#552 YATMING - HONDA F1 (1301), FERRARI F1 (1302) and BRABHAM BT 44 F1 (1309) (Around 1970 and 1975)

Yatming made not only cars, but also F1, public works machines, and many other vehicles in several scales. The 13xx Series included 12 Formula Ones (1301 to 1312) from the 60s and 70s. The first references seem to be older, like end of the 60s, while the higher references are cars from the mid-70s. Were they all made at the same time or in two or more different years? Probably the line was launched at the beginning of the 70s and extended by the mid-70s.

The first two references are the Honda and the Ferrari. The first in marked on the base "Honda", the second one is not marked "Ferrari". Both models are marked Yatming and the reference number, but the Honda is Made in Hong-Kong, and the Ferrari is Made in China, so I would bet the Ferrari is some kind of later re-issue.

The third (and later) model is a Brabham BT 44, which is also unmarked "Brabham" on the base, and is a copy of a Polistil cast, already presented in this blog (entry #170), but repictured here for comparing purposes.

This last model is Made in Thailand.

Yatming casts are based on ral models, but colours applied and decorations are quite different from the real racing models. Maybe for this reason, Yatming formula ones are not among the most sought-after models.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: HONDA F1 (1301), FERRARI F1 (1302) and BRABHAM BT 44 F1 (1309)
• Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
• Year: Approx. 1970 and 1975
• Company: Yatming/ Yat Ming (Hong-Kong)
• Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm