Biante Newsletter 47 by Biante Model Cars

AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW FROM YOUR LOCAL BIANTE DEALER.

Biante Newsletter - Issue 47 - July 2013

*1:18 Scale Prototype Model Shown

VE LAUNCH 1:18 SCALE 2007 HOLDEN VE V8 SUPERCAR LAUNCH CAR Biante Model Cars are very pleased to present the opportunity to place your orders for the 1:18 Scale Holden VE Commodore V8 Supercar Launch Car which debuted in 2007. The arrival of the VE Commodore into the V8 Supercars Championship in 2007 was a keenly awaited one for Holden fans all over Australia. After the success of the VE road car, racing fans got their first look of the V8 Supercar version of the car in late 2006 when Holden unveiled the racing version for the first time. The VE was the first new floor pan for a Commodore since the VT, which had debuted in V8 Supercars in 1998 and formed the basis of the floor pan for the VX, VY and VZ models that followed. Built by Walkinshaw Racing and Holden Motorsport, the first VE Commodore prototype V8 Supercar featured more aggressive, ‘fatter’ styling than the VZ it replaced while retaining all of the same running gear (engine, gearbox, tailshafts, diff housing, double wishbone front suspension etc) as the superseded model. The prototype car project began in April 2006 when a body shell was delivered to Holden’s homologation team, the Holden Racing Team, in Melbourne. It was eventually built up into the very first VE Commodore V8 Supercar and underwent testing at Holden’s Lang Lang proving grounds in the hands of HRT pilots Todd Kelly and Mark Skaife before being taken to Woomera in South Australia for on-going aerodynamic testing. Long-time Holden endurance driver Nathan Pretty also drove the car in a TEGA (Touringcar Entrants Group of Australia) aerodynamic test and it was unveiled to the public during a launch on October 24, 2006 at Holden HQ in Port Melbourne. It appeared in a one-off day-glow red, black and white livery with the familiar Holden ‘racing lion’ logo down the side, Holden corporate signage and the number ‘07’ on the door as a prelude to the car’s racing debut in the 2007 Clipsal 500 in Adelaide. “If there’s a better looking race car around, I haven’t seen it!” commented Skaife at the time. “The flared guards of the VE road car suit the race variant perfectly and give the car a real hard nosed Euro stance – it’s going to look fantastic at race circuits around the country.” Unlike other occasions where prototype cars remained as static displays or ride cars when their work in the homologation process had been done, the original VE Commodore ended up becoming a race car and was pressed into service the following season. It competed in the first few events of the 2007 V8 Supercars Championship in the hands of Mark Skaife and the Holden Racing Team carrying the racing number 2 before being sold to privateer driver Tony D’Alberto, who drove it in the V8 Supercars Championship in 2008, 2009, 2010 and the beginning of 2011 before moving into a Falcon. From 2007 and 2012, the VE Commodore (and its VE II brother) would become the most winning car in Australian Touring Car Championship/V8 Supercars Championship history with 103 race wins across six seasons of racing. The stunning VE V8 Supercar launch car has been finely replicated by Biante Model Cars. Ensure you don’t miss out on this special piece of Holden Motorsport history by placing your orders as soon as possible.

ORDERING INFORMATION: Product Code: B18301A - Model: 1:18 Scale Holden VE Commodore V8 Supercar Launch Car Pricing: RRP: $199.50 including GST

AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW FROM YOUR LOCAL BIANTE DEALER

Biante News:

JULY NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

BIANTE & DICK JOHNSON

This month Biante Model Cars have quite an impressive list of new model announcements that are sure to interest collectors. Straight off the top, the 1:18 Scale Holden LC Torana V8 XU-1 (otherwise known as the XU-2) driven at Calder by Peter Brock is a fantastic model and represents another rare piece of Australian Motorsport folklore. Imagine if the V8 XU-2 Torana program had actually come to fruition, how would the history books have looked then!

