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The automotive, motorsport and motorbike enthusiast's store. Specialist in quality models, books, slot cars, clothing & DVD's.

Minichamps Presents…

The Mullin Automotive Museum Collection

Trickling quietly in over the past few months has been Minichamps Mullin Automotive Museum Collection series in 1/43rd and 1/18th scale.

The Mullin Automotive Museum, located in Oxnard, California, pays homage to the art deco and the machine age – eras that produced exquisite art and magnificent automobiles. The museum is home to the finest historic French automobiles from the Bugatti to the Voisin as well as significant and representative decorative art from the 1920s and 1930s.

Founder Peter Mullin… ““For me the French automobiles of the 1920s and 1930s represent the pinnacle of 20th Century art and design. As an avid collector, the preservation of these rolling sculptures for the enjoyment of future generations is both a responsibility and a pleasure. I relish the stewardship and preservation of their exciting histories.”

This week we feature the stunning Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet from 1939, pictured above and left. Minichamps have produced a very Limited Edition (of 1,002) in 1/18th scale. $309.00

As one of the world’s most voluptuous supercars, this cabriolet design was first released at the 1938 Paris Motor Show. Basically built on a production version of the V12 145 race car chassis, it received accolades for both radical performance and world class elegance. Furthermore, it is one of only a handful of cars to receive Delahayes rare V12 engine. Of all the cabriolet bodies that Figoni et Falaschi made, this sweeping design is their most harmonious. Dashes help split up the profile and conceal the engine bay vents as well as the door handles. Chrome runs along the sills and neatly wraps around the rear end brake lights.

At some point the Paris show car was shipped to America where it was probably the only V12 Delahaye running. A second car based on the Paris show car was made for the 1938 New York World’s Fair where it was displayed at the French Pavilion. It used a patented roll down windscreen and fully enclosed fenders like the first car, but at the show, it sat without a working engine. As Europe launched into war the roadsters ownership was in question and it was then held at the US customs office for six years. Finally it was released but fitted with a Cadillac V8 engine and automatic transmission. In the mid-‘80’s, the original engine was sourced out of Germany and the car was reunited with it and restored to debut at the 1992 Pebble Beach Concours.

In 1/43rd scale Mini Grid has stock of the 1939 Bugatti Type 57c Aravis and Coupe; 1939 Delage D8-120 Cabriolet and 1927 Delage ERA Grand Prix; 1934 Voisin C25 Aerodyne, Voisin C27 Grand Sport Cabriolet and C27 Aerosport Coupe; and the 1937 Delahaye 145 V-12 Coupe. All1/43rd scale models are $99.00

New Arrivals From Hunziker Apparel! More fantastic new designs from renowned motorsport artist Nicolas Hunziker. Colourful, high-quality pre-shrunk cotton t-shirts incorporating the original artwork from the Hunziker

Collection. Priced from $30.00 - $34.00.

The Hunziker Story - The Artist: by Nicolas Hunziker

Just like there are lawyer, carpenter or firefighter families, where the family trade is being handed down from one generation to the next; our family’s trade was passed along to me: Creativity.

We all have a little paint in our blood. In the 1930s, my grandfather, Gerold Hunziker (1894-1980) worked as an Advertising Illustrator for Bally, the Swiss shoe company. While at Bally, my grandfather created many advertising posters but also found the time for commissioned projects such as a poster for the Olympic Games or the now famous Bugatti poster from 1932.

If the source of my creative genes is easy to pinpoint, the source of my passion for racing cars is just as easily located: My grand-uncle, Prince Bira. He was a member of Siam’s Royal Family and was a grandson of King Mongkut. Prince Bira became the first Thai Grand-Prix motor racing driver. Primarily a privateer, he concentrated his efforts on monoposto cars such as ERA, Maserati, Connaught and Gordini. He even did two races in a Ferrari for Enzo Ferrari himself and competed twice in the 24h of Le Mans.

Taking into account my family history, I think it was inevitable that I would end up painting racing cars…

Porsche 550 Panamericana ‘54 Jim Clark ‘63 World Champion Porsche 911 ‘72 GT Champions

Nicknamed ‘Quick Vic’ by his peers, Vic Elford was one of the most versatile racing car drivers of his era. Beginning in the 1960’s, Elford spent the next two decades capturing the top spot on podiums all over the globe. From the Rally Monte Carlo to the 24 Hours of Daytona, from the gruelling Targa Florio in Sicily to sports car races at the famed Nürburgring.

Porsche 907 Targa Florio ’68 Porsche 917K Sebring ’71 Winner Triumph TR4 Coupe Des Alpes ‘63

Books: McLaren From The Inside & Holman Moody

McLaren From The Inside: A vivid and uniquely personal perspective on one of racing's greatest organizations. After joining Bruce McLaren's new team as a mechanic in 1964, Tyler Alexander played a key role in creating its earliest cars, which soon scored wins in Formula One and dominated the Can-Am series. At the same time, Tyler was recording the team's progress through photographs taken at the track and behind the scenes at the McLaren factory.

