Lots to report on Minichamps this week. A good number of 1:18 scale models have been released, even some long wanted Formula 1 racers. The above feature car is the 1:18 1964 Maserati Mistral Spyder in Black. The model is from Minichamps’ high-end resin series, and she’s definitely a looker! Complete list of new releases below:
1:18 – LOTUS F1 TEAM RENAULT E21 – KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN – WINNER AUSTRALIAN GP 2013
1:18 – MCLAREN MERCEDES MP4-29 – KEVIN MAGNUSSEN – 2014
1:18 – MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG GT3 – SCHNEIDER/BLEEKEMOLEN/EDWARDS/THIIM – WINNERS 24H NÜRBURGRING 20 L.E. 513 pcs.
1:18 – PORSCHE BOXSTER (981) – 2012 – GREY METALLIC
1:18 – PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO S – 2012 – BLACK METALLIC
1:43 – BMW M 235I RACING – ÖSTERLUND/HONKANEN/LYBÄCK/HENKOLA – 24H NÜRBURGRING
1:43 – BMW M3 DTM – BMW TEAM MTEK – TIMO GLOCK – DTM 2013
1:43 – MERCEDES-BENZ 600 SEC COUPE (C140) – 1992 – GREEN METALLIC
1:43 – PORSCHE 935 ´JOLLY CLUB´ – FACETTI/FINOTTO/CAMATHIAS – 24H DAYTONA 1977
1:43 – PORSCHE 935 ´PORSCHE KREMER´ – JÖST/WOLLEK/KREBS – 24H DAYTONA 1977
About the Maserati Mistral Spyder… “The car was presented in November of 1963 on the Turin car show. It had the name Maserati 3500 GTI 2Posti, which was given to it due to the presentation. The name Mistral was only used officially from 1966 onwards. The name was used by suggestion from the French Maserati distributor Colonel John Simone. It is named after a wind, which is common in the lower Rhone valley. This was the first of several Maserati cars, which up until the 1990s, was named after a wind. The batch production of the Mistral began in spring of 1964. It lasted until 1970. During this time 828 coupes and 123 convertibles were built. The production process was highly complicated. Maserati manufactured the engine and the chassis, the metal parts and the body were pressed by Carrozzeria Maggiora in Turin. The chassis were transported by truck from Maserati to Maggiora, where the body and chassis were united. Afterwards the cars were transferred to Modena to Officine Padane, where the paint job, as well as the windows, the electrical components and the interior were mounted. Finally the cars were moved back to Maserati. In the final steps, the engine, the suspension the transmission and the brakes were installed.”