Biante Model Cars are delighted to announce that we have come to a new agreement with Australian motorsport legend Dick Johnson to continue to sign certificates for his models produced by us that form the 1:18 Scale Biante Dick Johnson Collection.

Staying with racing as a theme, we have two new 1:18 Scale Holden V8 Supercar announcements this month, one of them being the very attractive 2007 VE V8 Supercar Launch car that has graced the cover of this issue and the other being the 1:18 Scale 2011 Bundaberg Racing VEII driven by Fabian Coulthard who is quickly becoming a force in the V8 category. Both models look fantastic and will do justice to any V8 Supercar collection, we’re particularly big fans of the launch car though which really looks impressive in the flesh! On the road car front we have three iconic muscle cars that we’re announcing in 1:18 Scale this month. The Holden LC Torana GTR in Lone O’Ranger really looks the goods, the Holden HQ Monaro GTS350 Coupe in Gun Metal Grey with Black stripes looks tough and menacing while the rare Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III in Rothmans Blue with the optional sun roof looks awesome and has a particularly interesting back story behind it that you can read about in this issue.

After a brief lapse which saw two Biante Dick Johnson Collection models released without Dick Johnson’s signature on the certificates, we’re very happy to have him back on board. We’re very aware of Dick Johnson’s racing credentials and his high standing in the upper echelon of the history of Australian motorsport and Biante are extremely pleased to continue our long standing association together. Along with Allan Moffat and Jim Richards, Dick has rejoined Biante to continue to bring iconic models of famous cars from their respective careers with a signed Certificate of Authenticity, personally endorsing the high quality of Biante Model Cars and the cars that represent important pieces of their illustrious association with Australian, and at times, international motorsport. We look forward to continue to bring you models from the famous career of Dick Johnson and share them with collectors for years to come.

We have two 1:43 Scale announcements for this month. The first is the Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop driven by Fred Gibson and Barry Seton in the 1973 Hardie Ferodo 1000 that is another nice addition to the Biante Motor Racing Legends series. Rounding out this months announcements is the 1:43 Scale Ford EB Falcon driven to victory in the 1994 Tooheys 1000 by Dick Johnson and John Bowe. We have been receiving requests for this model for a considerable period of time and it will be produced in resin using a new supplier and improved production methods. All of these newly announced models are available to pre-order now from your local Biante dealer. William Hall General Manager Biante Model Cars

DIECAST MODEL EXPO

HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR - SURFERS PARADISE The Diecast Model Expo will be held again at the Hotel Grand Chancellor on the 9th, 10th and 11th of August, 2013. This three-day event caters not only for every diecast model collector but their families as well. The Gold Coast offers a fantastic variety of things to do for mum, dad and the kids and would be a great event to attend while enjoying a family holiday at the same time. Biante Model Cars are again, very pleased to continue our association with the Diecast Model Expo and we are busy producing a special limited edition model that will be available at the event. We will also be attending the event ourselves and will have a display set up with some previously and yet to be announced models that are coming up from us in the near future and also a few upcoming releases from our agency brands. Swing by and say hello to our General Manager, William Hall and other Biante representatives who are more than willing to have a chat and answer your questions. With Allan Moffat also in attendance and many more things to do over the weekend related to models, it is sure to be a great event for collectors to check out so visit http://www.diecastmodelexpo.com.au for more information about this event and we hope to see you there!

9TH TO 11TH AUGUST 2013

New Announcements: 1:18 Scale Holden HQ Monaro GTS350 Coupe

GUNMETAL GREY GTS350 A MENACING MODEL FOR MUSCLE CAR COLLECTORS *1:18 Scale Prototype Model Shown

