We’re not sure it will guarantee you honors in the Isolation Island Concours d’Elegance that our own Andy Reid has created on Facebook, but we do know that the latest hand-built scale model from the Amalgam Collection is the famed Mercedes-Benz W196 driving during the 1954 and 1955 Formula 1 seasons by the likes of Juan Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling and Hans Hermann.
“One of the most dominant cars to have ever raced at the pinnacle of motorsport, the W196 drove its competitors to despair during the 1954 and 1955 Formula 1 seasons in which it was entered, capturing the only two World Championships in which it competed,” the British-based Amalgam Collection said in its announcement.
The Amalgam model is based on Fangio’s No. 18 car, and the maker promises the model “replicates every curve and detail of the unique Streamliner bodywork.”
“Mercedes occupies a unique place in the history of the development of the motor car, a history that is complemented by the marque’s success on track,” added Amalgam founder Sandy Copeman. “Each time it cares to enter the F1 arena Mercedes dominates it completely.”
Amalgam said it will produce only 196 examples of the W196 model at its workshop in Hungary.
“The replicas are fashioned from thousands of precisely engineered parts, all built using original drawings and archive photographs supplied by Mercedes-Benz,” Amalgam said.
“Underneath the removable engine cover, the 2.5L straight-eight engine can be found precisely reproduced whilst, in the sparse racing cockpit, the weave and pattern of the plaid cloth used for seat cover is perfectly replicated.
“The model’s development took over 4500 hours and only concluded once Mercedes themselves were satisfied with the accuracy of representation. Every subsequent model takes over 400 hours to cast, fit, fettle, paint and assemble.
The models, done in 1:8 scale, are priced at $13,216 each. For details, visit the Amalgam Collection website.
