1959scudetto

Carlo Abarth established his own company in 1949 in Torino ( Italy), producing exhaust systems and tuning cars – mainly Fiat, Simca and even a few Porsche models. His Fiat derivates are the best-known, their souped-up small engines delivered sometimes 2 or 3 times the power of its origin. Here are 2 early to mid-60’s little street racers – the base were two 1/24 Leo model die-casts from the Italian newsstand series (made by Ixo) – with a few modifications, steel exhaust pipes, wheel swapping and a few decals these cute small cars (the Fiat 600 and its successor, the 850) were capable to leave some bigger family sedans in the dust – BEFORE: and AFTER:

For those of you interested in the famous Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdcage” that don’t want to spend a fortune on CMC’s 1/18 scale model – here is a cheaper alternative: Minichamps’ version (was available as red model driven by Carroll Shelby, as the white and blue Camoradi car from Stirling Moss/Dan Gurney and this one) the 1960 winner of the LA Times GP at Riverside, driver Bill Krause. I have read in several forums that this one has even better proportions than the CMC version. A few details are not quite correct (Bill Krause used a 4-spoke sprintcar steering wheel and cut off a few inches from the windshield for better view while installing a bug deflector; the rear lights should have more distance between them – see pictures of the original car). The car was custom-painted by Van Dutch, the red cannot exactly be verified if it is correct or not, but anyway – a highly detailed model of this iconic racecar! First the original (pictures from the internet): Now the model:

Cool looking Pontiac with a superb interior - did you tint the windows green?

Cool looking Mustang racer !

An exquisite but perfect color, Anders - now I see what would have been possible with that old JoHan kit...

Power to the people - excellent models, Pierre - both very well done! I like them both very much - with fantasy racers you have your free choice of colors, decals and modifications which can be sometimes very rewarding: just to have the liberty to build a racer of your own (and not to be obliged to replicate each and every detail to come as close to the real car as possible) - very nice!

Sorry Tim, for being the partycrasher and ruining your day - I didn't want to bring you down. I myself have several models that are misproportioned and just don't look correct. I kept some and sold off some other. Years ago, I took every car that I liked - now I'm more selective in my choices and let them pass more often (a few years ago I had the opportunity to pick up the Black Prince on ebay, it had a few issues that easily could be adressed to, but I let it slip away and don't regret it) (My FM Bugatti 57 Atalante has also some issues that I don't like, maybe I'll get rid of that one, too...)

Nice model, but something looks definitely wrong for me - compared with the real car: Body and fenders front and rear are too short (should be stretched at bit), the exhaust pipes should point backwards when leaving the hood, and the wheels are a bit too big - all together make for a toyish look which certainly was not intended - the upper doorline is also not correct in my eyes.

Very nice modifications, Tim - I have 3 of these in my collection - will undergo different degrees of detailing (2 will be turned into racecars from back in the day)

Sorry, David - I've got no idea about the latest releases: I have the initial Protar 1995 release (built) and the Revell 1997 reisue unbuilt - both are wrong: they are called Giulietta but have the hood scoop which came with the 1600 cc engine in 1962 when the cars were called Giulia (The Giulietta - Italian for "little Giulia" had always the smaller 1300 cc engine which is correct on the box of the last 2019 Italeri issue - the Giulietta did NOT have the scoop but a chrome spear in the middle of the hood) Protar also released a 1956 "Mille Miglia" Giulietta which had the correct hood, but has the wrong body with the bigger later (ca. 1960/61) rear lights - all the kits have them and represent therefore the later 105 series with the larger wheelbase and not the earlier 750 series - quite complicate, isn't it ? Anyway, Scalemates give a good impression about the kits available: https://www.scalemates.com/de/kits/italeri-3653-alfa-romeo-giulietta-spider-1300--1029948

Nice model, Eric - one of my favorite Alfa Romeos (although the kit has some flaws).

David, this was originally a Protar kit (3 different versions), then reissued from Revell Germany and now from Italeri.

Though such big wheels are not to my taste, you have built an excellent model here, Craig - fabulous paintjob!

Very nice, William - those IMC kits are a bear to build correctly.

Very impressive model, Tim - looks like the real thing (awsome lighting, too) !

Very nice conversion, Dave - I have acquired myself one of these very cheap just for parts - (I've got an incomplete Merit 1956 Ferrari D50 and a Slotcar body of the 1939 Maserati 4 CL Streamliner GP Tripoli 1939 (from Carrera in 1/24). You gave me some ideas with the modified Italeri spoke wheels...

Thank you all for your comments, fellows l- while my model is nothing special, I like the flowing lines of the body contours (compare this with the Ford Galaxie of the same model year in the background)

Very impressive model, Rich - first time that I see this kit built. I can imagine that there are a lot of issues that you have adressed to and several problems had to be solved during building. But the result looks quite good even if the model has proportion problems (as does my 1/25 politoys die-cast) Anyway, it's good to see rare old kits like this one built !

I had exactly this one back in 1988, built it, but used the numbers/roundels for my Esci SWB back then. I also have several Italeris, 2 Fujimis, 1 Gunze and the Revell (ex.-Protar) which looks like the hunchback from Notre-dame and will only be used with a resin conversion body.

That must be Chaparral heaven for all C. fans, Dave - excellent collection!

Just received a factory - sealed Ferrari 250 GTO from 1988 (Italeri rebox) - from ebay Germany. You can't have enough GTO's...

Rich, that must have been a Mini Exotics resin kit from the 90's - see link: http://www.gpma.org/Images/rmchaparral23.jpg

x 2 : looks very cool!

Very nice model, Andrew - I like it!

Fantastic models John - I would like to have them all in my collection !