leafs (multi-leafs otherwise the interior is very convincing. L48 “Turbo-Fire 350” small block. didn’t arrive until ’68), but that’s a common upgrade and one that Even the trunk is done right, with labels on the underside of the deck, a full spare, and a at 295hp motor was introduced Buddy likely would have made trunk mat. in the ’67 SS350 Camaro, although when he upgraded to the 12-bolt 24 DCXmag.com it is certainly a plausible choice rear end the car now carries. for Buddy’s custom build as well. Another upgrade sourced from We know it’s an L48 by the label a later-year Camaro are the on the open-element air cleaner. wheels; it now wears a set of “Turbine” aluminum wheels that at label technically came on a were factory options on ’78–’79 single snorkel air cleaner in stock Z-28s—which, coincidentally, is form, but the chrome valve covers the time frame in which the movie embossed with “Chevrolet” is set. Even the Remington brand scripts are factory. Other labels— tires are correct to the film, and such as on the fan shroud—add the tread looks very good. to the authenticity, as do radiator and heater hoses, battery cables, FINAL THOUGHTS and a set of plug wires running to the distributor. It wears the If you’re a dedicated fan of the cult stock exhaust manifolds with classic Christine, finally having a appropriate paint and texture, and scale Buddy Repperton Camaro the alternator and brake booster to round out the ’58 Fury and ’68 are also well painted. Charger that have been released previously adds a sense of e chassis features some completeness to the collection. For nice Authentics series touches those who care less about paying like softly sprung front and tribute to the film, the Camaro is rear suspensions, which settle simply a convincing interpretation realistically under the car’s of a Camaro street machine based substantial weight, and a revolving off of one of Auto World’s best driveshaft that spins with the castings, with very satisfying detail rear wheels through a geared in the engine bay and interior. Still, it’s movie fans who will drive the e really sharp “Turbine” wheel design collectability of this Camaro and—I was factory-issue on 1978–’79 Camaros, suspect—a few within Auto World’s which works because that is the time design staff who were responsible frame in which the story is set! for its creation in the first place. I’m glad the movie buffs in the company won over the decision makers because now we all win, and Buddy’s Camaro can survive indefinitely on our display shelves instead of just five minutes on a movie screen. ✇ SOURCE Auto World autoworldstore.com



OUT OF THE BOX BY MATT BOYD KYOSHO ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM DROPHEAD COUPÉ SERIES II 1:12 | $999 Rolls-Royce has long been considered the zenith of the luxury automotive experience. Luxury features, you say? Even When one-percenters wish to be pampered in transit in the manner to which they the model has high-intensity LED have become accustomed, they send their personal assistant to speak to someone headlights! at Rolls-Royce. When a Mercedes is too gauche and a Ferrari too cramped, a Rolls Phantom Drophead Coupé is just the thing to get the star of last summer’s box-office-breaking blockbuster down out of the Hills to the Rodeo Drive boutiques, or a scion of high finance out to the Hamptons for a top-down weekend cruise after a stressful week of negotiating corporate mergers and hostile takeovers. Describing anything about a convertible top? But, of course! You inhabits in the model world, and the Rolls as “standard” seems faintly positively cannot survive another parallels don’t end there. For one, ridiculous, but the list of features day without a crystal internally they’re both huge—like, seriously included on every Drophead puts LED-lit Spirit of Ecstasy hood huge. At 1:12, a foot translates to an lesser machines to shame. Still, ornament? Trouble yourself no inch in scale, so stem to stern this CEOs, movie stars, and sports further—Rolls has just the thing. land yacht measures heroes seldom buy anything 18 inches long! “off the rack.” For them, there Where the big Rolls convertible are the “bespoke” items—Rolls’ soars in the luxury-car market eminently British term for the is pretty much the same rare air individually custom-tailored Kyosho’s 1:12 Drophead options that can be outfitted to any Drophead. e list would seem like wretched excess, but there’s nothing wretched about a Rolls. Want monogrammed headrests in a specific contrasting color? No problem. Matching monograms on your real lambswool floor mats and etched into custom tread plates? Certainly, sir. Need your door-mounted electrically deploying umbrellas or parasols (both are available!) to have fabric that matches the color of your custom 26 DCXmag.com

Drop-Dead Drop-Top Is Top-Shelf With that kind of size, it’s no sur- MSRP of $999 is still in the upper paint is contrasted by silver on replacing the Series I distinctive- (if prise that it’s also heavy. e model stratosphere of diecast pricing, but the windscreen and bonnet—a disjointed-) looking round driving tips the scales at a hefty 10 pounds. at least all the bespoke items are $9,400 option. e optional teak lights with more streamlined rect- Add another 5,800 pounds for the gratis on Kyosho’s replica! decking on the tonneau cover angular LED units. Kyosho not only 1:1. at is about how much a nicely would run you an extra $10,700. captures this detail but also adds optioned Range Rover weighs… As an exercise, I went on the Kyosho does not miss the unique another layer to the realism by with an extra half-ton of cash in Rolls website and built a Drophead opportunity for diecast finery that making the lights functional. Slot in a the back! Coincidentally, that’s to the precise configuration of this large scale and the Roll-Royce pair of AAs under the trapdoor in the about what half a million single Kyosho’s replica. at not only opulence present. e model wears chassis and the head- and taillight dollar bills weigh—and how many provided me with a quote of nearly the current “Series II” front fascia, LEDs light up at the flip of a switch! it would take to drive a Drophead $550,000 but also allowed me to which was introduced in 2012 and home with you...before options. e examine just how much attention carries through to 2016 models. Rolls knows that keeping its model is a bit more within reach. Its to detail the designers put into this owners feeling like a million bucks model. e lovely English White at redesigned fascia includes has to be the ultimate goal of any Kyosho does a pretty good job of spicing up the relief-molded version of the BMW-built V-12 with paint and individually molded intake parts. WINTER 2017 27

