Newsletter 676: CollectingAugust 14^th, 2025

The second option launched by Pocher for building the incredible engineering masterpiece that is the Pagani Utopia Coupé in scale. This second reference comes painted in an elegant Pearl White. With more than 556 parts, plus more than 200 screws, this model has been made with the same meticulousness and quality of materials as the original. Its powerful V12 engine, its elegant interior, and its aerodynamic bodywork have all been developed with the utmost detail for the enjoyment of the modeler. Naturally, both the doors and the front and rear hoods open, revealing the interior of the car. What a marvel!

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Toyota Yaris GR Hybrid Rally1 with which in 2023 Jari-Matti Latvala, already as director of the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT team, once again got behind the wheel of a car in the highest category of rallying to participate in his home rally, the Rally Finland, where he achieved a creditable fifth final position.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Toyota Yaris GR Hybrid Rally1 with which Elfyn Evans achieved a prestigious victory in none other than the Rally Finland, formerly known as the 1000 Lakes Rally, in 2023.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Toyota Yaris GR Hybrid Rally1 with which Kalle Rovanperä participated in the Safari Rally Kenya in 2023, where he finished in second position. It was a dream rally for the Toyota Gazoo Racing team, which placed its four cars in the first four positions. This model has a dirty finish, simulating the dust and sand accumulated during the course of the rally.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Toyota Yaris GR Hybrid Rally1 with which Sébastien Ogier won the 2023 Kenya Safari Rally, obtaining his 58th victory in the World Rally Championship.

Assembled model that reproduces the version of the Renault 5 Turbo Group B with which Bruno Saby participated in the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally, with Calberson's always striking red and yolk yellow colours.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 with which Thierry Neuville finished in third position in the Monte-Carlo Rally in the 2023 season.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 with which Dani Sordo finished in seventh position in the 2023 edition of the Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo 2023.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Opel Manta 400 Group B with which Guy Colsoul achieved fifth position in the 1985 Ypres 24 Hours Rally.

Assembled model that reproduces the version of the Peugeot 205 T16 Group B with which Bernard Darniche participated in the 1985 Ypres Rally, having to retire in stage 12 due to differential problems.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the second unit of the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5 of the GS-Sport team put on track for the thirteenth and final event of the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft in 1981 held on the Nürburgring circuit. With Siegfried Müller Jr. at his command, he achieved second position in the division II race, just three seconds behind the winner of the race.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5 of the GS-Sport team as it participated in the thirteenth and final event of the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft in 1981 held on the Nürburgring circuit. Its driver, Hans Heyer, obtained fourth position in the division II race, the same position he finally occupied in the championship after achieving 2 victories and 10 podiums during the season.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5 of the Lancia Corse Italy team participating in the 1980 6 Hours of Silverstone, where after obtaining fourth place on the grid, it failed to finish the race after damaging a wheel in a collision.

In the 1979 season, the German DRM Championship visited the Belgian Zolder circuit for the first round of the year. Held in the middle of March, no one was surprised that the main protagonist of the race was the intense rain, which undoubtedly marked the development of the test. The 1978 champion, Hans Heyer, now aboard a Capri Group 5, won the race among the Division II models, while the model reproduced here, the BMW 320 Group 5 of Manfred Winkelhock, finished the race in the fourth position.

With Ford scaling back its motorsports operations, the job of developing the Group 5 Ford Capri fell to the Zakspeed team, which won five consecutive DRM Championship titles between 1972 and 1976. Zakspeed developed the aluminium and Kevlar chassis of the Ford Capri Group 5, where more than 80 meters of aluminium tube were used for a total chassis weight of only 75 kg, while Ford Cologne developed the aerodynamics and Ford Europe supplied the Kent engine blocks, which thanks to the action of two turbochargers KKK reached about 380 HP in 1979, to deliver 450 HP in 1980. With one of these Capri from the Zakspeed team Klaus Niedzwiedz achieved fifth position among the division II vehicles in the Norisring race, seventh round of the 1980 German DRM Championship.

The powerful BMW 320 Group 5 sponsored by Rodenstock left its mark in the 1979 German DRM Championship. In the sixth round of the championship held at the Norisring circuit, luck was not on its side, as it could only finish in sixteenth position among Division II vehicles. But that does not take away one bit of charm from this striking decoration of one of the most famous Group 5 vehicles.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the BMW 528i (E28) of the Bastos Joosen Juma team that achieved victory in the 1982 24 Hours of SPA Francorchamps, a race that also counted towards the European Touring Car Championship.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the BMW 528i (E28) of the WM Racing team that achieved second position, 3 laps behind the winner, in the 1982 24 Hours of SPA Francorchamps, a race that also counted towards the European Touring Car Championship.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the Group A version of the BMW M3 (E30) that, in the hands of Marc Duez co-driven by Alain Lopes, participated in the 1989 1000 Lakes Rally. On sections that were not at all favorable to rear-wheel drive, and facing a legion of 4x4 vehicles, it managed to finish the event in twelfth position, and first among vehicles with single-axle drive.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the Group A version of the Ford Escort RS Cosworth that, in the hands of a still competitive Ari Vatanen, and accompanied on his right by the legendary Fabrizia Pons, achieved fifth position in the 1994 Acropolis Rally... which would have even been the third step of the podium had it not been for a nine and a half minute penalty.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Toyota Celica 2000 GT (RA21) that, driven by Hannu Mikkola, and accompanied on his right by Arne Hertz, achieved second position in the 1977 Lombard RAC Rally, in what was the best performance of the Japanese model in its participations in the World Rally Championship.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 of the Toksport WRT team that, with spectacular management and preparation of the car, managed to finish in a superb sixth position with a Rally 2 category car in the 2024 Safari Rally Kenya.

