Old Irish Trucking

[Tom]

Fantastic models! I wouldn't mind that Iveco Daily myself, I once drove a turboless version to Barcelona and back. Not a quick drive at all.

[105epaul]

Superb collection, I have the Dinky trucks and the Oxford Lotus Thames 400E (and many others!). Oxford used my friend's Thames for the basis of the model and the plain grey version represents his van. It was actually bought when new by Jenson Button's grandfather and it was very carefully looked after so escaped being ravaged by the rust bug. I am rather fond of them as I've done a fair few miles in them. Just remembered that I had to tow another friend's Thames down the M1 motorway with my 58 Chevy Belair, the van was on a rope (ah the good old days) and my friend was terrified!

[Jager]

I could easily find room in my collection for all of those Jerry. I'm keen on that Porsche transporter as you know, but the little Altaya Pirelli van is equally as desirable.

[JSB33]

Castrol truck is superb.

[oldirish33]

More Servizio: Here are a couple more Greenlight Ram Promaster/Fiat Ducato vans I took liberty to adorn with racing liveries of a couple teams that the vans will serve as backdrops for in the display case. These well detailed vans are currently available for less than $20 with shipping, so why not?

Castrol truck is superb.

Thanks Jeff, I think I have enough left over decals if you want to make one.

I could easily find room in my collection for all of those Jerry. I'm keen on that Porsche transporter as you know, but the little Altaya Pirelli van is equally as desirable.

I'll let you know if I stumble across another Porsche transporter. The IXO version of the Pirelli van has red fenders, which really makes a smart looking model. I may try and do the same with this one.

Superb collection, I have the Dinky trucks and the Oxford Lotus Thames 400E (and many others!). Oxford used my friend's Thames for the basis of the model and the plain grey version represents his van. It was actually bought when new by Jenson Button's grandfather and it was very carefully looked after so escaped being ravaged by the rust bug. I am rather fond of them as I've done a fair few miles in them. Just remembered that I had to tow another friend's Thames down the M1 motorway with my 58 Chevy Belair, the van was on a rope (ah the good old days) and my friend was terrified!

Fantastic models! I wouldn't mind that Iveco Daily myself, I once drove a turboless version to Barcelona and back. Not a quick drive at all.

Thanks and great stories! It seems to be universal that there are memorable road (off road? ) adventures in old vans.

I really like the old Italian support vehicles here Jerry. You have inspired me to look for some of the Alfa ones that may be around.

I have a couple Romeo 2 vans Martin that I am waiting to do some work with. They will need repainting, so I am holding off till I get my new shop completed and can set up my paint gun again. There is an Altaya that has a roof rack on it that is relatively inexpensive that I think will make a great Alfa support vehicle. Its in the right colors now if I could just get the decals off.

[Tom]

Those Ducatos look great, very authentic. Perhaps Greenlight's Transit could be a good base vehicle too.

[Jager]

Really looking forward to seeing what you do with the Alfa van Jerry. I can picture the roof rack filled with spare tyres already.

[JSB33]

3 thumbs up for the latest. I have to admit that it would be hard for me to do anything to that cute little Italian, it looks great as is.

[oldirish33]

3 thumbs up for the latest. I have to admit that it would be hard for me to do anything to that cute little Italian, it looks great as is.

Yes, I agree it is a cute model, but I see it with so many possibilities. If it were rare, then yes of course I would leave as is. I think Altaya made it with the purpose I have in mind!

Really looking forward to seeing what you do with the Alfa van Jerry. I can picture the roof rack filled with spare tyres already.

Precisely!

Those Ducatos look great, very authentic. Perhaps Greenlight's Transit could be a good base vehicle too.

Thanks Tom! I grabbed these because they were on sale, but yes the Transit would open up new possibilities as well!

Still More...: I am finding myself more drawn to finding course and support vehicles, as well as transporters for my collection. I am particularly drawn to those which could be made into those vehicles as I look for more projects to keep me occupied once my new workshop is complete. With tha in mind, here are a couple recent finds.