KYOSHO ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM DROPHEAD COUPÉ SERIES II e lavish interior is the highlight of the Rolls-Royce experience—in person or in scale. e model even comes with a 1:12 version of the optional champagne picnic set—which, Mahogany is simulated convincingly with plastic, and various compartments open. Note at $40,000, costs more than an entry-level BMW! also the umbrellas that extend from the door jamb. car costing half a million bucks, so but they are miserably difficult to can hoist the hood to view it. It’s for the sedan, but the coupé and the interior is the beneficiary of the retrieve—the only real flaw I’ve accurate, and there are separate Drophead will be discontinued. Drophead’s most lavish features, discovered on the Drophead. pieces for the intake system. But as starting with the teak deck inspired with many of Kyosho’s 1:18 models, e personal luxury segment will by classic Chris-Craft boat designs. More extravagant essentials are the Phantom’s engine is a relief- be serviced by the less expensive on display in the trunk area, which molded tray, so the detail doesn’t and more performance-oriented e wood theme continues you access via a push button extend much below the surface. Wraith (coupé) and Dawn (con- across the dashboard, where under the right rear bumper. Four vertible). Dynamically, the new rich mahogany abounds—for a fitted leather bags come at no e chassis produces its Dawn might be superior, but paltry $4,975. Kyosho uses plastic extra charge with the Drophead, legendarily sumptuous Rolls ride somehow it is just less majestic to simulate wood but does so but you can add a charming with a high-tech air-suspension than the Phantom Drophead— convincingly. Both the upper and picnic set—complete with silver system that can vary the effective certainly it will be less exclusive. lower glove-box compartments cutlery and monogrammed crystal spring rate, compression, and open, as does the center-armrest champagne flutes—for a modest rebound characteristics every e Phantom is cartoonishly compartment. e seats are done additional sum of just $40,000. 2.5 milliseconds. It would be an extravagant, but there’s some- in elegant “Seashell” off-white, Kyosho includes both; the glasses interesting mechanism to see in thing noble about being the and they include monogrammed are even removable if you’re feeling scale, but Rolls hides the working ultimate example of its kind. at headrests (an option which costs a little (a very little) thirsty. And the bits in an aerodynamic undertray. makes it a great diecast model $1,175—more than this replica integrated folding picnic table built Kyosho has chosen to outfit the too—and in 1:12, it is extraordinary. does!). e seats travel smoothly into the trunk flips out to give you a Drophead with 21-inch polished People who care nothing for on metal runners but do not fold flat surface upon which to enjoy a 11-spoke alloy wheels—a $10,000 diecast stop to admire and ask forward. e reverse-opening 1/12 sip of bubbly! upgrade. e tires feature accurate questions. e little details like “coach doors” give plenty of tread and appropriately sized functional lights, the picnic set, and access to front-seat occupants but Speed isn’t really the Phantom’s sidewalls, although the latter do the door umbrellas tickle everyone don’t help the rear seats much, so forte, but the 6.75L V-12 moves the not have any markings. who sees them—producing a any prospective passenger may big boulevardier along briskly. e scaled-down version of the awe have to vault (in as dignified way as motor is built by BMW and based FINAL THOUGHTS the full-size Drophead inspires. possible!) into the back seat. While on its own V-12 of the mid-2000s. When it is gone, the automotive you’ve got those doors open, be Here, it produces a stately 453hp e Phantom series is the oldest world will have lost something sure to note the silver knobs with and enough torque to waft the Rolls model, and it is set to magnificent and unique, but the little “RR” logo on them. ose Drophead to 60mph in about five conclude production about the Kyosho makes sure a worthy scale are the handles on the custom- seconds, if a driver were ever so time you read this. Rolls-Royce fitted umbrellas, and they come vulgar as to hammer the throttle. has announced a replacement tribute will remain to honor it. ✇ out…if you can get them to deploy. If you tap the button under the left front SOURCE ey are nominally spring-loaded, bumper, you Kyosho America, distributed by Mini- champs carvillemodelsshop.com 28 DCXmag.com A navy blue up-top is provided, and it is covered in scale fabric. But like any convertible, the Rolls looks better with the top down!



OUT OF THE BOX BY MATT BOYD BBURAGO SIGNATURE SERIES FERRARI 488 GTB 1:18 | $55 W henever Ferrari comes out with a new mainstream model, it’s a big deal. By “mainstream,” I don’t mean by typical auto manufacturer standards: Ferrari only sells about 7,000 cars each year of all its models combined. (For comparison, Toyota sells that many every six hours!) But Ferrari’s mid-engine V-8 models—like this new 488 GTB—constitute the largest chunk of those sales, and are positioned squarely between the entry-level model (currently the California T) and flagship supercars like the LaFerrari and F12. ey invariably garner the most media attention, compete most directly for bragging rights with other high-end sports and exotics, and become the “face” of Ferrari. Translation: this is the most important car Ferrari makes. And that automatically makes it important for Bburago, who now has the exclusive license for Ferrari in 1:18 and this price range. e 488 is an especially big deal most potent version of the given the success of the car it 458—the Speciale—made replaces: the 458 Italia. In its six 597hp at a stratospheric years in production, more than 9,000rpm from its 17,000 458s were sold in its 4.5L V-8. But for various incarnations. But the 488 the next battle in is an even bigger deal because the ever-escalating of the nature of its V-8—which range war that is the has lost 595cc but gained two exotic car market, turbos relative to the 458, and Ferrari engineers thus given many purists agita. were told to find even Ferrari fanboys have a love-hate more firepower. And relationship with turbos. e last also cut emissions. mid-engine Ferrari to carry them And also improve fuel was the legendary F40, which economy by 30 per- ended production in 1992 and cent. e only solution: remains the most revered Ferrari turbocharging. of the last half-century. But in the 24 years since, Maranello has All that explains why the 488 pinned its performance credentials has a pair of hair dryers tucked up upon displacement and soaring into its vented flanks. Did it pay rev limits—to brilliant effect. e off? It should be no surprise that the boosted 3.9L makes more 30 DCXmag.com