Biante Model Cars are very pleased to present the opportunity to place your orders for the striking 1:18 Scale Holden HQ Monaro GTS350 Coupe in the menacing Gun Metal Grey with Black Stripes colour scheme. The Holden Monaro could easily lay claim to being one of Australia’s most iconic and most beloved cars that has ever been produced. From its inception in 1968, to its modern evolution in 2001, the Monaro has, and always will have a place in the Australian motor enthusiasts heart. The HQ Monaro was the first model series to make up the second generation of Monaro’s produced for the Australian market from 1971 to 1977. The new HQ series featured a new body design and the new coupe design wasn’t initially considered as sporty looking as the previously released HK, HT and HG versions of the car. Some attributed this to the overall shape with the rear window being larger and the rear quarter window being much squarer than previous versions, which affected the curve and slope of roof flowing into the rear of the car. These initial concerns were eventually dismissed however, with the HQ now being considered one of the best designs produced by an Australian manufacturer. The HQ Monaro GTS was faced with some unfortunate competition from within its own ranks, which some argue hurt its progress at the time. The Statesman luxury sedan was also available with the 350 engine as an option and the replacement of the bigger coupes with the Holden Torana GTR XU-1 as Holden’s favoured machine for Touring Car racing both combined to detract some of the attention away from the Monaro. In 1973, Holden introduced bonnet and boot lid paint outs to the range in a bid to counter these issues. Some also claim it was purely a move to help avoid consumer confusion between the newly released 4-door Monaro GTS sedan, and the much more humble Kingswood sedan, from which the GTS was based. The bold striping on the bonnet and the boot lid added an iconic element to the HQ Monaro GTS and today a factory HQ 350 GTS Coupe is considered quite rare indeed, with pristine examples fetching prices up to $100,000. This 1:18 scale replica of the 1973 Holden HQ Monaro GTS350 Coupe in the menacing colour combination of Gun Metal Grey with Black Stripes is a remarkable example of this iconic car. This model is a faithful replication of its 1:1 counterpart and some of the features include fully opening parts, realistic interior, high quality paint finishing, pose-able steering and will be an exclusive limited edition. Ensure you place your orders as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out on another beautiful road going model from Biante.

ORDERING INFORMATION: Product Code: A73388 Model: 1:18 Scale Holden HQ Monaro GTS350 Coupe - Gun Metal Grey with Black stripes. Pricing: RRP: $199.50 including GST

AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW FROM YOUR LOCAL BIANTE DEALER

New Announcement: 1:18 Holden LC V8 Torana (The XU-2) - Driver: Peter Brock

THIS MODEL FORMS PART OF THE BIANTE PETER BROCK COLLECTION

ORDERING INFORMATION: Product Code: A87260 Model: 1:18 Scale Holden LC Torana V8 XU-1 (The XU-2) - 1972 Calder Test Driver: Peter Brock (Forms Part of the Biante Peter Brock Collection) Pricing: RRP: $199.50 including GST

NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER FROM YOUR LOCAL BIANTE DEALER

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THE V8 TORANA *1:18 Scale Prototype Model Shown

Biante Model Cars are very pleased to announce the opportunity to place your orders for the historic 1:18 Scale Holden LC Torana V8 XU-1 (XU-2) test driven by Peter Brock at Calder in 1972. It became one of the most controversial moments in Australia’s muscle car history: The Supercar Scare of 1972. In essence, media hysteria and political manoeuvring stopped plans by the nation’s ‘big three’ car makers, Holden, Ford and Chrysler, from building high performance road cars in sufficient numbers to qualify them to compete in what was then known as the HardieFerodo 500 (now the Supercheap Auto 1000) at Bathurst. The fact that these cars could be sold to the general public for normal road use outraged some and the media outcry was enough for the various cars to be canned before they were put into production. Ford had planned a Phase Four of the GT-HO Falcon, while Chrysler was working on a V8 R/T E55 Charger.

of 1982, 1983 and 1984) also racing the car on the support card having also been given the task of road testing the car from Melbourne to Adelaide! Come mid-May and the prototype Torana was back in action, though this time in Melbourne for the first time at Calder. Running under the number 10 (and minus the front and rear boot lid spoiler that Bond had used in the car’s appearance at Bathurst), it was simply entered as a ‘V8 Torana’ for the Marlboro Trophy Series races on May 14 with Brock nominated as driver. While it was minus the spoilers, the car still ran with widened steel wheels and radial tyres in a field packed with quality given it was a combined Sports Sedan and Improved Tourer category running as a support to the ‘Repco Birthday 5 Race Series’ for Formula 5000 and Formula 2 open wheelers.

