GT40 MkII Shelby Collectables all wrong?

Last week I took my two boys to the Dutch TT circuit for a demo run of the Red Bull F1 with David Coulthard driving. There were some stand selling memorabilia and they could both pick a scale model.
The oldest choose a Ferrari 512 S (as I already picked a GT40 MkII) and the youngest picked a VW T1 Van (well he is only 3 years old).

I choose the black No. 2 car that won Le Mans and as we were off to the UK to visit Frank and London, I didn;t give it much thought. Just a nice day out to the circuit infecting my two boys.

After returning from the UK I took a closer look at the model, which is from Shelby Collectables and to my horror I found out the steering is on the wrong side. The created a scale model of the 1966 winner of Le Mans and put the steering on the left. Isn't that odd?
Anyone an idea why they did this? Have I bought a Monday model?

John
 

Rick Muck- Mark IV

GT40s Sponsor
Supporter
Actually the model company copied a Superformance GT MK II! It has the LHD as SPF offers and the center console is set up as the SPF with the ignition on the panel that rises from the tunnel to the dash. Some other small details also show they copied an Superformance MK II!

I have the red "no numbers/roundels" version on my desk and it is a nice, relatively inexpensive die cast, but it is NOT a 1996 era FAV GT40.........

BTW, with a little paint detailing it really comes alive!
 
Okay, that explains a lot.

Nothing against a Superformance (if it wasn't that difficult to get one road registered overhere I would have bought one instead of the GTD), but I 'hate' it now that I saw it has the steering on the left. How can they make a model of the 1966 race winner and put the steering on the left.

Maybe I should ask around and see if someone can change it to the other side. I wanted to get all three 'photo finish' models from Shelbly Collectables plus the lovely blue Sebring car, but with the steering on the left on all cars I think I will try to get examples from Exoto.

Spark is also nice, but in my opinion they made a mistake by creating a closed model where you can't open bonnets and doors.

John
 

Rick Muck- Mark IV

GT40s Sponsor
Supporter
Well you could cut and paste to make it RHD!!!!

Here are some pics of the "Shelby Collection" GT40 with a little detailing...
 

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Mike

Lifetime Supporter
I am sorry you blokes drive on the wrong side of the road. Leave it to Limeys and their criminal cousins the Aussies to be "different". The GT40 was just an average car until a drive on the correct side of the road American stepped in and fixed it :laugh:
 

Keith

Moderator
Ooooooh! Fighting talk from the Boulder Basher!

Actually, they drive on the right (wrong) side in Nederland too. (The original one)

Other countries that enjoy God's Perfect Driving Position include:

1. Anguilla
2. Antigua and Barbuda
3. Australia
4. Bahamas
5. Bangladesh
6. Barbados
7. Bermuda
8. Bhutan
9. Botswana
10. Brunei
11. Cayman Islands
12. Christmas Island (Australia)
13. Cook Islands
14. Cyprus
15. Dominica
16. East Timor
17. Falkland Islands
18. Fiji
19. Grenada
20. Guernsey (Channel Islands)
21. Guyana
22. Hong Kong
23. India
24. Indonesia
25. Ireland
26. Isle of Man
27. Jamaica
28. Japan
29. Jersey (Channel Islands)
30. Kenya
31. Kiribati
32. Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia)
33. Lesotho
34. Macau
35. Malawi
36. Malaysia
37. Maldives
38. Malta
39. Mauritius
40. Montserrat
41. Mozambique
42. Namibia
43. Nauru
44. Nepal
45. New Zealand
46. Niue
47. Norfolk Island (Australia)
48. Pakistan
49. Papua New Guinea
50. Pitcairn Islands (Britain)
51. Saint Helena
52. Saint Kitts and Nevis
53. Saint Lucia
54. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
55. Seychelles
56. Singapore
57. Solomon Islands
58. South Africa
59. Sri Lanka
60. Suriname
61. Swaziland
62. Tanzania
63. Thailand
64. Tokelau (New Zealand)
65. Tonga
66. Trinidad and Tobago
67. Turks and Caicos Islands
68. Tuvalu
69. Uganda
70. United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
71. Virgin Islands (British)
72. Virgin Islands (US)
73. Zambia
74. Zimbabwe

Which whilst admittedly a slightly shorter list than the 166 countries that drive on the wrong (right) side is still an impressive number of the nations than can enjoy the pure motoring experience.

Finally everyone knows that 90% of the world's race tracks are run in a clockwise direction featuring more right turns than left, giving significant advantage to the cars that are driven from the right (wrong) driving position. The only other configuration that would partially work would be a centre drive vehicle which is really neither right or wrong. Ironically of course, around 75% of the World's right running clockwise oriented race tracks, are situated in countries that drive on the right (wrong) side making it even more imperative that you people switch sides immediately! Get it Right (wrong) now!

So in order to set right from wrong I hope I have explained this in a right thinking way to prevent yourself and any other third worlder believing that they know right from wrong in the instinctive way that we here in God's country and our legally challenged Australian Brothers and their 'funny' red headed stepchildren in NZ know from birth.

That We Are Right.
 
Humm !!
Good words Keith !!
In addition UK ( where us poor frenchies have to be carefull when driving LOL) is one of the rare country where Racing motor industry is considered as a normal activity and where many of subcontractors , workshops etc etc are exiting for decades !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the only country in Europe where to built and IVA pass an Kitcar is still possible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just my 2 cts...................

