Here’s another batch of models after they’ve had their missing tobacco decals applied, enabling them to properly represent how the cars ran back in the day. Includes race cars that carried Gitanes, Marlboro, L&M and Player’s liveries and markings.
Gitanes
The 1982 Ligier JS19 made its race debut at the Monaco GP and stood out from the pack with its long and tapered full-length underbody.
Ligier JS19 with the wailing V12 Talbot (Matra) engine, Jacques Laffite 1982 Monaco GP by Spark, with extra decals supplied by the manufacturer.
Now with all the Es in place to complete the Gitanes branding.
As a matter of interest, this car was designed to have the side-skirts that rub the track surface (creating a seal for the low underbody pressure) run full length to the rear of the car. However, this was deemed illegal and the skirts had to be cut back to the rear axle line, robbing the JS19 (according to the team) 30% of its downforce. Also, on this early version the exhaust pipes exit behind the rear wheels. Later in the season, exhausts exited on top of the rear deck bodywork. At some events it ran without the nose wings.
The 1994 Ligier JS39B was a carryover of the previous season’s Renault V10 powered JS39. The cut-out atop the airbox was due to the regulation change after Ayrton Senna’s accident, the governing body attempting to slow the cars by easing engine intake pressure.
Ligier JS39B Renault, Olivier Panis 1994 Canadian GP by Spark
Now with the Gitanes Es in place.
Spark really screwed up the Font size on a couple of the E decals! This one for the rear wing is too small…
…and the one for the scuttle is too large!
L&M
In 1972, this Sunoco sponsored McLaren M16B took the first of Roger Penske’s many wins in the Indianapolis 500. Driven by Mark Donohue, it won the race at record speed for the time.
Spark’s 1972 Indy winner includes the missing L&M tobacco logos for on the rear wing endplates
Penske’s first Indy winner, complete with L&M decal
Player’s
Player’s Limited sponsored Team Green’s entry for Jacques Villeneuve. This 1:43 diecast from Minichamps is not the exact specification the car ran to win Indy in 1995, but it’s very close.
Minichamps ’95 Reynard, Jacques Villeneuve. Aftermarket Players decals had to be purchased separately
Decals applied (plus some detail painting, such as inside the cockpit, pop-off valve etc)
Marlboro
Frank Williams soldiered on into the 1975 season with a confusing mix of updated cars utilising chassis from previous years and even parts from other teams. Arturo Merzario (who was the guy who pulled Niki Lauda from his burning Ferrari) was one of Frank’s regular drivers that year.
There is debate whether this is a Williams “FW” or “FW03”. Regardless, this is the 1975 version that Arturo Merzario drove at the Brazilian GP.
Merzario had money for the ride due to a long-term personal association with Philip Morris / Marlboro, and now this model from Spark has its ciggie ID in place.
BRM ran a startling number of drivers in their range of cars during the early ’70s.
Bill Brack was one of many drivers to buy a ride in the BRM team. This car represents his only F1 start for 1972 at his local Canadian GP aboard BRM’s ‘rearward weight bias’ P180 model.
Modelled by Spark in 1:43 scale, Brack’s racer now has all the proper tobacco markings applied.
