Last week I made my largest model rally car purchase to date (9 cars in all). I also received my previous, more reasonably-sized order last week. So, while I sit by the mailbox waiting for my big box from overseas to arrive, here’s a look at what the more modest order added to my collection.
OPEL ASCONA 400 ($10)
On a personal note, while I’ve always admired Rohrl as a driver, his personal views (he said in ‘82 that if Miss Mouton won the title it would devalue his previous accomplishments “not because I doubt her capabilities as a driver, but because she is a woman.”) have always soured me to him. That said, his 1982 Ascona, the last rear-drive car to win the driver’s title, and the only one to do it in the AWD era, is a must-have for any rally collection. You also gotta love the “acceptable for all ages” not-Rothman’s livery.
ALFA ROMEO TZ ($7)
You read that right, seven bucks for the car that may have just claimed the title of “sexiest rally car ever,” and that’s with me rounding up to the nearest whole dollar (the exact amount was $6.86). Shockingly there were hardly any bids for this red beauty, probably because very few people know of its rally heritage (even I was unaware until I saw the model for sale). The TZ (Tubolare Zagato) is known for its on-track prowess, dominating the Monza cup in its debut year and going on to win the Nurburgring 1000, Le Mans, and numerous other renowned events, but it was equally potent in rally. The TZ won the Targa Florio, the Tour de Corse, and in 1964 the 2,100 mile Coupe des Alpes.
PORSCHE 911 CARRERA RS ($15)
While the Alfa may have been won at a song the rally Porsches are always a bit of a fight. The most I ever paid for a single car was for the Dakar 959. This particular 911 was a last-minute privateer entry by Jean-Pierre Nicolas in the 1978 Rallye Monte Carlo, but went on to win, making himself both the first person to win a WRC event in a Porsche and the last privateer to win Monte Carlo.