horsepower—an astonishing represents the first clean-sheet admirably tight—tight enough to the console, and the gap between 661hp at 8,000rpm. But the design since Bburago acquired the need the opening tool Bburago the tunnel and the dash has been dreaded turbo lag that made Ferrari license, and the company provides with the 488. e airfoil- redone. Bburago marks these flooring it in an F40 something spent considerable effort getting like front splitter is separately changes, which you can see—once akin to lighting the fuse on a it just right. Bburago makes 488s molded, and there is just a slight you get the door open. at takes stack of TNT (wait…wait…wait… in standard editions as well as the misalignment where it mates to a bit of doing because the door BANG!) is now gone, banished collector-oriented Signature series the body on the driver’s side. e hinges are remarkably stiff. e with a mixture of software and you see here, with the black roof biggest styling change from the view of the interior is better than precision turbo design that doesn’t and wheels. Sinuous curves and 458 to the 488 mimics the change these photos suggest; the raised bleed off boost. e 488 also the deep red color combine to give to the power curve: the outer limits windows block our lens but do makes a mammoth 560 lb.-ft. of it a liquid luster. ere is just the are similar (if a bit more extreme), not really impede vision in person. torque—40 percent more than barest hint of orange peel on the but the real difference comes Bburago makes excellent use the 458 and at 3,000rpm sooner. bonnet cover of this preproduction from thickening up the middle. e of paint (red and semi-metallic sample, but everywhere else the huge bisected vents just below aluminum) and textures to liven e chassis is an evolution of the paint is beautifully smooth. Fender the quarter window at the C-pillar up the predominantly hard plastic 458’s, but refinements plus all that and nose emblems are screen- area that feed the intake and surfaces. e grain on the dash extra torque mean the 488 is both printed, but the prancing horse on intercoolers make the 488’s profile pad is a bit too coarse, but faster and easier to drive fast. the tail is photo-etched, as is the notably chunkier. otherwise the interior looks “Ferrari” script on the rear deck. better than the price point would So the turbos work. But Light lenses are clear, and the ere wasn’t much to fix on suggest. Detail on the F1-inspired style and image are every bit as buckets beneath them well shaped the 458’s interior, so Ferrari made steering wheel and gauge cluster important to Ferrari’s success as and well painted. Panel gaps are only minor revisions for the new is a particular highlight. is speed, and the 458 set a pretty car. ere are fewer buttons on high bar aesthetically. e 488’s Maranello’s New Benchmark Is Bellissimo WINTER 2017 31

BBURAGO SIGNATURE SERIES FERRARI 488 GTB Above: e first turbocharged e front luggage compartment opens, and the airfoil-like front mid-engine Ferrari in a splitter is separately molded from the body for extra realism. generation, the 488 had to deliver—and with 661hp and BBURAGO HAS A LOT RIDING ON ITS REPLICA— no turbo lag, it does! Right: IT WILL BE A TOP SELLER, FOR SURE, AND WILL Nicely molded double 5-spoke LIKELY HELP SET EXPECTATIONS FOR THE wheels show detailed brake SIGNATURE SERIES. hardware behind them. Below: Ferrari’s habit of making both, depending on the color e interior received only engines visible through the combination. In either case, there evolutionary tweaks. Bburago backlight traces all the way to are nicely detailed carbon brake does a good job with paints the F40, and it is on display here rotors with bright red calipers and textures to give the hard as well. Another tradition the clearly visible through the spokes. plastic a more realistic look. 488 revives is naming a model based on the displacement (in cc) FINAL THOUGHTS 32 DCXmag.com of a single cylinder of its engine à la the classics, like the 250 As the first turbocharged Ferrari GTO or the 365 GTB/4. With a in a generation, the 488 GTB was total engine capacity of 3902cc, bound to be controversial. Given each of its 8 cylinders displaces how good its predecessor was 487.75cc—rounded off to 488. only makes winning acceptance Red intake plenums are a modern that much more difficult. But tradition (subbing for the “testa objectively speaking, the 488 rossa” red heads of yore because blends the dynamic virtues of the cylinder heads are now buried the 458 with the turbocharged too deep for their color to be potency of the F40 (and bumps visible) but are smaller and closer up the power by another 50 per- together now that the engine is cent for good measure!) while turbocharged. Bburago also details eliminating the worst vices of the turbo plumbing to and from each. Time will ultimately tell, but vented pods on the outer edge it looks well positioned to be the of the engine bay that shield the benchmark supercar for the better turbos and channel the air from part of the next decade. With a the big vents on the outside. It car that significant, Bburago has really is a technically interesting a lot riding on its replica—it will engine; Ferrari is one of the few be a top seller, for sure, and will modern car companies that still likely help set expectations for the make an effort to produce an Signature series over the next few aesthetically pleasing engine bay, releases. If that proves to be the and Bburago makes sure collectors case, they will do well—this 488 get to appreciate it. replica delivers more than its sub- $60 going price would suggest, Bburago does a nice job with and holds its own against previous tire shape and contour, and the Ferrari castings costing double split 5-spoke wheel pattern is that. It’s a must-have for 1:18 captured faithfully. Whether you Ferrari collectors for whom value is prefer the black wheel treatment of this version or the more a top priority. ✇ traditional satin metallic finish is a matter of taste; Bburago offers SOURCE Bburago bburago.com

