EURO CARS - VENTURI RACER AND MORE TO 1:18 SCALE FROM OttOMOBILE

SMN REPORT
The successful Limited Edition outfit OttOmobile has some interesting car choices coming up shortly, starting with a rare racer, the Venturi 400 Trophy, to 1:18 scale.

Venturi 400 Trophy
The Venturi 400 Trophy was a race version of the Atlantique, a shapely French car made from 1991-2000. It may have been a looker, but sales didn’t match the curves, for fewer than 800 were sold in all. That didn’t stop critics from lavishing praise on it though, with the infamous Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear, saying that the Atlantique was, “like having your own personal jet fighter... I love it to death.”

Racing car
The team at OttOmobile has chosen to model the race version, a good choice, as it looks that bit meaner than the coupe (though that is due on sale in April) and allows a competition colour scheme. OttO’s ‘jet fighter’ model comes in 1:18 scale and should be available in late March 2013.

Pocket rocket
One of the best-handling small cars of the 1990s was the diminutive Peugeot (aka ‘Pug’) 106. OttOmobile’s Peugeot 106 is the S16 GTI model, widely regarded as the best of the line, with the driver-enthusiast’s most-wanted combo of powerful engine and uprated suspension. The model is available to order now, with deliveries at the end of January.

Limited Edition
The model is finished in metallic gold, a popular shade of the early 1990s, and comes with OttOmobile’s usual attention to detail, including a convincing interior. If you want one, we’d advise ordering soon, as it’s a Limited Edition of just 1250.

Smaller engine
I must confess an interest in the Peugeot 106, as I’m about the buy a red one for my younger daughter, though insurance considerations mean that it’s a cooking model, rather than the fire-breathing S16!

Update
This run of the 106 has just sold out, so keep an eye open for future editions in different markings.

Incoming February - Ford RS200
One of my favourite Fords ever, the RS200 was a mid-engine four-wheel drive racer produced from 1984-86 for Group B rally car racing, the regulations of which insisted that at least 200 road-going cars also had to be built. What an opportunity for power-freaks with deep pockets!

Bold markings
OttO’s model is a beauty, representing the car driven in 1986. The red-and white scheme suits the car, the decals are complete, and they fit the complex curves of the car well. OttO has a production run of 2000 planned for the Ford RS200.

All models available from the OttOmobile website here.

Car fan company
As for OttOmobile, it’s run by an ultra-keen bunch of car freaks, whose enthusiasm is best summed up in their own words:

“We are a gang of buddies addicted to cars and models. We went through numerous days and nights in building up our concept.

“...Car manufacturers have created cars that made us dream of day and night for decades.
Unfortunately, most of these models will never be produced in scale 1:18 for economical reasons.

“... Create model-cars that other mass-production manufacturing brands will never produce.

“...Our philosophy is very simple:

* Provide limited edition models for collectors.
* Release at least one model per month.
* Sell only on the internet.
* Satisfy as much people as possible by providing the lowest price!”

More OttOmobile models and articles to read here. 

2012 INCOMING - 1:18 SCALE MG RACE CAR FROM OTTOMOBILE

SMN report:

Due soon from OttOmobile of France is a 1:18 scale model of a “complete animal” of a mid-engined British race car, the MG Metro 6R4 from the 1980s.

What’s in the OttOmobile model?

OttO has modelled the all-racer nature of the 6R4 very well indeed. Race markings are the most obvious external giveaway and these all seem to be present and correct. Inside, the most obvious difference between the MG road car and the racer was that the engine was taken from between the front wheels to a midships position, behind the crew - and grew to a massive race-winning 3-litre V-6 lump. And OttO has produced a very good looking engine, so that’s all right then.

Metro 6R4 on the track

For a taste of 6R4 driving, have a look at this test drive video from the specialist Autocar motoring magazine. It’s a shortish clip, but includes lots of speed and power, background and tech-talk. Yum! Bright and bold, the OttO 6R4 will look terrific on the display shelf, so if you like the car, pre-orders are open for the limited 2000-item run now.