It was Holden’s work, through Harry Firth and the Holden Dealer Team on a V8-powered XU-1 Torana (designated XU-2 by Firth) that caught plenty of attention, even though the car itself had been testing under everyone’s noses on the race track during the season! Holden deemed that the only way to beat Ford at Bathurst (after two years of drubbings at the hands of the GT-HOs) was to move from six-cylinders to a V8 power plant in the nimble Torana.

Norm Beechey’s Monaro, Bob Jane’s Camaro, John Harvey’s Jane-run Repco-Torana and Alan Hamilton’s Porsche 911 were all part of the field so it was no surprise that Brock ran mid-field in the event against such modified machinery and barely rated a mention in the magazine race reports of the time. But that in itself would have been perfect given the car was acting a ‘quiet’ test bed for later in the year, though just six weeks later the Torana V8 project was cancelled by GM-Holden in the wake of the ‘Supercar Scare’ and it’s believed that Brock’s appearance at Calder was the prototype car’s last race outing. The car itself was reverted to original six-cylinder trim and sold, never to race in The Great Race at Bathurst it was being prepared for.

A prototype car using one of the team’s LC GTR XU-1s was created as a test bed for the project in late 1971 and appeared at a handful of events in 1972 under the guise of a Sports Sedan. Colin Bond drove the five-litre ‘308’-powered Torana at the Easter meeting at Bathurst and promptly won a five-lapper, giving Firth and the HDT an idea of just what their October race contender would be capable of later in the year for the then-500-mile classic. Peter Brock then drove the car at Adelaide International Raceway, again in Sports Sedans, with Larry Perkins (his future Bathurst-winning HDT co-driver

Brock and Holden would have to wait until 1974 (and the arrival of the SLR/5000 and L34-optioned Torana) to take a V8-powered Torana to the Mountain, leaving the stillborn Torana V8 project of 1972 an important part of Australian muscle car history. Not only is this car one of the great casualties of the infamous Supercar Scare of 1972, it represents another unique piece of Australian Motorsport history. Forming part of the Biante Peter Brock Collection, ensure you place your orders as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this iconic model.

New Announcement: 1:18 Holden LC Torana GTR - Lone O’Ranger (1971)

ORDERING INFORMATION: Product Code: A72572 Model: 1:18 Scale Holden LC Torana GTR - Lone O’Ranger (1971) Pricing: RRP: $199.50 including GST

NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER FROM YOUR LOCAL BIANTE DEALER

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THE LONE O’RANGER GTR *1:18 Scale Prototype Model Shown

Biante Model Cars are very pleased to present the opportunity to place your orders for the absolutely gorgeous 1:18 Scale Holden LC Torana GTR in the stunning Lone O’Ranger colour scheme.

It is without any shadow of a doubt that the LC Torana was a game changer for General Motors Holden. The LC formed the building blocks for the Torana nameplate to not only become a force to be reckoned with in terms of on road sales during the 1970s, but for it to also become a force in Australian motorsport After years of producing the iconic GTS 327 and 350 Monaros, Holden were faced with the challenging prospect of bringing a new model to the market that was not only more competitively priced then the larger Monaro beasts but had a small body / big performance package which when both combined, would attract more youthful and mainstream buyers. The LC Torana GTR was the product of this new vision from Holden. It was a cheaper, sportier package than what was available in the Australian market at the time and it was certainly the beginnings of the famous Torana legend. Released in October, 1969 as part of the 6-Cylinder range of Toranas, the GTR used a 2.6 Litre ‘161’ engine that was commonly found in the base model Holden Belmonts but with a raft of modifications including the cylinder head, camshaft, exhaust and dual throat carburettor. The new ‘161S’ engine was only capable of producing a slightly higher performance output, but it was in a significantly lighter car body which made a world of difference. Along with the engine treatment, the four-speed manual transmission and disc brakes added to the GTR’s performance package.

