With the ongoing kudos for my 1st vintage car still in mind, I decided to try another classic as well as classy design. Although it is a fictitious model, the design was inspired by several Italian touring racers from the 1950s - the zenith of a famous race, which Enzo Ferrari once designated as:
"La corsa più bella del mondo!"
"The most beatiful race in the world!" - the Mille Miglia. 1000 miles from Brescia to Rome and back...
A wee bit of history
The first race took place in 1927 and was won by Ferdinando Minoia & Giuseppe Morandi on an Officine Meccaniche OS 665 S; average speed was 77,22 kph. In the following years until the Second World War, Alfa Romeo was leading with famous drivers like Tazio Nuvolari, interrupted only in 1931 by the German Rudolf Caracciola & Wilhelm Sebastian in a Mercedes-Benz SSK. There was no race in 1939 but in 1940 a second German brand took the cake and won the race: BMW.
After the dark years of WW2, the Italians were quite eager on car racing and the "MM" started again in 1947 and chronicled another win for Alfa Romeo. The following years were dominated by a very young Italian brand, which in return for their achievements in the MM as well as other classes and races soon was famed and became a myth: Ferrari.
In ten years, from 1948 to 1957, Ferrari won eight "MM". But in 1954 Alberto Ascari scored a single win for Lancia and the next year saw a second victory for Mercedes-Benz. With an average speed of 157,65 kph this was the fastest 1000 Miles ever, with none other than Stirling Moss & Denis Jenkinson at the wheel.
However, after two fatal crashes, the MM was discontinued as a race. Until 1961 it resumed as a rally with lower speeds and then.... nothing.
The legend lived on though, and in 1977 a parade of vintage cars made the 1000 miles again to start an event called "La Mille Miglia storica". Still today the old times and legendary cars become reliveable once a year... you will find lots of beautiful pics on these (French) websites:
As it is obvious after this short write-up that Italian makes dominated the Mille Miglia (and since my logo states "Italian Sportscars in Danish Plastic"), there was no doubt that my fictional racer will be of Italianheritage... hence the red paint and the "Tricolore" striping. Sure, the wings show a well-known yellow emblem, but this car is not only a tribute to Ferrari... I also draw some inspiration from makes like Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lancia, OSCA, Cisitalia or Stanguellini.
Overall views
Complete studlessness (except the removable seat cover) creates a sleek and sporty look.
Classic cigar-shaped body
Details
"Only" two exhaust pipes...
...fed through this tube.
Large gridded front intake and cooler
Air scoop
Well, it looks like another intake but it's just a streamlined headrest. As you can see, this car is a RHD.
Interior
It's a racecar... not there's not much to see here...
As mentioned above, the persenning can be removed and gives place for a co-driver / navigator if needed.
All opened
There is only one door on the driver's side which can be opened and - certainly - the engine hood.
The engine
Equipped with a naturally aspirated a 3,5 liter V-12 an the usual and relieable three Weber carburettors.
320 bhp, top speed is almost near 265 kph.
Steering
Of course you realized that the rear cowling cannot be opened... and you may ask "WHY?!?" Well, instead of bore you with a tank, I decided to give this car a HOG-steering. The needed gears, however, needed the place in the rear. The gas-cap works as knob:
I also included a short video to show you a bit of "live action":
Thank you for spending some time on this site... I hope you enjoyed the second contribution to our "Galleria Storica" and take a minute to write one or two lines. See, we deeply esteem your comments as they help us to create these cars...
MOC by Jens
PLEASE NOTE: this is NOT my contribution to this contest! Those will follow in just a few min...ahm, hours?
This is a very well-designed model for a fictitious car. It has excellent detailing, and I love the Tricolore scheme. Overall, a very good tribute to the Mille Miglia. Well done and keep it up!
OMG so cool i would love to jsut feel it the model i mean its so sleek and smooth agile is the word im thinking of making either a aston martin db5 db4 or DB9
It´s an interessting model, and your building-technique is superb! But the design does not convince totally. It looks more as a 70´es car than a 50´es. Anyway, a bold move trying to design a fictious car!
Na dann kommt noch ein Kommentar dazu.Wie auf flickr gesagt ein sehr hübsches Ding.Schön hinter der Felge noch die Bremsanlage zu sehen.
Gut im Detail.
Gruss Patrick
Holy cow...I never expected so many comments in such a short time! Thanks Guys, yo're really great. BTW, the next two prancing horses are due to turn up - this time with a REAL classic! So stay tuned ;-) Greetings to all of you, Jens
Quoting Mattyy 666
I've already seen the movie, and i was wauting for you to post and you finally did!! amazing work once again, no more words for it PS: ferraris ready to post??
Yes, ready to post... but I had to upload this first...;-)
Wonderfull! This is your type of cars.. I didn't even had to look who made this beauty. Your quality and style advertises you hundreds of miles before we even get to see somthing! And I don't have to say "Keep it up".
I've already seen the movie, and i was wauting for you to post and you finally did!! amazing work once again, no more words for it PS: ferraris ready to post??
Stunning work, I like this even more more than your last vintage car! Everbody else will probably rant about the body work and steering,(BOTH amazing) but I always like to take notice of the small, clever details. In this case, it's your use of a wagon wheel.... for a STEERING wheel! The little things like that will always make even the best LEGO creations even better. Just a fitting tribute to some of the finest cars ever built!