Other May models from OttO

Along with the Metro 6R4, OttOmobile are releasing a pair of eurocars - the unusual Renault Avantime, and a Volkswagen Golf MkII. The Avantime was a designer exercise in weirdness, a semi-luxury four-seater the size of a largish MPV. Rubbish to drive, mind: I tried one to see what it was like, and felt a bit like a sea captain in charge of a land yacht. 

The Avantime was big, unwieldy, and rolled like a pig in corners if you tried taking them at anything more than a leisurely afternoon stroll. However, let’s not be too down on the Avantime - it may have been odd and eccentric, but at least Renault tried something different!

Limited edition

As for the model, it’s up to OttO’s usual standard, though we reckon that something like this needs a few working parts to add interest. We’d love to see opening doors, windows, and more to give the Avantime a lift. However, for Avantime connoisseurs out there, it’s a must-have model. And for this limited audience, OttO’s production run of just 1250 models is probably about right.

Volkswagen Mk II Rallye

We’d say similar things of the Volkswagen Golf Mk II Rallye - this writer owned a sprightly Mk I GTi for a while, and the Mk II that replaced it was like dreary November, after the Springtime get-up-and-go of the original. Still, OttO has produced a decent enough model of the Mk II, so if you’re into this breed of VW, get on down to OttOmobile and bag yourself one. The Golf Rallye is limited to 2000 items so order soon.

Competition

A reminder that OttOmobile runs a monthly competition. Enter by March 31, and you stand to win a BMW E39 M5, or a Citroen 2CV 4x4 Sahara - in fact, the 2CV’s main run has sold out, so the comp is your best choice if you want one!

Visit OttOmobile here.

OttO competition here.

Heaps of OttO stuff available here.

There's more

Here's the MG Metro, a small city car that sold well in its home UK market for a decade or so. This was the sporty version of the original Austin vehicle, but of course the super-power 6R4 took little more than the basics from the plain-vanilla cars you might have seen nipping about British towns and villages of the time.

FIRE-BREATHING RENAULT RALLY RACER FROM OTTOMOBILE

SMN report:

Here’s a new 1:18 scale resin-based model from the French OttOmobile company that’s just come on release. It’s a Renault 5 Maxi Turbo racer, as driven by driver Erik Comas in French Supertourism rallies.

Championship-winning Frenchman

Renault entered the car three years running, 1985, 1986 and 1987, and Comas won the Supertourism Championship the third year. Interestingly, the winning vehicle - in red-and-blue markings that differ from the OttO model - is presently on sale (below) asking price €185,000 EUR ($245,000 USD) so if you have deep pockets and a desire for a two-decade-plus pocket rocket in your garage, here’s a chance to go for it. According to the sale details, it’s US-legal, so maybe there’s a shipping container waiting with your car’s name stamped on the front.

French road rocket for sale - luurve the metal floor!

Fine detail

Back to the model, and as with other OttO releases, it is fully finished and beautifully detailed - note the excellent and realistic texture on those seat belts. The OttO Renault 5 Maxi Turbo has to be well worth including in a rally-based auto collection. 

More new OttOstuff

Other new cars from OttO include the Citroen Visa (above) and Peugeot 205 (below). Both are of prime interest to French and Euro-car fans of course; even so, as a way of expanding a 1:18 scale collection away from the usual suspects they make an easy and stylish way to do it.

Info from OttOmobile here.

Renault 5 Turbo Maxi Supertourism on sale here.

All sorts of interesting Renault models here.

OTTOMOBILE SEXY CITROEN READY NOW

SMN report:

Here’s a new 1:18 scale resin-based model from the French OttOmobile company that’s on release this month. It’s a rally-racer Citroen, the model based on a hot-to-trot Citroen SM from the 1970s. This car starred in the African Bandama Rally of 1973, the year after the race had been stopped for lack of vehicles - there were no finishers at all that year!

Paris or Africa?

OttO has created a model of the 1973 Citroen that finished in fifth place. It was based on the ultra-stylish Franco-Italian Citroen-Maserati SM, a sleek auto normally far more at ease on the Champs Elysee than on the rough and tumble tracks of the Ivory Coast, home of the Bandama rally. 