Assembled collector's model reproducing the version of the Ford Escort WRC driven by Juha Kankkunen, accompanied on his right by Juha Repo, which finished second in the 1997 Acropolis Rally, achieving a fantastic one-two for the Ford team, as Carlos Sainz took the victory.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the BMW 2002 (E20) that, sponsored by Jagermeister, participated in the 1973 Monte-Carlo Automobile Rally. Like many other participants, it was forced to retire on the legendary Burzet stage, where the route was blocked.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Toyota Yaris GR Hybrid Rally1 with which Sébastien Ogier achieved another victory in the World Rally Championship, this time on the asphalt of the Croatia Rally in 2024.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Ford Escort MK II RS 2000 with which Ari Vatanen participated in the 1976 Texaco Tour of Britain, achieving victory.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Castrol GTX-sponsored Volvo 142 with which another famous rally star, the Finn Hannu Mikkola, competed in the 1973 1000 Lakes Rally. Unfortunately, they were unable to finish the event as their co-driver Erkki Rautanen was injured, forcing him to retire on the tenth stage.

Assembled collector's model that reproduces the version of the Volvo 142 used by the young Markku Alen in one of his first participations in a world rally, specifically in the 1000 Lakes of 1973. Accompanied on his right by Juhani Toivonen, they surprised everyone with their speed, finishing second overall.

A giant of the road... and on your workbench! This kit, which measures approximately 770 mm when assembled, allows you to built the Renault G260 tractor unit with its corresponding trailer, complete with a striking livery of an eagle with its wings spread. The model includes 221 parts.

The Lotus 23 was designed by Colin Chapman to compete in small-displacement categories, taking advantage of its low weight and perfect handling to surprise rivals with much more powerful engines. This high-quality resin kit lets you choose between ten different versions of the Lotus 23, some of them driven by F1 World Champion drivers such as Graham Hill, Jack Brabham and Jim Clark. The kit includes photo-etched parts and white metal parts, so you can build the version of your choice with great detail.

Transkit to recreate in great detail the single-seater that put the legendary Tyrrell team back on the podium, the 019. This single-seater was characterized by its high nose, which was nicknamed the "dolphin nose". At the Monaco Grand Prix, in only his second race, Jean Alesi managed to get on the podium, with a superb second place. At the Japanese Grand Prix, Satoru Nakajima managed to finish in sixth place. Based on the Tamiya kit of the Jordan 191, of which mainly the wheels and mechanical part are used, the transkit includes elements such as the complete floor and bodywork, the front and rear spoilers, the seat and the suspension arms, as well as including the complete decal sheet and a complete plate of photo-etched parts.

Complete transkit to make the three bikes used by the official HRC team in the 1993 season in the 500cc World Championship using the Tamiya model of the 1998 Honda NSR500 as a base. The parts include the complete fairing, tail, swingarm rear, chassis profiles, brake discs, front fork... and much more. The decal sheet also includes the option of making the bike with the number #8 participating in the last rounds of the Japanese 500cc championship (All Japan Road Race Championship).

In 1994 there was a historic moment in the Japanese 500cc GP, when Norick Abe, wildcard rider to the race, led the race on lap 11 in front of names like Schwantz, Doohan, Cadalora or Kocinski, holding on in front before crashing. with three laps to go. Abe was riding a Honda NSR500 with the number #56, and thanks to this Studio27 transkit, with new rims, fairing, fuel tank, tail, rear swingarm, chassis beam, etc. now we can make based on the Tamiya kit.

Cockpit tub conversion set to replace part B2 on the Ebbro Lotus 33 kit. The new part reproduces the shapes, size, and details of the real car much more faithfully, as the part used in the kit is the same part Tamiya used on its Lotus 25 kit. In addition to the new tub, new parts are also included to replace parts B23, A33, B3, and B6 on the kit, and a new oil tank.

To celebrate John McGuinness's centenary of participation in the Isle of Man TT in early 2022, and also coinciding with the 30th anniversary year of the Honda Fireblade, Honda UK decided to combine both events to create 30 replicas of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP in the livery worn by John McGuinness at that event. This livery is what Studio27 has used as the basis for creating this decal sheet, with which you can also create your centenary Fireblade replica.

Thanks to this decal sheet, you can turn your Tamiya Porsche 962C kit into the official Porsche Team version, complete with the iconic colors of its main sponsor, Rothmans. This reference includes a second decal sheet featuring the tobacco logos.

Heller's re-edition of the Citroën C4 WRC kit has been great news, but now it's time to decide how to "dress" it in its wartime colours. This decal sheet, designed by Reji, reproduces the first livery used on the car when it debuted in the World Rally Championship in the 2007 season. Sebastian Loeb won both the opening round in Monte Carlo and in Portugal (the fifth round of the season).

Decal sheet to recreate the Group A version of the Subaru Impreza WRX with which Bruno Thiry achieved second place in the 1997 Ypres Westhoek Rally, in a fierce battle with another of Belgium's most famous drivers, Freddy Loix, who was only seven seconds ahead. A beautiful livery for use on Hasegawa kits, which feature tobacco logos. The correct, taller rear spoiler is included to complete this build.