McLaren From The Inside offers Tyler's best images from two very different eras. Part I covers the team's formative years in the 1960s through black-and-white shots of Bruce McLaren and company building, testing, and racing cars in England and around the world. Friends and competitors are also included, among them such great drivers as Jim Clark, Dan Gurney, and Jackie Stewart.

In Part II, Tyler captures the high-tech, hyper-competitive atmosphere of modern F1 racing along with a new generation of driving talent including Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen.

Hardcover, 11 x 11, 144 pages. $60.00

Holman Moody – The Legendary Race Team: This book is the second edition of the highly-detailed illustrated work by well-known authors Tom Cotter and Al Pearce, who recount the colorful story of how two hard-working car guys built one of the largest race teams in history. With 256 lush pages of photography by Don Hunter and others, the book is a look back at the racing factory that fielded stock cars, GT40s, drag cars, race boats, and the Can-Am racer Honker II.

The list of drivers who raced behind the wheel of Holman-Moody cars is an all-star cast that includes Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, Fred Lorenzen, Bobby Allison, and David Pearson. At its peak, Holman-Moody employed more than 300 people. The builders and tuners from who started at Holman-Moody went on to become race team owners and some of the best-known engine tuners in the business including Robert Yates, Waddell Wilson, and many more.

Hardcover, 10 x 10, 256 pages. $70.00

2014 Custom Bike and Can-Am Calendars

Perhaps a little early to begin thinking about 2014 but nonetheless the first of the 2014 specialized calendars have

arrived. The popular Pete Lyon’s Can-Am 2014 is in, this year titled “Mad Genius” and for good reason. Love the cover

of Jackie Stewart in his L&M Lola T260! Add in the Chaparral 2H (1969); the McLeagle (1968) and the Shadow Mk.II

(1971) both in the pits at St. Jovite; Chris Amon and the Ferrari 612P; and forgotten gems like the Caldwell D7, Hoare

Mac’s It Special, the Ford 429’er and McKee AWD Mk. 1… Fantastic memories for those who were there. $30.00

Also in is Custom Motorcycles 2014, the ‘….role call for the world’s best custom bikes’. Again a wide range is covered.

BMW R75 Café Racer; Moto Guzzi Kaffeemachine; Seigal Ducati; KDI Cycles Honda CB550F; Luka Simolini BMW R80/7;

Café Dreams Apolo Honda XR600; Rough Crafts Knucklehead… you get the picture. $19.00

Porsche 911 GT1 Evo 98 – Winner of the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans

The Porsche 911 GT1 Evo 98 has to be one of the most attractive Le Mans winners ever, especially in its ‘Mobil 1’ livery. Pictures don’t do this 1/32nd scale slot car justice in a display presentation box with the detailed history of the winning machine.

This era is often overlooked, but in fact six factory teams came to Le Mans in 1998 to fight for the victory. The fastest were the Mercedes CLK’s… but they broke early. The strongest were the Toyota GT1’s… for 22 ½ hours… then they also broke paving the way to a Porsche 1-2.

The latest in Slot.It’s superb “Le Mans Winners Collection” now in stock. $80.00

7th Season of Racing at Maxport II Begins This Week!

The kids are back to school and the nights are getting cool. It can only mean one thing… the slot car racing season is

upon us!

The 7th season of racing at Mini Grid’s Maxport II kicks off this week with two classes of racing for adults. The Fall season

runs from September to December; the Winter Championship kicks off in January and runs until May. Racing on

Thursday nights; open practice every Saturday afternoon. The Fall Championship will feature Classic Sports Car

Prototypes (1966-1972) in one class; and Modern Prototypes (2007-2013) in the other.

If this perks your interest come on by and have a look for yourself. Race nights usually see 20+ aspiring ‘race’ drivers

enjoying some friendly competition; while practice days are a great way to mingle and get a feel for what is involved. A

super friendly Maxport II membership ensures everyone is welcome and will feel at home.

For more information drop by the store or contact Maxport@minigrid.com.

Coming Soon…

Next week we will send a “Special Edition” of Mini Grid News with a feature on the new “Rush” film that premieres to

the public on September 27th! Based on the incredible 1976 Formula 1 World Championship battle between James

Hunt and Niki Lauda, many are saying this is by far the best motor racing movie ever! Can’t wait to go see it and why

not arrive in style as we will feature the newly arrived “James Hunt Collection”, the ‘Official’ clothing of the film and

done with support from the Hunt family. Or enjoy Paul Fearnley’s newly arrived book “Hunt Vs. Lauda” and judge for

yourself how good the film really is!

Until then all the best from the Mini Grid Staff!

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