Shortened version

In fact, the rally car was an SM hacked to pieces - it was shortened, and an aerodynamic ‘breadvan’-style Kamm tail replaced the sloping glass of the road car.

Model or original?

As for the OttO version, compare the pix of the model vs the original (below). We think you’ll agree OttO has done a pretty good rendering of the sky-blue rally racer.

For more information and order instructions, visit OttOmobile here.

Model pix courtesy OttOmobile.

The car that started it all off - the ultra-stylish Citroen SM.

EUROCARS FROM OTTOMOBILE ARRIVING JUNE

David Jefferis looks at a model car quartet

Here are four new 1:18 scale resin-based models from the French OttOmobile company, all to 1:18 scale. They are all well up to OttO’s usual standards, even if the subjects are hardly mainstream, especially to anyone (like me) more attracted to the speed and power of Mustangs, Ferraris or Batmobiles. However, that’s OttO’s successful philosophy: producing subjects that mainstream manufacturers won’t touch. They are all the same price at 39 Euro, and don’t forget that OttO’s pre-order system means models are often sold out soon after they have been announced.

A Spanish 124

This boxy Italian car was designed and produced by Fiat from 1966 to 1974, but perhaps more importantly has also been manufactured in clone variations around the world - and is still being churned out in Russia. All in all, the 124 design will have notched up more than 15 million units by the time production finally stops in 2012. The OttO model is actually the Spanish SEAT 2000 version, and is nicely produced, with the prominent rear window demister grid particularly well represented, as are the sport-style wheels.    

Citroen Visa Pistes

The stripes on this French five-door hatchback were about the only sporty thing about it, though there were some neat details to the rather dreary design, such as a sloping front end that reduced the amount of dirt and insect-life sticking to the headlights. If you had a piece of furniture to shift, a high-end Visa was useful, as the back seats came out, leaving a cathedral-like void in the rear. If you have nostalgic feelings toward Gallic tin like this, OttO’s model is a good representation.

Renault 25 Baccara

Another French machine, the 1980s-era Renault 25 was the one to be seen in if you were a mid-ranking politician or business-person. The external styling was neat if unexceptional, though the interior was penned by Italian designer Marcello Gandini, better known for the classic Lamborghini Countach. And OttO’s model shines in this department, as the super-squashy soft leather interior is extremely well done - in fact one of the best we’ve seen.

VW Golf VR6

Aaah, that’s better! I can relate to this one, having had a number of performance Golfs over the years. This is the Mk III version, produced through the 1990s, and the VR6 engine really made performance-plus a reality for Golf drivers - a great car. Like the other three models, OttO’s version is nicely done, even if the dark purple is not to my taste. No matter, if you drove one like this, then you’ll want the model.  

For more information and order instructions, visit OttOmobile here.

Model pix courtesy OttOmobile.

GORGEOUS FRENCH MODELS IN 1:18 SCALE FROM OTTOMOBILE

David Jefferis reports

Here are two new resin-based models from the French outfit OttOmobile, both to 1:18 scale. As OttO says of the model car business: “Pressure was stronger than in the real car business, but the product was so nice”. And these models look nice, too, though you’ll have to be quick as OttO’s pre-ordering philosophy means their releases often sell out very quickly indeed.

Matra Bagheera sports car

The latest OttO model depicts the Simca Matra Bagheera, a handsome mid-engined sports car made from 1973-1980. OttO has produced a very neat model, with interior detail that looks wholly accurate. The model is finished in black and green, though future issues will doubtless come in other shades, and for anyone interested in Euro performance cars of this period, definitely one for the collection.

Three-seater car

The real thing was unique for being the only vehicle of its kind to have three seats, and was quite useful as sports cars go, as it had a hatchback rear, with a flattish load bay under the glass. Body styling was the work of a Greek designer, Antonis Volanis. At that time, Italians such as Pinin Farina, Giorgetto Giughiaro and Giovanni Michelotti were stars in the auto-styling firmament, but Volanis worked well with the French, his best-known work probably being the first Renault Espace people-carrier. 