3 On The Tree... Ok. Collect ‘em all today! Make that 6... • 1971 Mercury Montego • 1978 Dodge Warlock Celebrate the season with the return of Johnny Lightning’s annual • 1967 Chevy Camaro tradition—Holiday Classic! Painted festive brushed-kandy colors, • 1973 Pontiac GTO they’ll look great on your tree for years to come. Each die-cast • 1968 Chevy Impala vehicle in the series includes a GripClip™, which snaps onto the • 1980 Chevy Monza Spyder car and lets you use it as an ornament! No classic car lover or die-cast fan will be without them this season! Swing by your local retailer, or see our entire selection of 1:64 die-cast at round2corp.com! GENERAL MOTORS Trademarks used under license to Round 2, LLC. Dodge and related logos, vehicle model names and trade dress are trademarks of FCA US LLC and used under license by Round 2 LLC. ©2016 FCA US LLC. Ford Motor Company Trademarks and Trade Dress used under license to Round 2, LLC. JOHNNY LIGHTNING, WHITE LIGHTNING, LIGHTNING STRIKE, PLAYING MANTIS, STREET FREAKS, SPOILERS, ZINGERS AND NEWSFLASH are registered trademarks of TOMY International, Inc. used under license to Round 2, LLC. ©2016 TOMY International, Inc. All rights reserved. ©2016 Round 2, LLC, South Bend, IN 46628 USA. Product and packaging designed in the USA. Made in China. All rights reserved.

By 1985, Audi’s performance had been THE GOLDEN AGE eclipsed by Peugeot, so it introduced OF RALLY more-aerodynamic S1 and S2 variants to battle back. GROUP B BROUGHT UNPRECEDENTED SPEED, EXCITEMENT, AND DANGER TO WRC BY MATT BOYD PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS 34 DCXmag.com

The five years that the World P HOTO BY MAT T H E W L AM B , COU RT E SY OF WI K I M E DIA COM MONS Rally Championship (WRC) Ford was late to the party when its mid-engine AWD RS200 arrived in ’86, but the car was undeniably quick. was contested using the FIA’s Group B rules Its involvement in the tragedy in Portugal was a huge setback, and when the FIA froze development of Group were arguably the most exciting, dramatic, B cars midway through the ’86 season, Ford pulled the plug. and dangerous in the history of the sport, and the era produced the fastest and most memorable cars the WRC has ever seen. Established in 1982, Group B was initially a class of heavily modified but still production- based machines for sports car and rally racing, but the speed and complexity quickly escalated as the manufacturers competing—including Audi, Lancia, Ford, and Peugeot, as well as Renault, Austin Rover, Toyota, Volkswagen, and several others— exploited the numerous rules loopholes. The FIA required that just 200 road-going examples be built to homologate each model, but manufacturers were then permitted to create up to 20 “Evolution” models for each racing season that had extensive modifications as long as they retained the production version’s engine block and certain body panels. Exotic ultra-lightweight building materials and the layout of the chassis itself were virtually unrestricted. Audi was proving the superiority of all-wheel- PHOTO BY MORIO, COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS drive (AWD) in rally racing with its Quattro system, taking the title in 1982 and coming within just In the early years of the Group B era, highly tuned production cars, like this ’83 Nissan 240RS, made a two points of Lancia in ’83 before regaining the decent showing. championship in ’84. e other top teams could see that AWD was the future of rally racing and followed Audi’s lead. Peugeot launched its 205 Turbo 16 in ’84, combining the AWD of the Audi with the mid-engine layout of the Lancia—a formula that would win them their first championship in 1985. Lancia and Austin Rover debuted their own mid-engine AWD cars in the final race of the ’85 season—the Delta S4 and the new MG Metro 6R4, respectively—followed by Ford with its similarly configured RS200 at the beginning of the ’86 season. Going into 1986, the WRC had become as glamorous and prestigious as the sport had ever been. Luminaries from around the racing world were paying attention. A certain young Brazilian phenom As the quality of competition steadily improved, Audi introduced the Sport Quattro S1—a lighter coupe riding on a wheelbase more than a foot shorter. AUTOart does S1s from ’84 and ’85 in 1:18. WINTER 2017 35

GROUP B PHOTO BY BRIAN SNELSON, COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Peugeot introduced the 205 Turbo 16 midway through the ’84 season and became the team to beat virtually overnight. Audi had scored enough points earlier in the season to take the title, but the 205 T16 swept the final three points races of the season and would be dominant in 1985. F1 driver named Ayrton Senna— and the drivers struggled to put tragedy, and political intrigue— Kankkunen won in Sweden at the time the lead driver for that power down on courses would be the class’s last. before tragedy struck in the Team Lotus—was intrigued covered in dirt and gravel— third event in Portugal, when enough to do a rally test day, and sometimes rain, snow, or ings started well for Joaquim Santos lost control of culminating in a few laps in the ice!—lined with dense forest Lancia’s new Delta S4, driver his Ford RS200 trying to avoid MG Metro 6R4 (see the review on and steep drop-offs, often with Henri Toivonen winning the unruly spectators who were page 40). Group B had become no guardrails. It is no wonder season opener in Monte Carlo. crowding the track’s edge and essentially a class of purpose- then that a series of accidents Peugeot’s snow ace Juha built prototypes masquerading ultimately brought an end to the (barely) as production cars. Group B era, and the tumultuous And while engine displacement 1986 season—filled with speed, was regulated according to weight, boost pressure was not, so horsepower skyrocketed among small-displacement turbo cars. Some enjoyed in excess of 500hp, propelling less than 2,000 pounds in race trim, Rally-spec Peugeot 205s aren’t as prevalent as one would think. IXO does this one in 1:43. 36 DCXmag.com

