Arnage, Mulsanne, Hunaudières, Automobile Club de l’Ouest: Porsche. And this year’s 24hrs du Mans is pretty special because finally, Porsche is back in the top-class LMP1. With a hybrid.
So I figured to show you some Le Mans cars from Stuttgart, to see where Porsche came from so to speak. On the left you see, I’ve diplayed one before, the ‘Giant Killer, the infamous 550 Spyder. Probably one of the last cars that actually could be driven on the road to Le Mans, compete in this 24hr event, and return home in it. On it’s left we see a lovely 907, hard to believe there’s only 10 years of age-difference between them. Remarkable that the 907’s roof is just over the top of the windscreen of the 550. And yes: Driver’s really looked over that windscreen instead of through it, it’s really just there to deflect wind.
But the difference in height is even more obvious when you compare that yellow 962 to the 934/5. As I’m very familiar with getting in and out of an ‘87 911 I know, although it’s lower than most cars, it’s not that hard to enter. Getting in that 962, I just imagine, must be quite a hassle.
But that’s needed to get that top of about 400 km/h. So it’s probably a good thing Le Mans added some chicanes to the Ligne Droite des Hunaudières (also known as the almost 4 mile long ‘Mulsanne Straight’) in 1990 as Group C, in which the 962 was listed, reached that top speed on this part of the track. Let’s look again, all chronological:
Nice to see what ‘just’ 30 years of automotive development can bring us. My favorite obviously would be the 550, just because it’s something you could enjoy both on the track and the road. And it looks so friendly.
Just don’t mistake it’s front with it’s back...
All these models are from Kyosho’s Porsche Minicar Collection no 4. All 1/64. And all amazingly detailed.
One more chronological view, from above.
I’m pretty impressed with the quality of the Kyoshos. Just that 907’s rear wheels seem to be too much (or it’s body is too low): they won’t spin. It’s not that these will end up in my daughter’s car collection to play with but even when shooting pictures it’s nice to have some manoeuvrability...
But I truly find the Kyoshos in 1/64 an awesome addition to anyone’s collection. I’m not sure the Minichamps 64 are better, the Kyosho collection is way bigger so that’s worth at least something.
Das war es für Heute. Let’s just all hope Porsche’s 919 Hybrid shows us what Porsche is all about: pure awesomeness. Let’s beat that other Teutonic brand that’s been dominating Le Mans far too long...