John seems you are starting to collect GT40 stuff ? if needed I have for sale a lot of books plus silicon molds to cast 1/43 GT40 Mk 1 and coupé whitout roof !!!
 
Sorry, didn't want to start that discussion...:laugh: remember we are talking scale models here...


I didn't quite get why a scale model company would replicate the Le Mans winners, but get the steering wheel wrong. Look at any picture you see of the original cars in the '66 race and you know where it should be. So now it doesn't replicate the Le Mans winner.

As for the full size car, each to their own. I can understand people driving on the right and therefore wanting to have the steering on the left and gearshift in the middle of the car. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, then please in a car with this much potential get it the way you can drive it.

For me personally, I would always opt for right hand drive as this is how they were made in the day. But then again I also race a Radical with RHD, so I am used to it. The GT40 with it's gearshift on the right sill is even easier to operate.

John
 

Keith

Moderator
Humm !!
Good words Keith !!
In addition UK ( where us poor frenchies have to be carefull when driving LOL) is one of the rare country where Racing motor industry is considered as a normal activity and where many of subcontractors , workshops etc etc are exiting for decades !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the only country in Europe where to built and IVA pass an Kitcar is still possible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Motorsport Engineering is such a huge Export for Britain that no-one would want to change any of that for economic reasons if not for the unique heritage, but we have to be very vigilant. The Faceless Ones in Brussels would stop it if they could and homogenise us, so we must fight to keep our right to make & tune our own (safe) cars!

Poor Paulo from Milano has now given up his dream for GT40 replica because of EEC "Rules" and that is very very sad for him... :sad:

Edit: This is right on topic because as you know, Paulo is a top modeller and has a very nice model shop in the centre of Milano... :)
 

Rick Muck- Mark IV

GT40s Sponsor
Supporter
Yes, Keith, in the USVI they drive on "your side" but use US spec LHD vehicles which makes for lots of fun over blind hills, etc.

And remember Sweden was RHD until one fateful day in the 60's when they switched over at X o'clock! I have seen a video posted of the changeover.....looked like great entertainment value.

And the model company has NO idea what the 66 LeMans cars really look like, they measured an SPF, painted the liveries and sold 'em off as the "Shelby Collection" while sending the royalty.
 
Hello John

PM sent !
Will try to post some pics of My Exoto !!

Concerning models ; yes those manufacturers are very very far from what we did as kit suppliers ( long time ago ) ...they just built batches of rubbisch with no idea of examining real and small details on each le mans cars , their scope is to fabricate mass production using only one mold and no worry about accuraty like we did when producing our kits trying to replicate until the minimal difference in beetween each team owning an Gt 40 !!!
But as you know time is money and to day it's only money time !!!!
 

Keith

Moderator
Yes, Keith, in the USVI they drive on "your side" but use US spec LHD vehicles which makes for lots of fun over blind hills, etc.

And remember Sweden was RHD until one fateful day in the 60's when they switched over at X o'clock! I have seen a video posted of the changeover.....looked like great entertainment value.

And the model company has NO idea what the 66 LeMans cars really look like, they measured an SPF, painted the liveries and sold 'em off as the "Shelby Collection" while sending the royalty.


Sorry for the 'drift' but you are absolutely right about Sweden switching over. I remember it well. I believe vehicles were banned from the road for just 2 days while they changed over the street furniture and signs. It was a fantastically planned operation that went without a hitch.

Unlike Ireland, who decided they could not afford to make a Sweden like transition, so they announced that they would do it in stages. Starting with the heavy goods vehicles who would all start driving on the right on day 1, with light goods and cars switching on day 2.

History does not accurately record the casualty figures but suffice to say they abandoned the experiment on day 2 and went back to driving on the right (left) side. :blank:
 
Unlike Ireland, who decided they could not afford to make a Sweden like transition, so they announced that they would do it in stages. Starting with the heavy goods vehicles who would all start driving on the right on day 1, with light goods and cars switching on day 2.

:lol::D:laugh: I nearly wet myself laughing.

John
 
Hi John,

The Exoto cars aren't cheap but they are good. I purchased mine direct from them & they shipped straight to me ( via UK customs ofcourse , d'oh )

Regards Steve
 
Hi Steve,

Thanks!

Today I surprised my 9 year old boy and give him the Shelby Collectables MkII and bought an Exoto directly from them. To him it is one of the most beautiful cars he knows, LHD or RHD and I will have my Le Mans Winner (scale 1:10).

Having been to Frank he will hopefully be able to help me get my car track worthy or get me the right GT40 MkI. No if I make that into the 1968 winner and than start saving for a MkII to have that as the 1966 winner...

John
 

Rick Muck- Mark IV

GT40s Sponsor
Supporter
Bill,

Doing good. Just sold another 40 yesterday. Ross is well. My wife wears the SPF jewelry your daughter made for her all the time.

Still time to get a 40!

Rick
 
What is the three car set from Exoto worth now a days, all still in the box!

Like most things its depends who pays the price. I would have liked the 3 car set as I saw one go at Auction last year for a rediculiously low price. I cannot remember exactly but I think it was something like £175.
I wish I had the money and was the buyer!!!what a bargin!!!!
Regards Allan
 
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