I’ve been trying to post this up all week but if it isn’t one thing it’s another, one of those weeks. I acquired this lovely 1:18 bargain on Ebay not too long ago, made by a lesser known (at least to me) brand Ricko. Once I saw the livery I was sold, apparently the only other version available is a high end CMC example, though I think there is also a #3 car with blue fender accents out there somewhere.
This particular example is the winning car from the 1952 Carrera Panamericana, driven by Karl Kling (this guy lived to be in his 90's, impressive!). If you’re curious like I was about the metal bars on the windscreen here is an excerpt from Wiki to explain:
“In 1952 the organizers of Carrera Panamericana created two categories of entries, Sports Cars and Stock Cars, dividing what had previously been a single class, so American heavy sedans did not have to compete directly with the nimble European sports cars. The major automobile manufacturers had taken notice of the race and Mercedes-Benz sent a highly organized team of drivers, mechanics, and cars to the race. First and second places were won by Karl Kling and Herman Lang, driving the 300SL. This group may well have achieved a 1-2-3 finish had American John Fitch not been disqualified for permitting a mechanic to touch his 300SL on the penultimate day. American Chuck Stevenson won the touring car class in a Lincoln Capri, his first of two consecutive victories in the event.
Famously, the victory of the Mercedes-Benz W194 of Kling and Hans Klenk came despite the car being hit by a vulture in the windscreen. During a long right-hand bend in the opening stage, taken at almost 200 km/h (120 mph), Kling failed to spot vultures sitting by the side of the road. As the birds scattered at the sound of the virtually unsilenced 300SL, one impacted through the windscreen on the passenger side, briefly knocking co-driver and navigator Klenk unconscious. Despite bleeding badly from facial injuries from the shattered windscreen, Klenk ordered Kling to maintain speed, and held on until a tyre change almost 70 km (43 mi) later to wash himself and the car of blood, bird and glass. For extra protection, eight vertical steel bars were bolted over the new windscreen. Kling and Klenk also discussed the species and size of the dead bird, agreeing that it was a bird with a minimum 115-centimetre (45 in) wingspan and weighing as much as five fattened geese.”
For being an older model made in China this diecast has excellent detail. The silver is an accurate semi gloss, and the decals are applied very well. Bright work detail is excellent as is the interior work. All panels that should open do and even the vent windows on the doors swivel! This is just a really neat older 1:18 and I’m glad to add it to my stable. I’m really getting hooked on collecting sports race cars from the 50's and 60's! The history that goes with each car just makes it that much more special. Enjoy!