A few manufacturers make Ford RS200s, but Minichamps’ is among the nicest in 1:43. Audi was first to exploit the Group B rules with its A1 Quattro coupe in 1982–83. Sun Star does a pair of nice replicas in 1:18. spun into the crowd, killing three FIA froze all Diecast examples of and injuring more than 30. Just development of Renault 5 rally cars are two races later, the spectre of Group B cars and announced scarce, but Revell and another fatal accident darkened that it would be discontinuing Universal Hobbies made the sport. In Corsica, opening- the formula at the end of the them in 1:18. round winner Toivonen’s Lancia ’86 season. Following that careened off track down a steep, announcement, Ford and Audi heavily wooded hillside, killing withdrew factory team support him and his co-driver Sergio for the now lame-duck Group Cresto in a fiery wreck at the B, but Peugeot, Lancia, MG, and same event another Lancia driver had died the year before. It was the final straw for the shell- shocked sanctioning body—the PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS One of the wildest Group B cars was the Renault 5 Turbo. America knew the 5 as the “Le Car,” but the Turbo was a far cry from the econobox we knew: Its tiny mid-mounted 1.4L engine had enough boost crammed into it to produce as much as 350hp in race trim. It won Corsica in ’82 and ’85, and in the tragedy-marred Portugal race in ’86. WINTER 2017 37

GROUP B PHOTO BY BRIAN SNELSON, COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS e last 2WD car to win a WRC championship was the Lancia 037 in 1983. Kyosho released several versions of the Lancia 037 in 1:18 a few years ago. others soldiered on. Peugeot for supposedly illegal bodywork, and Lancia traded victories the handing the victory to Lancia, rest of the season—with the \"coincidentally\" an Italian team. exception of one rugged event in Africa that Toyota took because e FIA later determined that the top teams did not enter. that ruling was erroneous, and Rules intrigue reared its head at the entire event result was Sanremo, Italy, when the local annulled. ose event points Italian race officials disqualified would prove decisive, as both the Peugeot team from entering the Driver’s and Manufacturer’s Championships—the final of the Ever-escalating speed and danger finally took its toll in Corsica when one of Lancia’s top teams, Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto, were Group B era—were decided in killed in a fiery crash. ere was little left of the car but a bare tube frame. e FIA called a halt to development and announced that Group Peugeot’s favor by fewer than B would go away at season’s end, to be replaced by slower (and presumably safer) Group A cars. the 20 points Lancia was denied in Sanremo. With that the Group B cars were gone, and the much more heavily restricted and production-oriented Group A cars were promoted to the top formula. A few Group B leftovers saw use in privateers’ hands in non-WRC events and rallycross, but they would never again capture the spotlight or the imagination of the sporting world as they did for those glorious five years between 1982 and 1986. at period is often considered Rally’s Golden Era, and many of the cars have become classics. e Peugeots, Lancias, and Audis have all become highly prized collector cars, with numerous models made in various scales and liveries. ✇ 38 DCXmag.com



OUT OF THE BOX BY MATT BOYD SUN STAR 1986 MG METRO 6R4 1:18 | $90 EST H ave you heard the legend of how Ayrton Senna once raced a World Rally Championship (WRC) car? Unlike so many apocryphal stories featuring the man many consider the greatest Formula 1 driver who ever lived, this one is actually based in fact. Technically, Senna test-drove a forest rally stage (he didn’t actually compete), and the event took place at the behest of the British magazine Cars and Car Conversions. e idea was for the story to grab he’d probably have won the the hottest young up-and-coming championship! F1 driver (Senna was in his third season in 1986 and had won four e MG Metro that Senna races for Team Lotus but not yet drove that day was set up in a championship) and plop him “Clubman” spec. It was dressed behind the wheel of a rally car in all white, with “Austin Rover” (globally, WRC was the hottest decals in the primary sponsor motorsport next to F1 at the time). slots and a handful of smaller Actually, Senna drove five rally decals—Michelin Tires, Champion cars that gray day in the Welsh Spark Plugs, Bilstein Shocks— hills—allegedly, the first time he adorning the flanks. Across the had ever even seen a rally car top of the windshield read a in person, let alone piloted one. banner displaying the Cars and Starting to sound like a proper Car Conversions magazine logo. Senna legend now, isn’t it? Even the registration number “C64WDU” reads just as it did on After being coached by the the day Senna drove it, festooned pro drivers to which the cars with flamboyant aero devices belonged, Senna got his chance on the nose and roof, plus huge behind the wheel of a British Rally Championship 1300cc Vauxhall No anemic FWD economy drivetrain in this Metro! Where a dinky 4-banger once lived, designers stashed a big radiator, Nova, a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, a spare tire, and various fluid reservoirs. Volkswagen’s junior factory team Group A GTI, a cobbled- together V-6–powered Ford Escort, and finally—the subject of these pages—a purpose-built Group B MG Metro 6R4. To the mild surprise of observers that day (but, in retrospect, not really surprising at all), Senna attacked the discipline of rally methodically and with the utmost respect. By day’s end, he had won over the pro rally crews, pitching into corners, rotating with the e-brake, countersteering, and balancing the cars on the throttle. Said one driver upon returning from riding shotgun on a Senna lap: “A few days in a car like this…and you would be equaling the National Championship leaders in no time. No two ways about it.” Of course. is is Senna we’re talking about. A few more days in the car and 40 DCXmag.com

