#57 POLISTIL – FERRARI 312 T5, ALFA-ROMEO 179 and OTHER F1s (1979 and 1980)

The country in which the formula 1 has traditionally had more fans is Italy. Ferrari built the most mythical and best known race cars in the history of motor racing. They have also had the best pilots. Ferrari is not the only scuderia which has taken part in the F1 world championships, Alfa Romeo and Maserati were also world champions in the 50s, while Minardi, Benetton (during part its existence, from 1996 to 2001), Osella or Lola (among others) didn’t have that luck.

This is the explanation to why does an Italian company like polistil take so seriously the making of formula 1 scale cars. As far as I am concerned, they have made f1s at least in 1:53, 1:41, 1:32 and 1:16 scales.

These three cars are built in 1:41 scale, and the models are:

• Ferrari 312 T5 from 1980, #1 pilot: Jody Scheckter
• Alfa-Romeo 179 from 1980, #22 pilot: Patrick Depailler #23 pilot: Bruno Giacomelli
• Lotus 80 from 1979, #1 pilot: Mario Andretti

Note that the Alfa-Romeo has both numbers in its decals: at the side is number 23, but in the front it’s number 22!

It is also very interesting to note, that the name of the Ferrari at the chassis has been deleted. This is because this part is the same than in the previous model, the 312 T4, released one year earlier.

These 1:41 cars were sold in a carton box with window like the one in the picture. It is also interesting, that for reducing the manufacturing costs, only one decal was applied in each car, that’s the one at the side which can be seen through the window. The rest of stickers came in a stickers sheet under the car.

UPDATE:

• Brabham Alfa Romeo BT 45 C from 1978, #1 pilot: Niki Lauda or #2 John Watson

The car was used for only two G.P.s (Argentina and Brazil) and then it was replaced by the BT 46 for the third G.P. of the Season (South Africa). The toy was designed and casted in April 1979 and had the reference number CE 106.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• Name: FERRARI 312 T5, ALFA-ROMEO 179, LOTUS 80, BRABHAM ALFA ROMEO BT 45 C (Ref. numbers: 122, 121, 119 and 106)
• Scale: 1:41
• Year: 1980 and 1979.
• Company: Polistil (Italy)
• Size: approx. 9-10 cm