- BODY, WHEELS & TIRES: Road Race Replicas
This is the most detailed, most thought-out and, in many ways, the most beautiful HO-scale slot car body I have ever seen. A creation of Road Race Replicas-a vendor who, more than any other, I credit with getting me into this hobby-I have acquired 3 of these expensive bodies, and this red and gold version was the 2nd of them. Like all of RRR’s bodies, these were made in very limited numbers for a limited time and now, being long gone, are getting staggering prices when they show up on ePay. Though I am forever burned by missing the opportunity to get the one in black and yellow, this red and gold version is probably the most realistic version that was made, as a paint scheme almost exactly like this-albeit in red and yellow rather than gold-adorned several of the real thing.
The detail on this body is nothing short of epic, with the tail lights, bumpers, grille surround and headlights all being molded as separate pieces and the whole thing assembled like a model kit; there is even a tiny prancing horse logo in the center of the grille just like the real car. Mr Phil Pignon really outdid himself with this one, and I can’t imagine what RRR could do to top this…but I sure am looking forwarding to finding out! The only thing that puzzles me is why they elected to market the model as the “Legendary G.T.” I don’t believe the term “250 GTO” is copyrighted in any way, so why the “Hot Wheels-esque” name? It’s not important, though: everyone knows what it is, and the name certainly isn’t wrong; the 250 GTO was a legend in its own time, and has gone on to become a legend in the here and now, as it is perennially the world’s most valuable car; it seems that every few years or so a new price record is shattered when one changes hands. While I question whether any car, no matter how rare and beautiful, is worth this kind of money, one has to wonder what other car would be worthy of fetching these kinds of prices if this one isn’t. One racing driver once described the GTO in no uncertain terms: “It is the most exciting car I’ve ever driven.”
Christened Prometheus after the Greek god of fire, this particular GTO is owned by Italian-born Las Vegas businessman Victor Pellegrini, aka “Prestige” Pellegrini, who has been racing cars since his 20’s but made his considerable fortune in southwest desert real estate. Though Pellegrini and the GTO have lived in the US for decades, the car still wears its Rome-issued Italian license plates, as it is used only for competition and not driven on the street. Pellegrini has owned the car since the early 1980’s before the prices took a vertical leap, but has resisted many offers to part with it for a simple reason: no amount of money could replace it. “If I sold it, I would seek a new car to race, which means I would just buy another,” he said…a point well made: there is no substitute for the GTO!
Though the images you see here were taken at Drag City Mk.II when the car was new, is has never changed: what else could it have been fitted with than wire wheels? She runs on an Ultra-G fitted with OS3 Black Dragon field magnets and, though she’s still fast, is definitely showing some wear from racing and is probably due for an overhaul soon. But, an overhaul she shall have: any car this valuable will be endlessly rebuilt, just like the real thing.
Sunning detail, even down to the wire wheels! I understand the comment by Mr. Pellegrini and I would do the same! 🙂