In
the 70's, the Polistil company of Italy produced a line of then-current
sports
racing cars in small-scale to complement it's output of F1 cars and
other vehicles. They represent a picture of top-level sports car racing
in Europe in about 1974. What is really striking about these models is that
they appear so large for their scale 1/55. Each model is very close
to 3" long and 1&1/2" wide. The paint, construction and detail
are all up to the usual high Polistil standards.
Model No. RJ.30 is the BRM P154 (above) built originally to compete in the
North American Can-Am series. Although it was never a winner in the series,
it did manage a few podium finishes in 1970-71. The cars were then adapted
for the European Interserie in 1972 through 1974.
Model No. RJ.31 is the UOP Shadow DN4. UOP also sponsored an F1 Shadow program.
This sports racer competed in the Can Am series. The DN4 took the Can-Am
championship in 1974, winning 4 out of 5 races in the hands of George Follmer
and Jackie Oliver.
Model No. RJ.32 is the Renault-Alpine A441 designed for the world sports
car circuit and especially for the LeMans 24-hours. It's older brother,
the A442B finally won this famous race in 1978.
Model No. RJ.33 is the Ferrari 312P and may be the best known. I am sure
there are more examples of this model around than the others. The 312P began
its racing career in 1971 and over it's life won many famous races including
Daytona, Sebring and the Targa Florio. It was the winner of the Constructor's
Championship in 1972 but a LeMans win proved elusive.
Model No. RJ.34 is another Italian product, the Alfa-Romeo TT3312. This
car won races in 1974 and almost swept the board in 1975, winning the Constructors
Championship.
Model No. RJ.35
is the Matra-Simca M680. The M680 was a development of the M670 that took
a hat
trick of LeMans wins in 1972, 1973 & 1974.
It was entered in the 1974 race but failed to finish. Matra withdrew from
racing after this except as an engine supplier to the Ligier F1 team.
Model No. RJ.36
is the Gulf-Mirage GR7. This car was a classic British
racing design a combination of Gulf Oil sponsorship, Mirage chassis
technology and Ford-Cosworth engine power. The GR7 finished 4th at LeMans
in 1974 but it's older brother the GR8 won the classic 24-hours in 1975
and continued to race successfully through 1977.
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