Available in a range of gorgeous colours, the GTR was $100 less than the base model Monaro’s available at the time. While the asking price was $100 less, many punters argue that the high insurance costs for the new sporty GTR were a major deterrent for new customers. While this could have been an issue longterm for Holden, once the visionary Harry Firth from the Holden Dealer Team recognised the potential of this new, nimble, 6 cylinder model and started to develop a package capable of taking on the Australian Motorsport landscape, another beast entirely was beginning to be discovered in the form of the XU-1. The eventual development of the GTR XU-1 would not only lead to a performance package that couldn’t be ignored for Holden and a nameplate that would truly begin to shape Australian Motorsport for the better part of the next decade… but that’s another story. The 1:18 Scale Holden LC Torana GTR in Lone O’Ranger is a gorgeous replication of a simply stunning car. Place your orders for this model as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out on this legendary Torana.

New Announcement: 1:18 Holden Commodore VEII V8 Supercar - Driver: Fabian Coulthard

THE 2011 BUNDABERG RACING BEAST WHERE FABIAN COULTHARD BEGUN TO TRULY HONE HIS CRAFT

ORDERING INFORMATION: Product Code: B18311K Model: 1:18 Scale Holden VEII V8 Supercar - 2011 Bundaberg Racing Driver: Fabian Coulthard Pricing: RRP: $199.50 including GST

NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER FROM YOUR LOCAL BIANTE DEALER

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2011 BUNDABERG RACING *1:18 Scale Prototype Model Shown

Biante Model Cars are very pleased to present the opportunity to place your orders for the 1:18 Scale Holden Commodore VEII driven by Fabian Coulthard for Bundaberg Racing over the course of the 2011 V8 Supercars Championship Season.

Kiwi Fabian Coulthard has established himself as one of the best recent racing exports of New Zealand in the V8 Supercar era. After originally appearing on the Australian motorsport radar at the Albert Park Formula Ford support event in 2002, Coulthard raced overseas before returning back to Australia to compete in Porsche Carrera Cup. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2004 and returned in 2005 to claim the title. Signed as an endurance driver with Tasman Motorsport in 2004 in V8 Supercars he ran part-time schedules with Paul Morris Motorsport before signing with Paul Cruickshank Racing in 2008. After two seasons with the Queensland team, he moved to Walkinshaw Racing in 2010 and spearheaded a two-car Bundaberg Red Racing operation alongside the Holden Racing Team entries, though the season would prove to be tough with results lacking. Coulthard returned in 2011, though in a single car Bundaberg entry from Walkinshaw Racing now running in black, orange and silver colours under the #61 as stable mate to HRT duo Garth Tander and James Courtney. With the experienced Erik Pender as Team Manager and Rob Starr as engineer of car #61, Coulthard began the season with a modified livery in Abu Dhabi under the ‘Hazzah Racing’ banner due to the restrictions on alcohol advertising in the Middle East. He finished eighth in the opening race of the season before banking a pair of top 10 results at the Clipsal 500 and a seventh in the opening race in Hamilton, New Zealand. A late-race accident with Tim Slade in the Sunday race in Hamilton gave Coulthard his first of three DNFs (did not finishes) for the year in the 28-race season. Barbagallo in Perth proved to be tough with Coulthard failing to finish in the top 10 in any of the three races before bouncing back to form on the team’s home test track at Winton with a 10th and a 5th. Hidden Valley in Darwin proved tough as well and again the Bundaberg Commodore missed out on a top 10 finish, but returned to ‘the 10’ with an eighth place on the

Sunday of Townsville. Queensland Raceway proved difficult with 24th, 18th and 7th-placed finishes before the arrival of the endurance races.