Silver Lemon award

Sad to say, the Bagheera earned few friends for its build quality, as the chassis had no rustproofing at all. The plastic body panels were no problem of course, but poor build earned the decent-looking machine at least one ‘Silver Lemon’ award. Funny that - in the same period I had an AlfaSud Sprint, a very fast and pretty four-seater, and it too had similar problems. Mind you, rust was less of an issue than the fact that it wouldn’t start at random moments - really handy when taking a girl home after a late night party... grrr!

Peugeot 205 Turbo 16

The other new OttOmobile is the super-hot wide-wheel Turbo 16, though it’s been sold out, unsurprising perhaps as the real thing (just 200 were built) was a fire-breathing race winner, and something of a French national hero. It’s a good looking model, detailed appropriately, and with an interior that includes the special seats Peugeot chose to include on the real one, specially emblazoned with the large version of Peugeot’s symbol, a lion rampant.

Win an OttOmobile model car

Don’t forget OttO’s monthly Lucky Draw chance to win a model car, so visit the OttOmobile website and enter the competition - just answer a simple question, and you’ll be in with a chance to win 'model of the month' for free!

To finish off, here's another OttO, the simply drop-dead gorgeous Renault Alpine. It's one of my all-time fave designs, especially with that combo of metallic blue and red wheels - IWOOT! 

For more information and order instructions, visit OttOmobile here.

The pictures show, top to bottom:

1-3  The three-seater Matra Bagheera.

4-6  The OttOmobile Peugeot 205 Turbo 16.

7-8  OttO Renault Alpine!

Model pix courtesy OttOmobile.

WIN A 1:18 SCALE CAR MODEL FROM OTTOMOBILE

The French outfit OttOmobile has a fast-expanding range of resin-based model cars, mostly in 1:18 scale, with some in the even bigger 1:12 scale. OttOmobile’s story is an interesting one, with the two principals coming from the ‘real’ car industry, where they worked as car design consultants for various manufacturers. The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus shown here, on release this month, is a good example of OttOmobile choosing an unusual subject and taking it as its own. 

From 1:1 scale to table-top size

Of the model car industry, Ottomobile’s comment about making the move from the real thing is: “...we enjoy making mini car. Pressure was stronger than in the real car business, but the product was so nice”.

Range of international clients

Ottomobile has worked for various model car makers, in France, Germany and Japan, and has also made some merchandising products for the Renault F1 team, such as a 1:6 scale F1 car, half-size steering wheel, key chain, and so on.

Resin model-maker in 1:18 scale

Then: “One day we decided to stop working for the other companies and we start to focus our own business. We created our own market by doing 1:18 model cars in resin”. OttOmobile is some two years old now, and markets its products exclusively online through its own webshop. There are already more than 50 models in the range, but the focus is on cars from the 1970-2000 era: “...we are not interested to make the old models, only car we dreamed when we were teenager.”

Pre-sales popular

Ottomobile started with the Renault Clio Williams and now has licenses to produce cars by other makes, including the likes of Audi, VW, Citroen, Peugeot, Ford, BMW. At first glance, Ottomobile’s cars may seem highly specialist, but there’s certainly a clear market for them, as many are pre-order sellouts before they are released. A glance at the webshop shows ‘epuise’ here and there. The word is French for ‘exhausted’ - in other words, sold out.

Win an OttOmobile model car

As for the ‘win’ opportunity, if you’d like a Lucky Draw chance to win a model car, visit the OttOmobile website and enter the competition - just answer a simple question, and you’ll be in with a chance to win model of the month for free - excellent stuff!

For more information and order instructions, visit OttOmobile here.

http://www.otto-models.com/

The pictures show, top to bottom:

1-4  One of the OttOmobile March 2011 releases, a 1:18 scale Talbot Sunbeam Lotus.

5  The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus was a successful racer in its day - here one is driven by Russell Brookes at Race Retro 2008, the International Historic Motorsport Show, at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, UK.

6  Coming next month from OttOmobile: a neatly produced Peugeot 405 in Gendarmerie (French police) markings.

Model pix courtesy OttOmobile.

Race Retro 2008 pic courtesy ‘estoril’.