During Monterey Car Week, Honda‘s race division will release a small number of very well-made model cars. Honda’s famous RA272 race car comes in both 1:18 and 1:8 scales. The 1:8 size is limited to 30 pieces and costs around $30,000. The price is very high, but the quality and attention to detail are great. In October 1965, Honda’s RA272 race car won the Mexican Grand Prix, making history as the first Japanese team to do so. After sixty years, the company has won many Formula One races, including providing the power unit for the Red Bull R20, which won the title the previous year. To mark its first victory, Honda is now selling a scaled-down version of that past, but it doesn’t come cheap. Oh no, it doesn’t. Amalgam Collection Models, based in Bristol, UK, is making 30 1:8-scale RA272 models for Honda. Each one will cost $28,995. A Honda Civic is big enough to drive around in, which is plenty for a well-equipped Civic (almost enough for the Si version). The RA272 that has been blown up is only for show. That being said, this model is the most accurate one that’s out there. The real RA272 was shown to Amalgam’s team at Honda’s Collection Hall in Motegi, Japan, and the whole thing was digitally scanned. The job consisted of over 1600 parts, which took 4500 hours to complete. Putting it together takes 450 hours. People who are really into Honda racing cars but don’t want to spend a lot of money can also get a 1:18-scale replica that is limited to 300 pieces. It’s still pricey at $1735, but it’s less than the cost of a full-size Honda and more than a freight fee. Both car sizes are presented in a display case accompanied by a certificate and a brochure signed by Koji Watanabe, the head of Honda Racing Corporation. You can buy both at the Quail show and the Rolex-sponsored classic races in Laguna Seca during Monterey Car Week. Because Car Week is a big event for rich people, both RA272 model scales are expected to sell out quickly. Amalgam is a renowned name in the modeling community, and their 1:18-scale car features such intricate details that it commands attention at any exhibition. You still have one more choice if neither model fits your price or you miss out on the chance. Tamiya is a Japanese company that has been making model kits for a long time. They initially produced early Honda F1 models and now offer a 1:20-scale RA272 for under $50. However, you will need to assemble and adjust it yourself.