Kiwi Porsche ace Craig Baird was signed to partner Coulthard for Phillip Island and Bathurst, while American Porsche works driver Patrick Long was signed for the Gold Coast 600 under the special ‘international driver only’ co-driver rules of the event. Coulthard and Baird finished 10th at Phillip Island after leading 10 of the 113 laps, but their race at Bathurst would last just 13 laps in a newly-reliveried car. A stuttering Team BOC Commodore of Jason Bright caused Coulthard to take avoiding action at the exit of the Dipper, the duo cars touching and the Bundaberg Commodore bouncing off the wall. The Kiwi returned the car to the pits but its geometry was severely affected and the damage too great to easily fix and return the car safely to the race. Things went far better a fortnight later on the Gold Coast as he and Long teamed up to finished fifth on Saturday (the third fifth-place of the season for Coulthard, which would turn out to be his season-best) and 15th on the Sunday. The season was rounded out by a return to single driver events at Symmons Plains, Sandown and Sydney Olympic Park. A pair of top 10 results at Symmons Plains was followed by a consistent 9th and 12th at Sandown before an 11th on Saturday in Sydney. Finishing in the top 10 in the championship was on the cards all season for Coulthard, though it was snuffed out in the final race of the season on Sunday after contact on the opening lap with James Moffat. The last-race retirement was a blow, dropping Coulthard from a top 10 position in the points to a final finish of 12th for the season, ironically he was bounced out of the top 10 in the very last race by Walkinshaw teammate Courtney. However, it was, at that point, Coulthard’s best finish in the championship and set him on a path that would lead to Brad Jones Racing for 2012 and, ultimately, his first V8 Supercar race win in 2013. With Fabian Coulthard fast becoming a star of the V8 Supercars Championship, please place your orders to ensure you don’t miss out on his 2011 Bundaberg Racing Commodore.

New Announcement: 1:43 Ford XA Falcon GT 1973 Hardie Ferodo 1000 - Drivers: Gibson/Seton

ORDERING INFORMATION: Product Code: BL67315 Model: 1:43 Scale Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop - 1973 Hardie Ferodo 1000 Drivers: Fred Gibson / Barry Seton Pricing: RRP: $66.00 including GST

NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER FROM YOUR LOCAL BIANTE DEALER

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73 FORD XA GT HARDTOP *1:43 Scale Prototype Model Shown

Biante Model Cars are very pleased to present the opportunity to place your orders for the 1:43 Scale Ford XA Falcon GT Hardtop driven by Fred Gibson and Barry Seton at the 1973 Hardie Ferodod 1000. AFTER four years of its Falcon GT-HO forming the basis of its contender at the annual Hardie-Ferodo 500 at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, Ford changed tact for the 1973 race with its two-door XA GT. After the ‘Supercar Scare’ of 1972 had cancelled plans for the Phase Four GT-HO, Ford were able to still introduce a range of items it had been planning for the doomed car and run them in its XA GT Falcons of 12 months later.

For 1973 the rules changed in Aussie touring car racing, where the previously separate rulebooks that governed ‘Series Production’ and ‘Improved Production’ were merged into what became largely known as ‘Group C’. Ford prepared two blue and white factory XA GTs for the Australian Manufacturers Championship, the #9 car for Allan Moffat and the #6 version for Fred Gibson. Gibson won the opening round at Adelaide International Raceway on the car’s debut in the wet, while Peter Brock and Colin Bond’s XU-1 Toranas ran 1-2 in the Sandown 250. Engine problems sidelined some of the top Falcons, including Moffat, with Gibson the best finisher in third, one lap down after pitting early to replace a deflating tyre. Bathurst in 1973 was quite different for all of the teams, and not just because of new cars including the XA GT Falcons. After 10 years as a 500 mile race, the Mountain classic became a 1000 kilometre race over 163 laps, making co-drivers necessary for the increased distance. Ford paired Barry Seton with Gibson in the #6 entry, re-uniting them after driving together at Bathurst in 1968 and 1969 for the factory team, while Ian Geoghegan joined Moffat in the #9. Gibson qualified the #6 Falcon seventh on the grid with a 2m38.2s lap, just under six seconds away from the gun pole time set by John Goss in his McLeod Ford-entered XA GT. The Falcons had newly-homolgated four-wheel disc brakes for Bathurst as well as new Globe magnesium alloy wheels and on-board air jacks – quite a funky feature for the time period! Gibson started

the race in the #6 as he and fellow Falcon pilots Goss, Moffat and John French led the Toranas in the early laps. But the 1967 winner Gibson would not even make the first pit stop when his V8 let go at Skyline after just 17 laps.