MAN TGL 12 - Atlas: When I first saw this police/fire command post vehicle, I thought that could be converted to a small transporter, or race paddock support vehicle. I am not sure what this will be used for exactly. Tire company support vehicle?, or oil company perhaps?, race transporter? It looks very much like the MAN support truck Team Bentley used at Le Mans in 2001.



I can just see a load of tires in that rack on top of the cab! These seem to be pretty inexpensive and plentiful on ebay, may need to get another one before they disappear! A well made model which I am sure is a partworks Altaya/IXO.



Mercedes Martini Porsche Transporter - Premium Classixxs: While not the first one in my collection and certainly seen before many times on this forum, I have been picking these up when I can find them cheaply enough. I have some small hinges and I think I may try to cut out the door and make it so it will open and close, showing more interior detail, making some workbenches, etc..



There is some debate on another forum I subscribe to about the three Porsche Mercedes transporters, who used them and when. Its known only two survive, but its not known that Martini ever used one in this color scheme. They used one painted in silver in 1973, but I have no recollection of seeing a picture of a white one. Am I right Ian? Regardless, they make great display pieces and they are still out there. This one came from a dealer selling some NOS ones. I have a small Mercedes truck coming to go with it.

[Tom]

The Porsche transporter is superb, and I was eyeing that same MAN as a base for conversions for the same reasons.

[Jager]

The white Martini transporter seems to be slightly harder to find than some of the other liveries. The early realeases (Gulf, Silver Martini etc) were 1000 pieces each, but the later released were only 500pieces. I’ll check my database to see what the numbers were for this one.

It’s definitely real,used circa 1976. I’ll email you some pictures tonight.

[Serafa]

I am pretty sure there was a Martini-liveried Mercedes transporter used by Porsche wors team, but I don't have a picture to verify what I'm saying at the moment.

[SG143]

Proof that the members of the other forum havent a clue what theyre talking about

[oldirish33]

Thanks, saved me having to look it up! was the blue transporter the Martini sponsored team used at Le Mans in 1970 one of the three Mercedes transporters owned by Porsche? I only have a rear view shot and can't tell.

[JSB33]

Gary, will you be buying those Porsche sawhorses for your collection?

[Jager]

As Gary has already shown, there were two white Martini transporters. As you can see below, they had slightly different Martini logos, with Premium Classixxs modelling the version on the left (although the casting is based on the truck on the right based on the position of the side indicator above the cab):



The dark blue Martini transporter from 1970 was a completely different truck. Here's the best overall picture of it that I have.

[oldirish33]

Thanks for supplying the pictures and information Ian and Gary! I especially appreciate the image of the blue Martini truck Ian. It is one I want to model for my 1970 Le Mans paddock diorama. It's hard for me to keep them all straight. I think I will save what gray cells I have left for the areas I have already developed some expertise and leave the rest to others. The discussion I referred to was in a vintage racing forum and in re-reading it, I think the poster was referring to the Exoto transporter not the Premium Classixxs Martini transporter as being non-authentic.

[Jager]

That would be right Jerry....all the Exoto transporters are fake (mostly authentic liveries, but on the wrong trucks).

[oldirish33]

More Race Support: In this installment, I am bringing you a couple more race support vehicles, separated by about 20 years. Some may not have heard of Scuderia Centro Sud, while I am sure all have heard of Martini Racing.

OM Fiat Leoncino, Scuderia Centro Sud - Altaya

I have only seen a Centro Sud transporter as a hand built (and expensive) model by IV-Models. I was happy to find this model of their iconic transporter to add some variety to the Ferrari and Maserati transporters I have from the 1950's. Centro Sud, while never a serious contender for outright wins, added depth to the grids at races they attended and provided rides to some notable up and coming talent. A well executed model which appears to be faithful to the original, with the exception of the front rack over the cab. In time I may have to try and scratch build one.