The Day Senna Roughed It in a Group B Rally Car A widened stance and huge aero aids are the most obvious clues that this was no A special powerplant was crafted specifically for the 6R4: essentially, a Cosworth DFV V-8 mere mortal MG. with 2 cylinders lopped off. Sun Star does an exemplary job with it, capturing the complex intake and various fittings for the dry-sump oiling system.

SUN STAR 1986 MG METRO 6R4 fiberglass fender extensions An interesting quirk of the RHD 6R4 is that most of the able to match the success of that and various other race-specific gauges were placed on the left in front of the co-driver— first race. items. Sun Star captures these the thought being that the driver needed to keep his full competition features, such as the Sun Star captures this most huge airbox inlets on the doors to attention on the course obstacles rocketing at them! interesting feature of the Metro feed air to the big V-6 behind the 6R4 nicely, correctly mounting driver, plus a huge vent slat in the engineer David Wood and based When it debuted at the final event the engine block back to front, hood and smaller scoops and side on the iconic Cosworth DFV of the 1985 season, 400hp was with the 5-speed transmission vents in the windows. Formula 1 V-8, shortened by good for a third-place finish. But jutting forward into the passenger 2 cylinders, then bored and stroked with turbo engines, more power is compartment. e Clubman Like many rally cars, the Metro up to displace 2991cc. While most simply a matter of turning up the version usually came with a is right-hand-drive (RHD) and competitors relied on heavily boost, and by the beginning of ’86, single throttle-body intake on both driver and co-driver sit in turbocharged small-displacement the top turbo cars were pushing the V-6, but this model has sculpted Recaro bucket seats 4-cylinder motors, the Metro’s 500hp. e only way for the the much cooler-looking six with carbon-fiber pattern to their designers thought that a naturally Metro’s unboosted V-6 to make individual throttle butterflies of outer shells. Detailed 6-point aspirated V-6 would offer better more power was to rev higher, and the “International” spec WRC racing harnesses made of flexible throttle response and reliability. that proved tough on reliability. car. ere is also a reservoir tank rubber material, with “Sabelt” A target of about 400hp was Ultimately, the team was never for the dry-sump oiling system labels on them, are present as deemed competitive for WRC able to keep up with the turbo and a fuel filter, both plumbed well. One quirk of rally cars is the (Clubman versions like Senna’s motors and also keep the V-6 with simulated braided steel instrumentation. ough the car were rev-limited to around 250hp). from grenading, and it was never lines, complete with fittings. e is RHD, most of the gauges are distributor is driven off the driver’s on the left. is is not a mistake; side cylinder bank, and there is a rather, with a co-driver present at full set of plug wires. all times by rule, they are tasked with monitoring instruments FINAL STAGE while the driver concentrates on keeping the car out of the trees! Group B cars are fascinating in Some vestige of the tube-frame/ their own right, but the MG Metro rollcage is evident (although not as 6R4 is usually eclipsed by the much as you might expect given more successful rally cars of the a Group B car’s propensity for day. A connection to the one- cartwheeling!), and there’s a single and-only Ayrton Senna easily fire suppressor on the co-driver equalizes any racing performance footwell and a plastic bubble- disparity, making this particular screen partition between the back car of key interest to collectors. of the driver compartment and the engine bay. e detail is very good, and Sun Star has made the Metro in several To access that engine bay, livery schemes, but this plain-Jane the entire tail cap hinges upward. unassuming white car might be In a move exceedingly rare for a the most interesting because of rally car, Austin Rover created an the Senna angle. Whether you’re entirely new engine for the Metro. a fan of rally, of Senna, or of just With Williams working on the interesting overlooked racing cars chassis design, it only made sense in general, Sun Star’s MG Metro to look to F1 for the engine as well. As denoted by the “6” in 6R4, it 6R4 is worth a look. ✇ is a V-6, crafted by ex-Cosworth SOURCE Sun Star sunstarmodelcars.com 42 DCXmag.com



