FERRARI 250 SWB MODEL AND SIGNATuRES

I’m not particularly a model buyer/collector (the books take up too much room already!) but I’d had my eye on this one for a while.

In 1:18 scale, it’s an excellent replica of the RRC Walkerliveried Ferrari that S. Moss Esq drove to victory in the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood in 1961. Mattel have been criticised for not making better use of their arrangement with Ferrari, by building a wider range of models. But this one is a delight. Let down by minor details such as the windscreen wipers, it captures the gorgeous shape of the 250GTO’s predecessor, the dark blue finish is excellent and with opening bonnet, doors and boot, there’s plenty of detail on show inside and out.

The real attraction for me though is that it’s one of the 500 signed by Sir SM himself. The signature is not that clear (I don’t suppose it’s easy to sign the roof of a model!) but – going back to ESY’s item in the last issue – it is the real thing. Whatever you might think about his views of women GP drivers, I can’t see Stirling allowing someone else’s autograph to be passed-off as his own. What is interesting too, is how that signature has changed over the years compared with the earliest I have, from 1960. Mind you, Moss must have done hundreds of thousands of autographs in the six decades since he started racing. But it would be hard to beat triple world champ Sebastian Vettel for speed. Grand Prix Legends also arranged for him to sign some Torro Rosso and Red Bull race car models: they say he did 800 of them in just over 30 minutes!