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The latest ‘coming soon’ list from Spark contains nearly 60 1/43 scale race and rally cars, with some interesting new items – like the Mike Downs Group 44 Triumph GT6 from the 1969 Runoffs (seen above) along with additional production of some significant Porsche racing cars – including the Lowenbrau Porsche 962 in 1987 Daytona winning trim, a mix of Formula One and Le Mans racers and Monte Carlo Rally participants.

Dan Gurney’s 1967 Race of Champions winning Eagle along with several other models have appeared on earlier lists, suggesting that this is ‘last call’.

You can check everything out HERE. Our orders have to be in by August 21, so let us know your picks asap.

Check back tomorrow for some 2020 Spark Formula One news.

Several standouts from yesterday’s shipment of 1/43 scale Spark Model, including Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes – AMG Petronas W10 in 2019 German GP livery, Sir Jack Brabham’s 1966 Dutch GP winning BT19 and a BMW 3.0 CSL driven by Jacky Ickx and James Hunt to a second place finish in the 1973 Paul Ricard 6 Hour.

Also landing yesterday, BBR’s stunning 1/18 scale die cast (resin) Ferrari SF90 driven by Charles Leclerc to his first career Grand Prix victory in the 2019 Belgian GP at Spa along with Sebastian Vettel’s SF90, also in 2019 Belgian GP trim.

Lots of other new ‘stuff’ expected to arrive in the next week or so. Check the Latest Arrivals page for information on the latest shipments of new and restocked books and models.

Due to the changes in our traveling schedule, we will be open the next three Saturdays (August 8, 15 and 22) from 10 am to 3pm.

Stop by and check things out. Masks optional and available at the door.

Acme Trading has announced the latest 1/12 scale release in their Masterpiece Collection:

It is the famous Gulf Ford GT Mk.I chassis #1075 in winning 1969 Sebring trim, a victory scored between its Le Mans victories in 1968 and 1969.

Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver piloted the the underdog Ford GT to an upset victory at Sebring just a few months before teaming up again to win Le Mans a few months later.

It was the third major victory for #1075 in less than a year!

A production run of 500 is planned for early 2021. Reserve HERE.

Last weekend’s Vintage event at Road America featured an amazing collection of Can-Am, Formula 1, Formula 5000 and Concept AVS Shadows and the launch of the long awaited new book from Pete Lyons, “SHADOW: The Magnificent Machines of a Man of Mystery”. Although Jackie Oliver’s appearance was canceled due to international travel restrictions, legendary American racing Champion George Follmer filled in nicely and graciously signed a small number 1/18 scale Replicarz Shadow DN4s and 1972 Trans Am Javelins for us. While signing, George commented on how much he was impressed by the detail of these models. The Shadows are sold out but we have one 1/18 scale AMC Javelin Trans Am racer still available. Click on the link to order.

We expect our first shipment of the new Pete Lyons book soon. Reserve HERE.

There’s a nice variety of racing cars (primarily IMSA sports cars) on the latest list of Spark National Series models in development for future release.

All will be produced in Limited Editions. Please reserve by August 5, 2020 to insure availability.

Click HERE

We are accepting advance orders for two series of 1/18 scale Le Mans Porsches from Tecnomodel: 

– Three different Porsche 550A versions from Le Mans 1957, including the #35 driven by Hugus / de Beaufort seen above (Limited 100 pieces) along with the 1957 Press version.

– Four different Porsche 718 RSK versions from Le Mans 1959, including the #31 drien by Bonnier / von Trips seen below (Limited 80 pieces) along with the 1959 Press version.

Details HERE.

SOLD OUT.

The 1/43 scale Ben Keating Wynns Ford GT #85 outsold every other entry from the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans by a large margin. If you missed out on the first run, Spark Model has confirmed that additional production has been scheduled for later this summer.

We’ve reserved some of the final available examples of two important Porsche 917s scheduled for release by BBR later this summer. 200 of each are to be produced. Price includes optional BBR Acrylic Cover.

Several 1/18 scale new product announcements from TECNOMODEL on Friday, including the McLaren M8F Group 7 cars driven by 1971 Can Am Champion Peter Revson (above) and teammate Denis Hulme. This was the fifth and final Championship for Team McLaren in this iconic era of unlimited sports car racing.

Also on TECNOMODEL’s agenda are a series of Ferrari 166 S Coupes and Ferrari 348 Zagato sports cars.

Advance order deadline for these new items is July 13, but these Limited Edition models will probably be sold out well before that date. We’ve reserved a significant quantity of the Team McLaren M8Fs, but they are going quickly. No procrastination, please.

OUR DOWNERS GROVE GALLERY IS CLOSED UNTIL MONDAY, JULY 6.

We are accepting online orders as usual while we’re away. I’m checking emails frequently and voice mails daily. Have a great Fourth of July.

by Peter Higham

When the World Championship was first held in 1950, red Italian cars predominated, from Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati, and continued to do so for much of the period. But, by the time the decade closed, green British cars were in their ascendancy, first Vanwall and then rear-engined Cooper playing the starring roles, and BRM and Lotus having walk-on parts. As for drivers, one stood out above the others; Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio becoming World Champion five times. Much of the fascination of this era also lies in its numerous privateers and also-rans, all of which receive their due coverage in this completist work.

• Year-by-year treatment covers each season in fascinating depth, running through the teams — and their various cars — in order of importance.
• Alfa Romeo: these supercharged 1½-litre cars dominated the first two years, with titles won by Farina (1950) and Fangio (1951).
• Ferrari: this new marque steamrollered the opposition in two seasons run to Formula 2 rules (1952–53), Ascari becoming champion both times, and took two more crowns with Fangio (1956) and Hawthorn (1958).
• Maserati: the fabulous 250F, the decade’s most significant racing car, propelled Fangio to two more of his five championships (1954 and 1957).
• Mercedes-Benz: the German manufacturer stepped briefly into Formula 1 (1954–55) and won almost everything with Fangio and up-and-coming Moss.
• Vanwall: green finally beat red when the Vanwalls, driven by Moss and Brooks, won the inaugural constructors’ title (1958).
• Cooper: the rear-engine pioneers signposted Formula 1’s future when Jack Brabham became World Champion (1959).

• Over 600 photos from the superb archives of Motorsport Images show every type of car raced by every team and driver, presenting a comprehensive survey of all participants.
• About the author:Peter Higham works in motor racing as a freelance writer and project manager. For nearly 30 years he worked for Haymarket Consumer Media, publisher of motor racing magazines and websites, and for half of that period he was director of LAT Photographic (now Motorsport Images), the world’s largest motor racing photo archive. A motor racing enthusiast since watching his first race in 1973, he has written six previous books, including the acclaimed International Motor Racing Guide and World Encyclopaedia of Racing Drivers. He has been a columnist for Autosport and Motor Sport and was instrumental in running the prestigious Autosport Awards for over 25 years. He lives in Twickenham, Middlesex.

Hardbound | 280x235mm | 304 pages | 600 photos (b&w and color

AVAILABLE EARLY JULY – RESERVE NOW!

$79.95 – ORDER HERE