OUT OF THE BOX BY MATT BOYD AUTOART 1986 LANCIA DELTA S4 1:18 | $250 N o manufacturer has ever been more singularly committed to success in international rally competition than Lancia. e company tried its hand at other forms of motorsport on the world stage— most notably, the D50 Formula 1 car that Alberto Ascari famously careened into Monte Carlo harbor during the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix (and that, rebadged as a Ferrari, would win the World Championship in 1956). But it was in the rally that Lancia found its true passion and its aptitude. It first took the international rally allowed unlimited boost levels in its title in 1972 with the Fulvia, and turbo- and supercharged engines. upon the establishment of the With output approaching 500hp World Rally Championship the in the top competitors, that kind following year, Lancia proceeded of power simply could not be put to take three consecutive cham- to the ground through just two pionships (1974–76) with its out- wheels, especially on dirt and gravel rageous Stratos HF. Lancia would surfaces. e Delta S4 also utilized take just a single championship the 037’s mid-engine layout for during the Group B era—in 1983— optimal weight distribution, and an before going on an even more evolution of its long-travel double- astonishing run in the Group A wishbone suspension. ere’s years immediately following, win- no doubt that the Delta S4 was a ning the WRC manufacturer’s winning design; the car won five of title an unprecedented six years the 13 rallies that comprised the ’86 consecutively, from 1987 to 1992, season (although one—Sanremo— with various iterations of the was subsequently annulled). Delta. With 11 championships to its name, Lancia remains the most AUTOart’s rendition of the Delta successful manufacturer in rally body offers a fantastic opportunity history, and the Delta the most to study the myriad modifications, successful single model. big and small, that create a sophis- ticated racing machine with the e Delta got its start in rally veneer of a mundane economy competition with the car you car. e Martini paint scheme and see on these pages—the Group sponsor decals show how cleverly B-specification S4. It debuted the livery hides the gigantic air for homologation purposes in scoops on the C-pillars that feed the final race of the 1985 season: the intercoolers mounted beneath the Royal Automobile Club Rally the rear glass. e numerous of Great Britain—which it won other vents and scoops have fine handily, sweeping the top two mesh in them, and the surface places in front of the MG Metro fasteners, hinges, and little extras, 6R4, also making its WRC debut like the flexible mud flaps, reinforce that weekend (see page 40). is the sophisticated feel to the body was Lancia’s first all-wheel-drive presentation. (AWD) rally car, replacing the successful rear-drive 037 that at sophistication carries had taken the championship in through to the interior, where the 1983. But Audi had won in ’82 and doors open on high sills of the ’84 with AWD, and Peugeot took tubular space frame. e driver the ’85 title in its AWD 205 T16, so and co-driver hopped up, over, and Lancia knew that it needed an AWD then down into the Sparco carbon- design to have any shot at another fiber racing seats with their blue championship. Part of the reason simulated-fabric coverings and was the Group B rules, which 6-point safety harnesses. e shift lever for the ZF 5-speed 44 DCXmag.com e exotic “twincharger” system uses both turbocharging and a roots-style blower to make up to 550hp from just 1759cc! e model does a beautiful job with the complex plumbing and the huge tail-mounted intercoolers.

AUTOart’s rendition of the car in which two-time champ Miki Biasion won his very first WRC event—the ’86 Rally Argentina—ticks all the boxes for drama and detail. Going Out a Winner in the Final Group B Argentina Rally Behind the face of an unassuming economy hatchback hides an exotic purpose-built e high sills of the tubular spaceframe bracket nicely textured Sparco racing seats. Check out racing machine. AUTOart’s paint and surface detailing is superior. the cool details such as the etched metal leg brace on the inside of the door.

AUTOART 1986 LANCIA DELTA S4 e front deck opens wide to reveal lifts up to reveal what is the most iteration, the engine could rev as a legendary racecar: technical a spare tire and some of the Delta’s powerful engine ever to compete high as 8500 and take 40+psi— superiority, triumph, controversy, 037-derived long-travel suspension. in WRC, although in terms of making more than 550hp! and tragedy. e Delta was the displacement it is also one of the most powerful WRC car ever built. gearbox has heat-shield material smallest. It was a clean-sheet e twincharger system is It won its debut race and scored for its boot—a sensible precaution design, an all-aluminum 16-valve the most interesting detail on enough points to take the 1986 given that the center differential inline-4 of just 1759cc. What the the model, filled with an intricate WRC title. Two weeks after the lies between the seats and that little 4 lacked in displacement, it array of plumbing for the turbo, season, a French court took away the fuel tanks—full of an ultra- more than made up for in boost, the supercharger, and their Lancia’s points for the Sanremo volatile witch’s brew—were thanks to its novel “twincharger” giant intercoolers, which mount win, defaulting the championship directly under them! e dash liner system that incorporated both a horizontally to the tube frame back to the French Peugeot team. has a simulated leather pad but supercharger (as had the 037) and and dominate the rear section of And the sport’s most popular rising is otherwise properly unadorned, a turbocharger—both individually the car. ere is an air-cleaner star, Henri Toivonen, died in a fiery and covered with a dizzying array intercooled. Engineers knew that assembly (an essential item on a crash in a Delta at Corsica, which set of instruments and switchgear. the key to maximum horsepower rally car!) that draws air from the in motion the events that resulted was turbocharging, but that usually roof vent in front of the oil cooler, in the entire Group B class being e entire rear third of the Delta came with a penalty of evil turbo which is mounted high in the outlawed after the ’86 season. lag and lazy throttle response at chassis behind the rear-window Quite a list for a car that only raced lower rpm. Superchargers didn’t partition. With the engine cover 12 times! AUTOart recognizes that suffer from lag, but their power up, you also get an excellent view both the intrigue and the innovation potential was more limited. So of the wishbone rear suspension. contribute to collector interest, and Lancia decided to have its cake and You can also flip up the hatch on has produced a series of Delta S4 eat it too! Below about 5000rpm, the front deck to view the spare models that deliver on detail as the engine got its boost from a Pirelli tire (the car is equipped well as drama. Peugeot may have roots-style supercharger like the with tarmac/smooth-gravel tires officially won the title in 1986, but it 037, but between 4750 and here) and the front-mounted is Lancia that is remembered as the 5000rpm, a bypass valve radiator assembly. smoothly transitioned over to ultimate Group B rally car! ✇ boost from the turbocharger. FINAL STAGE Lancia claimed 480hp at 8000rpm SOURCE on 32psi of boost. But by its final In its short career, the Lancia Delta AUTOart autoartmodels.com S4 Group B rally car ticks off so many of the boxes that make Need caption 6.



