Re: Andy's additions in 1/18

[LM24HRS]

Highly impressive AutoArt Quattro's. They just shout at you sitting there

[scalainj]

The XR2 is a really cool, quick little hatch. Never a big seller here, I don't think I've seen 10 over the years. Much more successful in the UK.
Great model!

It was pretty successful here and certainly was nippy. I haven't seen one in years though, suspect what's left live a pampered life.

These XR2s were indeed very popular in the UK but other models in the range were a mixed bag.

After being impressed in 1978 by a one litre Fiesta hire car which 'went like the clappers!' I decided in '79 to order a 1.3 Fiesta Ghia to my own spec.

Black with black vinyl roof with glass moonroof and Ghia alloys it really looked the 'biz' and would surely be quick too, and it was.

A big snag occurred when I opened the factory the push up glass sunroof. On the move it dragged in enough exhaust fumes through the tailgate to feel nauseous when driving the thing. So much for factory wind-tunnel testing that such a fundamental problem could only be found out by the customer...

I promptly sold it.

You rarely see a Mk1 Fiesta these days though there is one locally that makes an occasional appearance though it's not a XR2, possibly a Supersport.
Not good on the one you bought and can understand why you moved it on! A shame though

Nice Fiesta
When did Otto-Models change the material to ABS-plastic? Or was it always plastic instead of resin, which I though it was? Just wondering which material my Otto-Models red Opel Calibra is after all.

Thanks
It's Autoart who have changed to ABS, Ottos remain resin

Great looking model Andy!

Thanks Jerry

Highly impressive AutoArt Quattro's. They just shout at you sitting there

Was never the subtlest of cars and AA have captured that to a tee

[scalainj]

Audi subjected the B3 80 to a major facelift in 1991 and the subsequent car was different enough to receive it's own designation, B4. Differences included an increase in wheelbase, repositioning of the fuel tank, a lager boot and a new front end along with an increase in specification. Available with a large array of petrol engines and a couple of diesels, it could also be ordered with quattro 4WD on any petrol engined variant which came as standard with a 5 speed gearbox. Perhaps little known is that Audi also made 2500 Quattro Competition variants for the homologation of their STW Touring car which featured a modified 2 litre engine plus the front bumper from an S2, the headlamps from the V6 a bodykit and a boot spoiler and this has today become quite sought after for its rarity.

Otto Models - Audi 80 Quattro Competition

[GBOAC002]

Excellent model Andy. The 1:1 is a timeless design that still looks as good as the day it was launched. Wasn't it's claim to fame the steel cable crash protection system?

I confess I concentrated on the coupe and convertible 80 in 1:43 by Schabak. The 'Lifestyle' colours made them particularly attractive adds.

[Tom]

I almost bought one of these in that same Laser Red. Excellent model, love it (but you knew that already)
Did you know that the 1:1 had two blocks in the boot that raised the spoiler to full Touring Cars spec? The 16V engine was a little 'nervous' in character, it essentially had no torque under 3000 rpm. Not a car for congested cities, but if you gave it some welly it really flew.

[scalainj]

Excellent model Andy. The 1:1 is a timeless design that still looks as good as the day it was launched. Wasn't it's claim to fame the steel cable crash protection system?

I confess I concentrated on the coupe and convertible 80 in 1:43 by Schabak. The 'Lifestyle' colours made them particularly attractive adds.

Cheers Ian. It is a very handsome car though truth be told i prefer the B3 with it's tidier nose treatment.
You are correct it was. Procon 10 i think it was called
I do recall those and actually have Schabak 90 in the collection though it is in a sombre dark blue

I almost bought one of these in that same Laser Red. Excellent model, love it (but you knew that already)
Did you know that the 1:1 had two blocks in the boot that raised the spoiler to full Touring Cars spec? The 16V engine was a little 'nervous' in character, it essentially had no torque under 3000 rpm. Not a car for congested cities, but if you gave it some welly it really flew.

Yes i knew you'd like it Tom
They were most tempting but i actually went for B3 90 instead which was a fine car because as above i preferred the nose over the B4
I wasn't aware of the blocks. Is that where Alfa got the idea from on their 155 touring car a few years later?
Audi engine and nervous? Surely not but it was a homologation special

[scalainj]

At the beginning of the year Kyosho released a brace of Panteras which appeared in this thread and one of those was chassis 2860 decked out in it's 1975 Le Mans colours. Latest release from them is the same chassis but this time in it's 1972 Le Mans colours.
Chassis 2860 was one of the 8 Group 4 Panteras built in 1972 and was campaigned in the 1972 season by Claude Dubois with Belgian drivers Jean-Marie Jacquemin & Yves Deprez who scored an impressive 7th at Spa on the cars debut.
Next up was Le Mans with the same driver pairing who qualified in a lowly 48th place and whilst they would have a trouble free race they essentially bumped along at the back of the pack gaining places as the cars ahead retired so by 6 hours in they were in 31st and by halfway 26th. They continued to climb reaching 20th 18 hours in and they would finally finish 16th overall after 282 laps some 24 laps off the class leader.
It was then not seen again until 1975 when it re-appeared still in the hands of Claude Dubois and was again entered for Le Mans and again finished 16th.
The car was sold to the Belgian Team Willeme and driven by Pierre Rubens in the 1976 Belelux series scoring two wins and two seconds before being sold on again in 1977 and this is where the trail goes cold although i found mention of it being in the US in 2005

Kyosho - De Tomaso Pantera Group 4 - 1972 Le Mans 24 Hours - J-M.Jacquemin & Y.Deprez - 16th

[Tom]

What a fantastic car and model!

[JSB33]

What a great sound this must have made in anger.