Author: ChiliBoy

Our most recent Email Update features TSM Model’s forthcoming 1/18 scale Brabham Alfa Romeo BT46B as raced in the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix. Niki Lauda dominated the event in the Fan Car’s only appearance.

Both Lauda’s #1 and John Watson’s #2 BT46Bs will be produced in Limited Editions by TSM this summer (resin, $235.00 each). Advance orders (by April 21, please) are now being accepted at MotorsportCollector.com.

Designer Gordon Murray discusses the development of the ‘Fan Car’ in a clip from a recent BBC Documentary below:

Rudolf Uhlenhaut: Engineer and Gentleman

Father of the Mercedes 300 SL

by WOLFGANG SCHELLER AND THOMAS POLLAK

This first comprehensive biography of Rudolf Uhlenhaut, illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, depicts his life and technical accomplishments, including a complete compilation of his patents which puts them into a technical and historical context. An engineer and designer for Daimler-Benz, he became famous for his achievements regarding the Silver Arrows, the 300 SL with the famous gull wing doors, the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, and the various record-breaking experimental C 111 versions.
Based on numerous interviews with Uhlenhaut himself, contemporary witnesses, colleagues and family members, it paints a vivid picture of the person behind the technical innovations and explores his character and motivation. Born in 1906 in London, the son of an English mother and a German father, Rudolf Uhlenhaut joined Daimler-Benz in 1931 after finishing his mechanical engineering studies in Munich. In 1936 he took over as head of the racing department and conducted the Silver Arrows and Rudolf Caracciola to their 1937 European championship. After World War II, he created the road versions W 198 and the smaller open-topped W 121 of the 300 SL “Gullwing,” both launched at the International Motor Sports Show in New York 1954. Uhlenhaut’s official company car, a 300 SLR with a top speed of 290 km/h was the Uhlenhaut Coupé – the fastest car of its day authorized for road use.

Hardbound | 208 pages

$89.00 – Order HERE

$55.00 – Coming Late April – Reserve HERE

A Life in Car Design gives a unique insight into design and project work for a number of leading companies in the motor industry, including Jaguar, Lotus, TVR and General Motors.

The book recounts the author’s experiences from within the industry, tracing the changes in the design process over a period of nearly 50 years, and follows his career at home and around the world. It shows how the change from imperial to metric measurements and the growing use of computers revolutionized the quality and accuracy of modern vehicles. It also covers the issues and challenges of meeting project targets, and some of the issues that can deflect those efforts. It features previously untold stories, and is thoughtfully illustrated with historical engineering drawings and photographs.

As well as informing automobile enthusiasts it is also hoped that this book will inspire upcoming generations to consider a career in the creative field.

Click HERE for a sneak preview of some new items we’ll be adding in April.

Saw this great photo of George Harrison on Facebook yesterday and it reminded me of ‘Faster’, the former Beatle’s tribute to Formula One:

Ferrari Expo is on!

SOLD OUT!

The 1/12 scale #2 Gulf Porsche 917K arrived from TSM this afternoon. Jeff is currently inspecting each piece. We begin shipping on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

• Paul

Minichamps has done an amazing job replicating Lewis Hamilton’s  2016 Mercedes W07 in 1/18 scale diecast. We have a limited quantity available, priced at $159.00. Order HERE.