“When mine blew up I knew exactly what had happened and I just said to ‘AM’ (Moffat) on his first stop ‘mate you’ve got to drop the revs down a bit and nurse this engine home,’” Gibson told Australian Muscle Car magazine some years later. Moffat and co-driver Geoghegan survived the 1000-kilometre race, eventually winning clear of the chasing HDT Toranas of Brock/Doug Chivas and Bond/Leo Geoghegan. It would prove to be the farewell to the Mountain of Ford as an official entrant and car preparer given it withdrew from the sport at the end of 1973. Gibson’s #6 Falcon had further engine problems that took it out of the final two Manufacturer’s Championship rounds at Surfers Paradise and Phillip Island. Moffat had an accident at the final round that destroyed his car, so he was given the #6 Gibson car to continue racing in 1974 after the factory team was disbanded. It was updated to XB specification and ran as the Brut 33 car in the early rounds of the 1974 Australian Touring Car Championship before being sent to the United States for top-secret development work. It won the Sandown 250 but failed miserably at Bathurst and was repainted red and gold for the 1975 endurance races. It was driven by Moffat again in 1976 and help set up his ATCC crown, though was destroyed in a transporter fire on the way to the Adelaide International Raceway round – a sad way for a piece of Ford racing history to meet its end. This is another addition to the Biante Motor Racing Legends range, place your orders as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out.

New Announcements: 1:43 Scale Ford EB Falcon 1994 Bathurst Winner

THE POPULAR FORD EB FALCON COMING SOON IN 1:43 SCALE

94 BATHURST WINNER

*1:43 Scale Prototype Model Shown

THE FAN FAVOURITE EB FALCON COMING SOON IN 1:43 SCALE

Biante Model Cars are very pleased to present the opportunity to place your orders for the 1:43 Scale Ford EB Falcon driven to victory in the 1994 Tooheys 1000 by Dick Johnson and John Bowe. The 1990s saw a raft of changes impact on the Australian motor racing scene. Early in the decade, the Australian motorsport body CAMS introduced new rules which saw the popular Group A category of touring car racing, replaced with a more streamlined V8 formula. This change effectively saw many of the teams on the ‘blue’ side of the fence have to upgrade their machinery from their successful Ford Sierra RS500 race cars to the bigger V8 EB Falcons.

for the lead, with Lowndes at one stage managing to take front position, but it was the cool and experienced Bowe who maintained calm under pressure and managed to retake the lead, and seal the victory in the 1994 Tooheys Bathurst 1000, the last Bathurst victory for the pair. Produced in resin using a new supplier and improved production methods, the 1:43 Scale Bathurst Winner is a model that collectors have been asking about for quite sometime. To ensure you don’t miss out on this model, please ensure you place your orders as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment.

While there were a few other teams racing the new EB out on the track, it was the Dick Johnson Racing team who seemed to get the most from the EB’s potential. DJR’s assault on Bathurst in 1994 came after extensive development and preparation of the DJR EB5 Chassis with only one goal in mind - to conquer the mountain. They qualified 10th fastest, and John Bowe took the wheel to start in the wet with co-driver and team owner Johnson watching from the sidelines. The race conditions were nothing short of terrible, with the wet and wild weather making life for the drivers very difficult indeed, yet Bowe and Johnson were at the front of the pack for most of the day. It wasn’t until a late race Safety Car was called to make things truly interesting. With only a few laps to go, Bowe and a then young up and coming driver by the name of Craig Lowndes engaged in an exciting battle

