The limited edition, GT1 class winning car driven by Oliver Gavin and Oliver Beretta.

Hey race fans! It’s been a while since my last entry, but given the fact that it’s fall and that Halloween is just around the corner we’ve got some fun news to share.

This week we took delivery of some new diecast models, including two of my personal favorites, the 2007, “Badboy Vettes” Corvette C6R! This one-off livery was used for the final race of the 2007 ALMS season, The Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazada Raceway Laguna Seca.

First unveiled at a pre-race party hosted by “Badboy Vettes,” these menacing black and yellow paint schemes featured a large, oversized, sketch-drawn version of the “Jake the Skull” logo that had jaws dropping like stones off a cliff! Let me tell you, folks, I was there and saw these cars in-person and I have to tell you it truly was one of the most awe-inspiring paint schemes I’d ever seen on a race car. There wasn’t a single naysayer in the crowd as the twin, inverted paint schemed Corvettes were rolled out of the trailer. In fact nearly everyone who was there felt that this “Badboy Vettes” paint scheme should have been adopted by Corvette Racing as the permanent, full-time livery. And now you can purchase either one or both of these incredible 1:18 scale AUTOArt™ replicas!

Corvette Racing's "Badboy Vettes" #3 car.

Remember, this was a one-off livery that was only used, back in October 2007, and is unlikely to be seen again. And on top of that GT1 class-winning #4 car has been fully authorized by General Motors and had been limited to just 6000 pieces worldwide! So now may be your one and only chance to actually buy these “Badboy Vettes” as a matched set.

Trust me folks, I know what I’m talking about. You’ll tell yourself that you’ll go back next week, or next payday, or sometime in the future and pick up the other car of the set, but by the time you get around to it, it’s gone. And when one of those pieces is part of a limited edition… Well, I hope you’ll have better luck finding the missing limited edition version model than I did all those years ago. If you’re a Corvette Racing Fan then these gorgeous 1:18 scale “Badboy Vettes” from AUTOArt™ are a must have!

Ferrari and Phil Hill fans! WOW! Folks, I’m so excited about this news that I can hardly stand it! No matter what sort of race fan you happened to be, be it sports cars, NHRA, NASCAR, WRC, it just doesn’t matter, because the one name every race fan in the world knows, is Ferrari! The Ferrari name is legendary for automotive performance and continues to rank among the world’s most recognizable and successful brands.

If you’re an American sports car fan, or a historic racing fan then you also know the name Phil Hill. Sadly, Phil Hill passed away on August 28 of this year, but he left an indelible mark on the world of auto racing, not only as a talented driver, but also as a true gentleman and impeccable ambassador for motorsports. Whether he was competing in sports cars or competing in Formula 1, Phil Hill was a consummate driver and a true American champion.

When you combine the names, Phil Hill and Ferrari what you get is one of the most extraordinary and dynamic pairings ever to take to the grid. Of course many of you will already know that from this historic union came the very first Formula 1 driver’s championship ever won by an American. Phil Hill will always be remembered for this remarkable achievement and remains today as the only driver ever to win both the Formula 1 drivers Championship and 24 hours of Le Mans in the same year. However what you may not know is that Phil Hill’s 1961 formula 1 championship winning season also marked the very first formula 1 constructors championship for Ferrari. - No, it wasn’t Juan Manual Fangio in 1956 because the constructor’s championship didn’t officially start until 1958 and although Mike Hawthorne was driving for Ferrari when he won the driver’s championship that year, it was actually Vanwall that secured the constructors championship.

Okay, so aside from the brief formula history lesson what does this all mean? Well, the car that Phil Hill drove to victory during his and Ferrari’s 1961 championship winning season was the legendary 1.477 liter V6 Dino Ferrari Type 156, or as it was affectionately dubbed, the “shark nose.”

The legendary 'sharknose' Ferrari 156.

Since the end of 1961 the Ferrari 156 has only existed in photographs. As someone who was never known for his sentimentality, Enzo Ferrari had all of the 156s scrapped at the end of the 1961 season and since then all that has remained are drawings and photographs… until now.

One, and only one, diecast manufacturer in the world has been licensed to build and sell a 1:18 scale replica of legendary Ferrari 156, and that’s CMC (Classical Model Cars). Known for their stunningly exquisite attention to detail, - You know, honestly, there are hardly any words fit to describe just how impeccably detailed CMC cars can be. - CMC will be releasing three different 1:18 scale Ferrari 156 replicas; the #4 car that Phil Hill drove to victory at Spa-Francorchamps, the #3 car driven by Wolfgang Von Tripps to victory at the Nürbrugring and of course the #2 Monza-winning car that Phil Hill drove to victory and thereby securing his formula 1 driver’s championship.

