Friday, March 30, 2012

SUBARU IMPREZA 555 CAMEL ANTONIO PONCE 1997 EL CORTE INGLES



 1,2, 3, I lost count. I really never seen any rally car with this many camels on it. 4 on the rear wing and on the front bumper alone, it is 12.



 
Too bad, Toni did not manage to finish the rally.


Not sure how this Italian A.R.T Engineering car ended up in Toni’s hands.



A.R.T Engineering was built by Alessandrini brothers,  Paolo and Alessandro to race-prepare mainly Lancia back in 1988.



Impreza L613KWL was driven by Pierre Cesar Baroni in Motornet livery 1995 Rallye Monte Carlo.



Michele De Luca had his moment in Ciocco Rallye 1996



Massimo Ercolani drove it to glory in 1996 San Marino Rally.



In 1997 apart from this appearance  in El Corte Ingles, this car was seen  in San Marino Rally again but this time in the hands of Andrea Navarra.

In 1998 it went completely under the radar and was reported to be plying trade on Italian soil only.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

SUBARU IMPREZA CG 1994 SAFARI RALLY GR. N RICHARD BURNS



Ni Sawa Hasa!

The catch phrase of Sportsman, one of the most popular cigs in Kenya is prominently displayed on the car.

Ni Sawa Hasa! It is so good.
Or it is just right.


1994 was that good to the boy with no name, the late Richard Burns.
The year Richard Burns started to take on the world after dominating the domestic British Rally Championship.


This Subaru Impreza GC was just right for him to make a notable breakthrough in world stage.



Partnering his lifetime co-driver Robert Reid, he finished approximately 10 minutes behind the Group N winner, Patrick Njiru, who drove an identical machine but with unmatched familiarity with the routes.


Rebuilt from and made to finish better than Trofue. Trofue’s Njiru black and gold lining is corrected to black and yellow lining. The wheels are seven spoked instead of Trofeu’s eight. And all the rubber trims are completed.



Except for front garoo bars, the car looks more like a road car, with flat mirror and without rear spoiler.
This is the day version, with spotlights are on the mirror. And yes, I need to put that PIAA on the light.



Final results were:
1st.    I. Duncan / D. Williamson       #3 Toyota Celica (ST185)       20:49:00
2nd.    K. Shinozuka / P. Kuukkala       #4 Mitsubishi Lancer           21:11:00
3rd.    D. Auriol / B. Occelli               #2 Toyota Celica (ST185)       21:59:00
4th.    P. Njiru / A. Sidi                      #5 Subaru Impreza (GC)         23:30:00
5th.    R. Burns / R. Reid                  #7 Subaru Impreza (GC)         23:40:00



RIP Richard

Monday, March 26, 2012

TOYOTA CELICA GT-4 ST185 BELGA 1994 YPRES CHATROIT


One of my favorites, when it comes to rebuilding.
Fairly straightforward and less time consuming.



The only setback is R43 somehow misses out the white Belga on the nose.
Same goes with tire markings


Friday, March 23, 2012

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI MK5 HERBIE


 One car to spare


 
The idea was just conceived. 
Will see how I can manage this over the weekend with all the hoopla of F1 circus is in town.

Updated 26/03/2011


The most that I could achieve on the weekend.
Complete dismantling and repainting. Herbie stripes look that cool.
 
 Home made decal from a friend.

 Complete chassis awaiting final gloss lacquer.
Have to put this aside a long while until suitable wheels come.
 


Thursday, March 22, 2012

BMW M1 ROTHMANS MOTUL 1982 TOUR DE CORSE B. DARNICHE

One of those model that even the manufacturer's instruction couldn't get it right.


 One of those model that still looks good even if it badly done


 Rear blind supposed to be black
 
 

Eterna markings on the rear wing inherited from original model is still there


 

Oh well everything is done, I have to be contented nevertheless.


 Darniche couldn't finish the rally for gear box problem.
 

Podium was won by all his masterclass countrymen Ragnotti, Andruet and Beguin.


I reserve all the rights of relevant pix(s) to their rightful owner(s)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

LANCIA DELTA JOLLY CLUB CHARMS 1988 RALLY COSTA SMERALDA GUSTAVO TRELLES





Apparently,  Gustavo Trelles ended up in Chantall Galli’s car for this 11th edition of Rallye Costa Smeralda, in Sardinia.


Ran under Group N


The same plate number, same bright and ‘delicious’ candy wrap, but slight differences in lower tier sponsors.


An uneventful rally for him, could not even put himself in the top ten finishers.


The race was won by Markku Alen in Martini’s Delta Integrale.


I reserve all the rights to this last pix to its rightful owner

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

AUDI QUATTRO BELGA 1985 SPA BJORN WALDEGAARD



Björn Waldegaard / Thorzelius - Audi Quattro A2 the winner of 1985 Boucles de Spa.
 

Marc Duez / Thimonier was second best in Mazda RX7 while Bernard Munster / Bozet  (Audi  Quattro) completed the podium.
 

Heard that the tail end of the rally was dramatic, filled with misfortunes, opportunistic breaks and eventful drives.



Waldegaard was struggling and stuck in a heavier than expected snow. Demuth, who was in the Societa Italiana Vetro Audi, led by a whopping 20 minutes only to be stopped by breakdowns.



Duez took over the lead until his Perilli repeatedly punctured.
 When the dust settled, Waldegaard came home with a huge 6 minutes plus margin.


Pardon my pix, believe me the car is much better than it looks.


Monday, March 12, 2012

1996 OPEL VECTRA STW TEST CAR




Really interesting to build this one. Quite a breeze at the start, to spray paint white. But have to struggle with thin black lining between white and Opel yellow.



I have no references of actual car and photos of Onyx model are all I have. 5 spoke wheels done, centered exhaust done.
Pity I missed out on the front chin, it should sink right in the middle, if Onyx is to go by. 



While Manuel Reuters finally nailed the ITC title in 1996, the testing work for STW Vectra began. It is said that the role was entrusted to Marco Werner, from HOLZER team.



This car provided a solid platform for the STW quest in 1997 in the hands of Alex Burgstaller, Reuters, Uwe Alzen, Michael Bartels and Ronny Melkus.




Tuesday, March 6, 2012

BMW M3 E30 JM PONCE

The mighty M3's of Jose Mari Ponce.
 With older version front wheels, which I suspect Ronal





BMW M3 E30 CAMEL 1989 EL CORTE INGLES

7 years later, it comes in a juicy 7UP bottle.
With an oversize rear wing. 





BMW M3 E30 CENTRUM 7UP PONCE 1996 PALMA CANARIAS