MAISTO 1/18 AUDI R8R - NO.8 - 1999 LE MANS 24 HOURS

The 24 Hours of Le Mans road race has been one of motor racing's most prestigious--and grueling--events for decades. This Maisto 1:18 scale die-cast car replicates Audi's 200-plus mph R8R, one of the most technically advanced endurance racing cars in the world. Remove the engine cover and find a beautifully re-created engine (complete with ignition wires) and a real working spring suspension. Look in the cockpit to see detailed instruments and restraint system--authentic right down to the logos. The steering really works and the numerous sponsor decals that adorn this silver beauty are nigh perfect. Includes a stackable plastic display unit. --Matthew Mason  Shop here

AUTO ART 1/18 DATSUN FAIRLADY

This Japanese-made model is divine. The Datsun Fairlady is an excellent base for a replica: a sort of oriental MG Midget, and Auto Art have done a cracking job replicating this car. We love the interior and that detailed dash, the beautiful steel rim wheels with period hub caps, the fitted wing mirrors and the general body shut lines which are spot on. This model comes with a choice of three hood styles: two erected and a black one, folded down. Shop here

CORGI - LONDON TRANSPORT ROUTEMASTER

  

This model  is Routemaster London Bus from Corgi. It was a very detailed model with correct stair and platform layout and a wire handrail trapped between body and chassis. It had jeweled headlights and was fitted with a driver and a clippie. This received a change of labels along the length of the top deck, which now bore the Outspan orange publicity material. The Article number for the Bus remained unchanged.

IXO 1/43 RENAULT 5 TURBO - No.18

 A Renault 5 Turbo - this one being a full-blown rally car which competed in the rally car which completed in the 1980 Tour De Course of Corsica by Saby and 'Tilber' and it's a real darling with good attention to detail, auch as the Marchal driving lamp covers, the correct differing seats for driver and co-driver, excellent reproduction of the heated rear window, special red-spoked rear wheels and the splendid light clusters. It's a shame that the dashboard is just a block of plastic but overall the Renault is simply delightful in its French racing blue. Shop here

EXOTO 1/18 RENAULT RE20 TURBO V6 1.5 LITRE

After winning the very first Grand Prix ever in 1906, Renault returned to Grand Prix racing in 1977. The 1980 French Grand Prix was held at Paul Ricard on June 29, 1980. Renault chose to open the season by developing and modifying their existing cars - chassis RS10, RS12 and RS14 - however during the season, built 3 new cars. To pay respect and honor their main sponsor, the Elf petroleum company, these new cars were dubbed the RE20, RE21, and RE22, with the 'RE' standing for 'Renault Elf'. Exoto has recreated the RE20 driven by Rene Arnoux in the 1980 French Grand Prix in beautiful 1/18 scale! This model is gorgeous and full of the details we've come to love and respect Exoto for. There are way too many to name so here's just a few: - fully detailed drivers cockpit with suede-like seat covering - authentic three-tone Renault colors - removeable cowling for full view of chassis and engine detail - functioning steering and front suspension - numerous photo-etched details - fully wired and plumbed, twin turbo, Renault-Gordini V6 engine - ...AND SO MUCH MORE! Here's a little more history on the car, courtesy of Exoto.com: Drivers Rene Arnoux and Jean-Pierre Jabouille watched as the French engineers worked hard during the off-season to make the very powerful 1.5-litre, twin turbocharged engine more reliable. By the end of the season, Arnoux had won two Grands Prix victories (Brazil and South Africa) while Jabouille scored one victory (Austria). At the 1980 French Grand Prix, Renault was expected to do very well due to the nature of the long straight at the Paul Ricard circuit. Arnoux started in second position and finished fifth while Jabouille started a disappointing sixth and blew his transmission on the first lap. It was obvious that Renault still had a ways to go until the bugs were completely worked out of their very sophisticated cars.

This model has a lift-off upper body, just as the original of 20 years ago. It reveals intricate wiring, as well as the engine detail that you would expect from this series. See more

VANGUARDS 1/50 LAND ROVER SERIES 1 -AA

The Land Rover was launched in 1948 in order to get a product to the market in the immediate aftermath of World War Two. Rover envisaged it would be sold to farmers, and initially underestimated demand for the vehicle. However, the AA Series 1 modelled here is typical in that once the Land Rover was on the market, organisations all over the world realized it was the answer to their problem, and put it to a bewildering amount of uses. With hindsight, its obvious that its towing capacity, storage, and go anywhere ability make the Land Rover an ideal vehicle for an organisation like the AA. See more

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MOTORING WITH SHELL

In the 1930s the fledgling UK oil industry's numerous and conspicuous outdoor petrol advertisrments attracted critical attention from local authorities.

Shell introduced an imaginative and much praised alternative by displaying 30 by 40 inch posters on the side of its delivery trucks.

These posters continued the trend established by Shell in the 1920s for advertising with distinctive graphics, humour and highly original eye-catching work, using well-known artistics such as Rex Whistler and H.M. Bateman, toconvey the company's personality to customers.

A further poster series was commissioned by Shell from the most respected names in 20th century art, including Graham Sutherland, Edward McKnight Kauffer, Paul Nash, Edward Nicholson, John Piper and Vanessa Bell. Together their work offers a graphic chronicle of the dawn of mass motoring and the development of advertising.

By 1997 the motor industry and 'The Shell Transport and Trading Company' will have celebrated 100 years. The recurring theme from the posters of the 1930s-enjoyable and trouble free motoring with Shell-continue to be the cornerstone of the relationship Shell has with motorists today.