"Mimmo" Dei, a Rome Maserati dealer, started Centro Sud in 1956 and the team was active in F1 and sports car racing until 1965. Primarily fielding Maserati's, the team also campaigned Coopers and BRM's in F1. Dei was a former race driver and had a knack for spotting and attracting talented drivers to his team, though he never won a F1 race. He also sponsored the first female F1 driver in 1958, Maria Teresa de Filppis. Among the all-star list of drivers for Centro Sud were Luigi Villoresi, Harry Schell, Jo Bonnier, Masten Gregory, Carroll Shelby and Lorenzo Bandini. Centro Sud refers to the parts of Italy where Dei was from. The OM Fiat Leoncino was a popular choice among race teams, as well as light haulers across Europe. Introduced in 1950, the Leoncino was available in 2-2.5 ton capacity and later became the basis for heavier OM trucks and transporters. With a top speed of 48 mph produced from its 4.6L 4-cylinder diesel engine, I can imagine it bumping down the back roads of Europe to the next race.



The shot below taken in 1958 shows the assembled team before a F1 race (France?). Mimmo Dei is on the far right and Maria Teresa de Filppis is thrird from the left.



Mercedes LP 608, Martini Racing - Schuco

Most have seen this rig before and I have it in other Porsche team variations. I found it at the same time I posted the Martini transporter last time. This will make part of a great backdrop for my Martini liveried cars.



This light-medium duty truck was introduced in 1965 and bolstered Daimler-Benz presence in the commercial vehicle field. Within a short period after introduction, the LP 608 had captured 45% of its market and the fact that it could haul more than its competition (4.5 tons), forward cab and ease of operation made it a market success; which in turn spawned bigger Mercedes trucks based on the same design. Powered by a direct injection diesel engine of four-cylinders, the LP 608 produced 85 hp. It wasn't going to get you there in a hurry, but it would get you there! Porsche and its various supported teams like Martini Racing used the LP 608 to carry spares, fuel and tires to race tracks across Europe.

[Tom]

I like those a lot! So far my only foray into racing car transporters ended up costing me lots to complete the 'load', so I'll resist the temptation and just enjoy your great collection.

[Jager]

As you say Jerry, the Martini van has been seen before, but the Centro Sud was a very pleasant surprise. I’ll be checking my database when I get home tonight to see if I have any suitable cars to go with it.

[Alfaholic]

The Centro Sud truck is a real gem Jerry - I didn’t know this model existed.

You will have to add the lovely Giulietta to your diorama though

[frenchy]

This is a great thread guys with some stunning little trucks and vans....I could so easily get into these but I resist.

[oldirish33]

This is a great thread guys with some stunning little trucks and vans....I could so easily get into these but I resist.

It can be a slippery slope. However, While there are still models of cars I want, I have reached the point where I have already collected most of the cars I am most passionate about. Many of the additions to my collection are either replacements/upgrades for ones I have already, or variations on the same theme. Race service trucks make a good outlet for my desire to continue collecting and my passion for making dioramas, although I have many more ideas than I can possibly carry out in my lifetime.

The Centro Sud truck is a real gem Jerry - I didn’t know this model existed.

You will have to add the lovely Giulietta to your diorama though

I was happy to find it Martin and I may have to take your advice on adding the Giulietta.

As you say Jerry, the Martini van has been seen before, but the Centro Sud was a very pleasant surprise. I’ll be checking my database when I get home tonight to see if I have any suitable cars to go with it.

I have a couple, most notable Jo Bonnier's Maserati 250F from 1957. I would say grab one now while they are cheap and available, worry about getting a car to go with it later.

I like those a lot! So far my only foray into racing car transporters ended up costing me lots to complete the 'load', so I'll resist the temptation and just enjoy your great collection.

Thank Tom and you are probably much more sensible and responsible with your money than I am.

One More Fiat: I posted a Fiat support van recently and this one I've had for awhile is the companion to it. Its my hope to do a late 50's Monza F1 paddock diorama someday and these two vans will be in it.

Fiat 1100, Monza 1958 - Brumm