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In 1972 Porsche added another
important trophy to their glorious history, this time; it was the Can-Am,
formerly known as Canadian-American Challenge Cup, with the Porsche 917/10
driven by Goerge Follmer in the L&M livery. Follmer did not race the first
race at Mosport, but did attend to all other races taking 5 wins and 4 fastest
laps out of the remaining 8 rounds. Mark Donohue was his teammate, taking a win
himself, but Follmer�s dominance was too hard to beat with 130 points out of
the possible 180. The model I have is the 1/18 from Minichamps and it�s sold as
a Dealer Edition.
Minichamps did a great job with this model, the proportions are perfect, stance
is great and ride height is precise. The paint is very well applied and
accurate and the chrome is very good. The livery is also 100% correct. This is
something that I do not understand though, L&M are a tobacco company, isn�t
that supposed to not be advertised on die-casts? On a HIGH negative note,
Minichamps used decals ( I do think all of them are) which do not look that
durable, first signs of problem are already beginning to show over the front
wheel vents.
From the front, the car looks very aggressive yet relatively plain. The car has
a mouth looking vents that probably was used to help keep the car cool but also
for down force. At the sides, the car has 2 holes and a duct going straight to
the brakes (tremendous power needs tremendous brakes). There is also a very
small and fine hook on the right hand side used for towing the car. However, MC
did a bad job in not doing a mesh for the vents but used a very unrealistic
plastic piece. At the back, first thing you notice is that enormous wing
suspended by two very realistic looking pieces, after that, you can notice some
engine detail and the silencers. All very well made and with exceptional
detail.
The model engine cover lifts off while the doors flip forward like the 917/30.
The shut lines are very small and constant in width. Sadly, the front part does
not come off, a part I would have utterly enjoyed to see.
Minichamps did a very nice job on the engine, it�s not over chromed and most
parts are formed from different pieces and coloured in realistic colours. Most
wires are individualized and all are plugged correctly. The underside of the
engine cover is painted in matt black. Just after the rear wheels, there are
two �chimneys� which are just under the metal engine cover which two metal
meshes over these which look really superb.
The doors open up with medium sized dogleg pieces and the underneath is again
painted in matt black. The dashboard is detailed well and the gauges are
readable. The steering wheel is of good standard and same goes for the pedals.
The seat is nicely done and the seatbelt and buckles are very realistic but,
something I had never noticed, they are part of the seat, not a separate piece.
Still very realistic, but could have been done better.
The wheels are accurately reproduced in both rim and rubber. The rear tyres are
much chunkier when compared to the fronts. Unfortunately,
one of the rims has a problem with its chrome, don�t know if it�s a
manufacturing problem or degradation. The brakes are very well made. The disk
is fixed while the disk (drilled) moves with the wheel.
The undercarriage shows some more detail regarding the engine and front
suspension. It also houses those dreaded scrw holes which are quite visible and
annoying. Other than that, it is sealed.
On the whole, this Minichamps is a very good and accurate model. However, it
does not come cheap because it�s a dealer edition. I would have expected some
tampos rather than decals and real seatbelts rather than just a shape on the
seat. None the less, faults or not, it is a truly striking model which I am
very happy to own. Minichamps has done various (normal issue) 917/10 and I do
recommend any one of them to any Porsche or Can-Am collector.
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