Phil Hill driving to victory during the 1961 Belgian Grand Prix.

Both of the Phil Hill driven cars will be limited to a production run of just 6000 pieces world wide, however I’m proud to announce that some of those limited 6000 pieces will be offered for sale here at RaceCraft Collectibles!

The legendary 1.477 liter V6 Dino Ferrari Type 156, or as it was affectionately dubbed, the “shark nose.”

These remarkable 1:18 scale replicas are due to be released in the November/December time frame, and of course when they get here we’ll be sure to let you know, though I have to tell you, I might just keep one of these rare beauties for myself.

Happy racing!

Just in, three brand new 1:18 scale Porsche 911s by AUTOArt™, including two 24-hour of Le Mans winners! The gorgeous silver & blue, New York Yankee’s liveried Porsche 996 GT3 RSR of Alex Job Racing, which won the GT2 class category at the 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans leads off these latest additions.

ALMS fans will recognize the familiar #45 2006 ALMS Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 996 GT3 RSR.

And completing this trio of 911s is the 2007 GT2 class, 24 Hours of Le Mans winning, IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR!

These models are all excellent works of art and feature fully opening doors, hoods and engine covers, detailed cockpits and wheel rims and expertly replicated paint schemes and stickers. And as part of our continuing Grand Opening sale we’ve place each of these brand new collectibles on sale now through the end of the month!

So if you’re a Porsche fan now is the time to take advantage of this once in a life time opportunity to pick up one or all three of these beautiful 1:18 scale Porsche GT3 RSR’s on sale!

I was originally inspired to start this business after receiving a special gift from my wife and oldest son, a 1:10 scale replica of the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour winning Ford GT40 driven by Mike Amon and one of my all-time favorite drivers, Bruce McLaren.

The center piece of Mike's personal collection

Why Bruce Mclaren? Well, as a young boy growing up in Northern California, with parents who were both avid racing fans, weekend family outings to Laguna Seca and Sears Point were regular occurrences at our house. Walking through the pits at Laguna Seca I was awestruck by the thunderous volley of small and big-block Chevy’s, Ford’s and the occasional Pontiac, as well as the high pitched screams of Ferrari and Porsche engines, but the one moment that stands out to this day was getting an autograph from Bruce McLaren.

I was quite young at the time, but my impression was that Bruce McLaren was an affable fellow and genuinely friendly guy. He was one of the first professional drivers I’d ever met in person and because of that experience I instantly took a liking to him. From that day forward I always looked for and cheered on the international orange McLaren cars.

Consequently the day I pulled the wrapping paper off my GT40 I was stunned. Not only was it a replica of a car that was driven by my favorite driver, but I had also seen this very car, up front and in person with my son at the Indianapolis Motorsports Museum during our first of several trips to the USGP.

The level of detail was absolutely stunning and to this day, it remains the centerpiece for my private collection. Each time I pull it out to share with friends and family I uncover new features and new details that I hadn’t noticed before. So for me this model stands apart not only because of what it means to me personally, but because of the jaw-dropping detail that continues to amaze me.

I personally examine each new car that we add to our stock. Inside, outside, upside down, I examine the car from all angles and occasionally I come across a replica that evokes the same jaw-dropping response that I had when I first examined my 1966 Ford GT40. Of course it may not have the same emotional connection for me that my GT40 does, but when I find myself going back for a second or third look and maybe even another view or two under my magnifying hobby lamp then I know it’s a special car that I want to be sure to share with my customers.

Can there be only one President’s Choice recipient?

Fortunately, the answer to that question is emphatically, no, because this isn’t a contest. There are a number of excellent diecast manufacturers and quite a few outstanding artists and authors. And even though I’m not exactly an art or literary critic per say, when it comes to understanding the “wow factor” of a particular product I’d like to think that I’m a pretty good judge in that regard.

Nevertheless even if a model hasn’t been specifically presented with the President’s Choice notation, that does not mean that it isn’t a model that we aren’t proud to display and offer to our customers. In fact quite the opposite is true because we’re fairly picky about the products we choose to sell and because of our selective and discriminating eye, you can be sure that any product you order from RaceCraft Collectibles will be something that you will be proud to own and display. And when you select one of our President’s Choice items, you are selecting an item that we think meets the absolute most stringent and exacting standards of quality that we have for our entire product line.

Thank you for visiting RaceCraft Collectibles and we hope that we’ll see you again soon!

Mike Tyler
Owner & President