12 replies to this topic

[Barry Boor]

I picked up this cracking little model of a Drogo bodied Ferrari 250.GTO recently:



The only thing is, the box states it is from the Francorchamps 500 in 1963.

However, the Spa 500 kms in 1963 was won by Willy Mairesse in a Ferrari 250.GTO but it was number 36 and there is no mention of the word DROGO on the result list that I have access to. Number 9 in that race was a Lotus Elite.

Can anyone throw some light on this one, please?

[jarama]

Barry,

according to Jess G. Pourret's book "Ferrari 250 GT Competition Cars", the 4th o/a in the Spa 500 Km Race of 1963 was a 250 GT (not GTO) SWB Drogo Special, "telaio" #2053 GT, driven by Langlois van Ophem and sporting the #44.

The individual history of this car states: "Car used then for studies on the new GTO. .../... . Experiments on the bodywork."

Hope this helps.


Carles.

[rudi]

Again a typical belgian number switch between practice and race.
The Langlois / Bianchi car was # 9 during practice in 1963.
There is a photo of it in the Pourret book.

[Macca]

The Bluemel/Pourret book 'Ferrari 250GTO' has a picture of it at Spa in 1963 carrying #9 on a white roundel like the model and says it finished 4th, although it isn't listed in the race results in that book with the true GTOs.

There's another shot of it written-off in a crash at Spa in 1964, appearing to carry the #26.

It had been used to carry the 'mule' GTO body, and was tested by SCM in September 1961; it was then fitted with a standard 250SWB body and sold to Jacques Swaters' Ecurie Francorchamps. It was badly damaged in the 1962 Nurburgring 1000km and received the Bizzarini-designed 'Anteater' body by Drogo after that.


Paul M

[Barry Boor]

Thank you, gentlemen.

I did not realise that the Spa habit of changing numbers between practice and racing extended past the Belgian Grand Prix. I learn something new from TNF every day!

According to the WSPR website, Bianchi never drove the car at all during the 500 km - von Ophem was the sole driver in the race.

I may renumber my model 44.

[Twin Window]

Super model, Barry - but has the cabin glazing slipped from its moorings? Is that fixable?

What scale is it - 1:43?

[Barry Boor]

Cor, Twinny, I never really noticed that! I only got it yesterday afternoon and one of the wheels was broken - but was easily mended.

Yes it is 43rd. I only collect 43rd diecasts.

I shall fix the screen etc and re-photograph.

[Twin Window]

Glad it can be remedied! Is it by Art Model?

[Barry Boor]

Just took it to pieces and I find that the one-piece vac formed clear plastic that makes up all the windows is secure and cannot fit any better than it already does.

Not great - but I can live with it.

[Twin Window]

Can you maybe re-work it the way you can sometimes with railway locomotives? And you didn't say whose model it is... (the manufacturer; I know it's yours! )

[Barry Boor]

It is made by the Neapolitan company called Top Model.

It is a resin model, which makes it lighter but IMHO not as strong as the more conventional diecasts.

I suppose I could look at remaking the windows; I do have my own B-B-Vac, after all.

Thank you, Twinny.

[D-Type]

Tomorrow when you go into your local Tesco for a quick dose of Octane or C&SC what you do is buy a shirt. The clear plastic used for stiffening the collar is ideal for making windscreens out of. A few drops of 'Micro Kristal Klear' which really does dry clear and Bob's your uncle. Alternatively the clear boxes they use for chocolate brownies or strawberries have some useful compound curves. You can practice on the Dinky Bristol.

[David Birchall]

David Cohen, a friend who lives here in Vancouver, used to own the/a Drogo bodied 250GTO, he said that it was the most uncomfortable sod of a car he ever drove. Apparently the roof is too low for a normal person.
David B