Ferrari 500 News

What’s a car without a name? It’s an object that may function superbly well. It might even look impressively tough or beautifully sleek.

The Car The Ferrari 500 F2 is a small 4 cylinder Aurelio Lampredi-designed Grand Prix car. The 500 F2 helped establish Ferrari as the legendary marque they are now by winning 14 out of 15 Grand Prix across the 1952 and 1953 seasons. It is considered to be among the best Grand Prix cars of all time. After Alfa Romeo decided to no longer compete in the World Championship at the end of 1951, the FIA was left in the unfortunate position of having no real contender to Ferrari to contest the F1 Championship. Seeing that the season would end up a one horse race with small fields, the FIA changed the rules to that of the Formula 2 specification. While this opened up the competition to more teams and larger fields, Ferrari already had a car that met the new rules in this classification as well. With Alberto Ascari as the number one driver, Ferrari went on to win all seven races in the 1952 season (ex Indianapolis).  Ascari won six of those seven but  missed the season opening Swiss Grand Prix as he was racing a 375 Ferrari at the Indianapolis 500. The Swiss GP was won by Piero Tarruffi. The following year the dominance continued with Ferrari winning all but the last round Italian GP which was one by Fangio in a Maserati. In 1953 the 500 F2 also gave Mike Hawthorn his maiden win as well as the first win for British driver in the modern era. The Model Both Exoto and CMC currently have models of the 500 F2 on offer and both versions are superb models. The two manufacturers consistently deliver highly detailed and accurate replicas, however my personal preference in this instance runs to the Exoto version. To me, the detailing captures a realism that I don't see in the CMC version. The Exoto model is built from diecast, machined, pressed, stamped, molded and photo-etched metal parts. It also features braided metal, rubber hoses, wire mesh parts and velour covered seats. All parts are beautiful representations of the real thing. The level of detail in the engine bay and cockpit is superb. Even under very close macro photography, the cast and machined details stand up well and the nuts and screws do look over-sized or out of place. Exoto are working their way through all versions of the 500 F2, the number 10 car featured in our Gallery is the 1953 Argentinean GT winning Car driven by Alberto Ascari, while the number 30 is the Snub-Nosed 1952 Swiss GP winner driven by Piero Taruffi. Both are now un-available having been retired after sale of their limited production. There are numerous other versions still available though. These are superb models and highly recommended.

At the very upper end of the 1:18 scale diecast market there has been something of a war happening between the big two model makers - CMC of Germany and Exoto of America. First they both released versions of the Ferrari 500 F2, and both have followed up recently with their own versions of the Ferrari 156. Each manufacturer claims their version to be the most accurate and the most detailed. Parts count in the models exceeds 1400 and virtually none are plastic..Now however it looks like we are seeing a third player enter the market place; GMP, also of America. GMP have been building models for some years, however their focus previously was on models aimed towards their domestic market. With the P4 they have paid the not insignificant licencing fee to Mattel for the rights to build and sell a Ferrari model. Mattel are the global partner with Ferrari for their model line.GMP  has chosen well with the P4 for their first foray into the Ferrari arena. The P4 is considered by most entusiasts to be the most beautiful, desireable and valuable Ferrari. With one coming up for auction next week at RM Auctions - Ferrari Passione e Leggenda (make that a hyperlink on the name itself) we should see confirmation of that view.The model is very accurate and extremely detailed, (see gallery above for images of the Ferrari P4 model and real car). From the complete engine bay detail including the four perfectly formed ignition coils to the plumbing and wiring which look in proportion. This is the sort of detail that the cheaper manufacturers such as Mattel Elite never quite get right and spoils the illusion.Overall proportions and shape appear spot on and the level of detail in the cockpit and suspension is second to known, not even CMC or Exoto. I have only one very slight criticism and that is the front body section is a little tricky to fit out of the box. But that is very minor as the model is solid and well made and even though the fitting is fiddly it doesn't feel like you are going to break anything.If you are interested in getting into 1:18 scale models we recommend ModelCars Too in Sydney or Automodels online store.GMP are set to follow the P4 with a 312P - let this war continue.