Friday, March 7, 2008

Barn Find For Sale 1981 Pontiac Trans Am Revell 1:25













In the final year of the second-generation Firebirds (1981), Trans Am still used the same engines as it had in the previous model year, with the only change being the addition of a new electronic carburetion system.

The assembly plant code for Norwood, OH is "N" (from 1972 to 1980 this was the fifth VIN digit, for 1981 it is the 11th digit), and for Van Nuys, it is "L" (for Los Angeles, of which Van Nuys, Los Angeles is a district). In the later second-generation cars, Norwood used lacquer-based paint (there is an "L" on the cowl tag), and Van Nuys used water-based paint (there is a "W" on the cowl tag), due to California's tightening pollution regulations. The water-based paint often failed and delaminated during the warranty period and subsequently, cars had to be repainted.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Action #22 Red Byron 1949 Overseas Motors Oldsmobile NASCAR NAPA 1:24 Diecast










RED BYRON 1949 OVERSEAS MOTORS OLDSMOBILE 1/24 ACTION
This is the #22 car, Overseas Motors sponsored 1949 Oldsmobile raced by Red Byron. This car was produced by Action Racing Collectables in 1998 as one of a series of 6 cars to celebrate NASCAR's 50th anniversary. These were sold only through NAPA Auto Parts stores. It features an opening hood and trunk, chrome grill and bumpers and has a detailed engine.
Oldsmobile had introduced the 88 badge in 1949. It was named to complement the already-existing 76 and 98, replacing the straight -8 engined 78. The new car used the same new Futuramic B-body platform, now pairing it with the new 303 cu in (5.0 L) Rocket V8 engine, producing 135 horsepower (101 kW). With a relatively small light body and large, powerful engine, it was thought of as the first 'muscle car'. The Rocket 88 also gained a wide reputation as the one to beat on the track too, particularly in NASCAR circles, where it had numerous successes. Post World War II, there was a demand for new cars and the 88 appealed to many young ex-military motorists who were familiar with driving powerful vehicles in their professional life. The 88 therefore enjoyed a great success, even inspiring a popular 1950s slogan, "Make a Date with a Rocket 88", and also a song, "Rocket 88".

Thursday, February 21, 2008

2000 Honda Civic SI Coupe 1:24











The Honda Civic Si is a sport compact trim of Honda's Civic. The Si (Sport Injected) trim was introduced for the third generation of Honda Civics in both Japan and North America. In Canada and elsewhere, the trim became known as the SiR for the sixth and seventh generations, and the Si trim was equivalent to the USDM EX model.

For the Japanese and European markets, the Civic Type R was adopted as the high-performance variant of the Civic, starting with the EK9 hatch for Japan in 1996 and then with the EP3 hatch for Europe in 2001. In North America the Type R name was never used until the 2017 model year with the launch of the Honda Civic Type R. Previous to this the Si label was the highest in North America (except for Acura vehicles). The Civic Si contrasts with the more track-oriented and spartan Type R, which has less sound deadening and amenities in return for better performance. The Civic Si has been positioned as more of a full-featured sport trim, featuring luxury options such as a sunroof and a seven speaker audio system.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Inside Story Van Hot Wheels 1:64









From Fandom:

The Inside Story is a Hot Wheels Original Model designed to look like a van. Due to the huge glass window and sunroof, nothing gets in your view. A mid-mounted engine is located between the driver and the passenger. This makes sure that the back can be fully filled with a race car! That's right, this van is transporting a formula 1 styled race car. Because of the large window, the van is telling its "Inside Story".

This model has also been released under the name of Spider-Man Van, Silver Surfer and Beach Blaster.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

1957 Porsche 550A Spyder "1000 km race Buenos Aires 1958" Maisto 1:18












The Porsche 550 was a racing sports car produced by Porsche from 1953 to 1956. In that time only 90 Porsche 550s were produced, but it quickly established dominance in the 1.1- and 1.5- liter classes. The Porsche 550 is a mid-engine car with an air-cooled four-cylinder engine, following the precedent of the 1948 Porsche 356/1 prototype designed by Ferry Porsche.  The mid-engine racing design was further developed with Porsche's 718 model; its advantages led to it becoming the dominant design for top-level racing cars by the mid-1960s.

The Porsche 550 has a solid racing history; the first race it entered, the Nurburgring Eifel Race in May 1953, it won. The 550 Spyder would usually finish top 3 in its class. Each Spyder was designed and customized to be raced.

A 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder sold at auction in 2018 by RM Sotheby's for $4,900,000 (£3,814,118) - the highest price for a 550 at auction.
The 1958 1000 km Buenos Aires took place on 26 January, on the Autódromo Municipal-Avenida Paz, (Buenos Aires, Argentina). It was the fifth running of the race, and once again, it was opening round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. For this event, it returned to the Autódromo, after having a one-off race at the Circuito de la Costanera Norte, however its layout was not generally well received.

The sport’s governing body, F.I.A. and its Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI) dictated several technical changes to the 1958 Sports Car rule book, under teams completing now see their cars’ engines limited to three litres.
A grand total of 30 racing cars were registered for this event, of which all 30 arrived for practice and 26 for qualifying for the race. Although this was the first major sports car race of the year to be run since CSI’s rule changes, but as in previous years, the race was poorly supported by the works teams. Only Ferrari sent works cars from Europe. They had entered three of the stunning Ferrari 250 TRs for Peter Collins/Phil Hill, Wolfgang von Trips/Mike Hawthorn and Luigi Musso/Olivier Gendebien.
As for the other works teams from 1957, Aston Martin opted not to do the long trek to South America, while the Jaguar D-Types were no longer eligible to under these new rules, due to their 5-litre engines. As for Maserati, it was announced that due to financial difficulties, they would not continue to operate as a works team.
After a three-hour qualifying session held on the days prior to the race, it was Collins who took pole position for Scuderia Ferrari in their 250 TR.
However, Stirling Moss and Jean Behra were originally entered to share a Maserati 300S, but when this car broke its crankshaft during a practice session, they were offered a Porsche 550 RS.
The race was held over 106 laps of the 5.888 mile, Autódromo Municipal-Avenida Paz, giving a distance of 624.162 miles (1,004.49 km). Due to the lack of opposition, it was left to Ferrari to battle amongst themselves. However, the last minute change of mount for Moss and Behra would bring some excitement to the race, added in part by what was literal invasion of Lepidopterous on race day. Butterflies tended to cover up the cars’water radiators, a problem which air-cooled cars like the Porsche did not have… 
In the race, the Scuderia Ferrari of Collins and Hill, won ahead of their teammates von Trips/Gendebien/Musso. Car number 2, took an impressive victory, winning in a time of 6hrs 19:55.4 mins, averaging a speed of 98.572 mph. Second place went to the second Ferrari, albeit 3:14.4 mins. adrift. The podium was complete by the winner of the 1957 Swedish Grand Prix, Moss and Behra who despite their small engine, were just 9.8 seconds behind.
The race was marred by the death of a driver named Jorge Magnasco, following an accident on lap seven, when the driver overturned his Maserati 300S.