Introduction: This model (and the #42 car with white windshield graphic) was originally released as a dealer exclusive, for the ALMS series I believe. Prices were upwards of $125-$175 on ebay for a while, as people scrambled to get one. Shortly thereafter, Minichamps released cars representing the Petit Le Mans series for retail distribution. From what I've seen, the only differences between the retail cars and the dealer exclusives are the small race & driver decals on the driver's side door. The car you see below is the less expensive retail version. Don't let the phrase "less-expensive" scare you on this, because as I said this does not mean it's a down-market diecast....it's simply available in greater numbers than the dealer-exlusive version and consequently sells for much less money. Unless you're into scarcity more than simply collecting diecasts, I'm not sure the dealer-exclusive version would be worth your $125+.
Highs: For the crown of "Heaviest Diecast I've ever Seen" (not counting CMC's 1/18 transporter, of course), this model would be in a close battle with the new Lane 442 (black with white stripes, review coming soon). It weighs in at a hefty 2.8 pounds....for comparison's sake, Kyosho's new Countach LP500 weighs 1.4 lbs. So if heft, substance and solidity are important to you, you're going to love this diecast. Not only is it solidly built, it's also the most detailed Minichamps model I've ever seen. From the aluminum mesh in the lower front airdam, to the tiny metal hood pulls on the hood in front of the black air intake vents, to the gorgeous branded tires, to the fully detailed racing hardware and plumbing in the trunk, to the flawless application of one of the more intricate paint/logo schemes I've seen, it's a beautiful diecast. Now, when I say "racing hardware and plumbing" in the trunk, I use those terms because I really have no idea what's in there. I'm not a racing guy, and don't have much interest in it. For all I know, there could be a nuclear reactor or flux capacitor in there. But I still got in there with my magnifying loupe and had a cool time checking out all the "stuff". There's more stuff in the interior, including a racing seat with blue fabric shoulder harness, fire extinguisher, flexible hosing from the rear-quarter window mounted fuel port, and fantastic "M3" aluminum door sill plates. The exhaust system also runs underneath a metal housing along the floor of the passenger side, leading to twin sidepipes in the lower fairing underneath the right-side door. And those air intakes I mentioned in the hood? They're real mesh screens too. The doors fit so tightly that you'll actually use the tiny door handles to open them up, and they spring open and closed as nicely as the great doors on the Autoart 350Z. The BMW logos all around are raised emblems, not stickers. Finally (not really, since there's so much more I don't have time to get to), all 4 wheels are on tightly so they roll with the smoothness of a real car with minimal wobble and vibration.
Lows: Trunk lid will not stay up in the fully-open position, though it will catch and stay up about halfway up. Air vents in the flared fenders behind the tires are stickers, not real vents. Hood hinges are basic...nothing like what GMP uses on the GTO or Camaro, but they do work smoothly and hold the hood up fully.
Summary: While it's not quite an Exoto, it's pretty darned close, and for half the money too. These can be had fairly easily for under $75, and at that price it's a great value. Excellent paint and logo work, fantastic racing component detail, sweets wheels and tires, perfect stance and proportions....plus just look at it! It just looks mean, and colorful, and vivid, and aggressive, and fast all at the same time. What diecast collection wouldn't benefit from having one of these sit right in the center? Plus, this extremely-positive review is coming from someone who doesn't know diddly about racing cars, or racing componentry. Someone who actually knows what's sitting in the trunk, and in the interior compartment, would probably appreciate this model even more than I do. Whether you're in that camp, or the dummy camp with me, I highly recommend this diecast to all collectors.