OUT OF THE BOX BY MATT BOYD By that time, engineer Ken Wallis Jones earned the sixth starting had figured out a drivetrain spot on the grid. But from that REPLICARZ 1967 STP PAXTON configuration that could harness position on the outside of row 2, TURBINE 1:18 | $250 the high-rpm turbine effectively he was ideally positioned for the and (usually) reliably. e biggest race. At the drop of the green flag, W hen Andy Granatelli breezed into Indianapolis in challenge was torque. e same as the cars ahead tiptoed gingerly May 1967 touting his team’s bright orange car robust wave of torque that offered on cold tires, Jones swung wide powered by an aircraft turbine engine, many such performance potential and used the torque and traction thought he was full of hot air. But when his driver Parnelli was devilishly hard to put to the advantage of his turbine car get up Jones made a lap at the famed Brickyard at better than ground given the tire technology to speed much faster exiting turn 166mph, people began to wonder if the boisterous team of the day and proved the undoing 1, sweeping past four of the five owner and CEO of STP might not be onto something. Of of prior turbine efforts at Indy. cars ahead—only pole-sitter Mario course, turbine-powered Indycars weren’t a new idea. e Andretti remained. By turn 2, technology had been tried—most notably the year before e difference proved to be the he had swallowed up Andretti as by Jack Adams and four years before that in 1962 by then- Ferguson 4WD system Granatelli’s well, and the STP car promptly set rookie Dan Gurney—neither of which qualified for the race. team had adopted back in 1964, sail, pulling out to a commanding Granatelli had hoped to have his turbine car ready for 1966 as which allowed the turbine’s torque lead when rain broke out on lap well, but development issues postponed its debut until ’67. to be put down without costly 18, bringing the event to a halt wheelspin, slingshotting it out of until the following afternoon. e corners much more quickly than turbine resumed its dominance its piston-powered rivals. and surrendered the lead only briefly—once for a spin and twice Despite the accusations of for pit stops—but quickly moved to some competitors, the turbine the front again. And then, with just made no more horsepower than four laps to go, disaster struck. e the top piston engines. at meant turbine, which had run flawlessly that the setup didn’t give it much of an advantage in qualifying; The Wind of Change That (Almost) Swept Indy 48 DCXmag.com

all day, suffered failure of a minor— car, a great model must include central backbone. e driver sat e Turbine car had a but essential—bearing in the that element. Replicarz recognized opposite it in a pod to the right, conspicuously asymmetrical transmission, and the car coasted that, and its exceptional new contributing to the car’s slightly shape, thanks to the motor and to a stop. Indy legend A. J. 1:18 model puts the engineering bulbous asymmetrical shape. driver being placed in pods on Foyt—who had trailed of the car front and center in its Replicarz has spent considerable Jones by nearly a depiction—well, OK, not literally effort capturing that shape and either side of the chassis. full lap—swept “front and center” since the embellishing it with a beautiful by for the win. turbine was famously mounted in array of sponsor decals and inlaid abuts the chassis backbone. the side of the car, forming a pod panel fasteners. I particularly enjoy Because of the turbine’s rpm e Granatelli offset to the left of the chassis the polished metal that trims the flexibility, it needed no traditional team was body at the front suspension gearbox or clutch; it used a single- crushed, but openings and the deflector just aft speed transmission bolted up to a the efficacy of the exhaust outlet to protect torque converter to deliver power. of the turbine the body from the turbine’s had certainly exhaust air. Panel lines demarcate us, the lever sticking through been validated. the rear-mounted air brake that the bulkhead to the driver’s left augmented the traditional disc is obviously not a gearshift; it’s e no. 40 turbine brakes because lifting out of the more likely a weight jacker (to car is arguably the most adjust handling balance) or a brake famous nonwinner in Indy history. throttle on a turbine did not bias adjuster. immediately cut power or offer e bright orange STP-Paxton the inertial engine braking e side panel lifts off easily livery, its distinctive shape, and effect of a piston engine. to reveal the Pratt & Whitney the large personalities of owner ST6B-62 engine—an industrial Andy Granatelli and driver Parnelli e cockpit is an accurate variant of the PT6, one of the Jones all played a role, but mostly representation of a ’60s-era most prolific turboprop airplane it was the exotic powerplant and race car, with a deeply and helicopter engines ever the drama of a victory so nearly slung driver’s seat—molded built. On paper, it seemed ideal; it achieved but snatched away in in textured black plastic weighed less (just 260 pounds) the final moments of the race. to simulate leather—and a than a comparable piston engine In his postrace comments, even four-point racing harness and had less than half the moving Foyt expressed sympathy for with etched metal buckles. e parts. It was even reasonably Jones and the STP team at the steering wheel is surprisingly fuel efficient at 3.66mpg! It cruel twist of fortune. So history rudimentary (accurately so!), and was mounted backward in the and context make the turbine the instrument panel has neat racecar with the output shaft in car a standout, but its engine colored wires coming off the the rear. While relatively simple technology is its raison d’être. To in appearance, there is a lot of truly capture the essence of the back of the gauges. e subtle detail here—with careful gauge faces are nicely molding and numerous color- detailed, although they coded wires throughout the are too small to make compartment. I particularly like out precisely what each the simulated fittings on the compressor casing and the detail monitors. at would be put on the starter module on the cool to know, given the novelty front end of the motor. You can of the power system! You can also make out some detail on see a metal bulkhead with rivet the transmission casing at the patterns on the inboard side that very aft of the compartment. e large metallic sleeve (with strategically placed logos of STP, Purolator, and Pratt & Whitney) toward the front of the engine is specific to this racecar and was WINTER 2017 49