ORDERING INFORMATION: Product Code: BR43602A Model: 1:43 Scale Ford EB Falcon - 1994 Tooheys 1000 Winner Drivers: Johnson/Bowe - Resin Pricing: RRP: $77.00 including GST

AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW FROM YOUR LOCAL BIANTE DEALER

New Announcements: 1:18 Scale Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III

A VERY RARE PHASE III *1:18 Scale Prototype Model Shown

FORD XY FALCON GTHO PHASE III WITH OPTIONAL SUNROOF Biante Model Cars are very pleased to present the opportunity to place your orders for the 1:18 Scale Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III in Rothmans Blue. In 1971 Ford Australia released a Falcon which would not only become the most iconic car produced by the blue brand in Australia, but perhaps the most iconic car in Australian motoring history. The Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III was, and arguably still is, the ultimate Australian muscle car. With a unique high output 351 cubic inch V8 that propelled the XY to a quarter mile time of under 14.5 seconds, this car was definitely ahead of its time and could push significantly more expensive European sports cars to their limit. Combining this with a striking palette of colours, GT stripes, decals and the instantly recognisable aggressive air intake protruding through the bonnet, the Ford XY Falcon GTHO was, and still is an extremely special car to own. While it is a certain fact that with only 300 genuine XY GTHO Phase IIIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s being produced, any original Phase III is a very rare and highly sought after car for Australian muscle car enthusiasts, this particular Phase III could in fact be one of the rarest. In 1971 a special heavily optioned Phase III was produced for the Rothmans Cigarette Company which, from all accounts, was supposed to be used as a promotional giveaway. The car at the centre of the giveaway was changed however when the blue Phase III was delivered and was deemed too nice to give away! Painted in a Rothmans Blue paint job that was later renamed Bold Blue by Ford, this was a one of a kind Phase III. Coming with cloth insert seats and a sunroof, combined with its interesting backstory made this an extremely rare and historically significant car. This model finely replicates the 1971 Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III in Rothmans Blue, including the optional sunroof. Ensure you place your orders as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this fantastic replica of one of the rarest cars in Australia.

ORDERING INFORMATION: Product Code: A72777 Model: 1:18 Scale Ford XY Falcon GTHO Phase III With Sunroof - Rothmans Blue (1971) Pricing: RRP: $199.50 including GST

AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW FROM YOUR LOCAL BIANTE DEALER

Coming Soon From Biante 1:18 HSV Y-Series GTS

1:18 Holden HK Monaro GTS350 LIMITED EDITION OF

Passion Purple Pearl with Orange GT Stripes Product Code: A72892 - RRP: $199.50 including GST (ALLOCATION EXHAUSTED)

1:18 Ford XB Falcon GT Hardtop LIMITED EDITION OF

1:18 Ford Sierra RS500

1:18 HSV Y-Series GTS Coupe LIMITED EDITION OF

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2nd Place - Hardie Ferodo 500 (1968) Drivers: Palmer/West Product Code: A86862 - RRP: $199.50 including GST

1704

1620

Bright Blue Metallic (1968) Product Code: A72445 - RRP: $195.00 including GST (ALLOCATION EXHAUSTED)

1:18 Holden HK Monaro GTS327

LIMITED EDITION OF

504

Sting Red (2003) Product Code: A72532 - RRP: $195.00 including GST

1:18 Ford XR Falcon GT Street Machine

LIMITED EDITION OF

1200

1977 Hardie Ferodo 1000 - Drivers: Johnson/Schuppan Product Code: A87715 - RRP: $199.50 including GST Forms part of the Biante Dick Johnson Collection

Phantom Black (2003) Product Code: A72531 - RRP: $199.50 including GST

1:18 Holden VN SS Group A LIMITED EDITION OF

1200

504

1:18 Ford EB Falcon LIMITED EDITION OF

LIMITED EDITION OF

2850

1988 ETCC RAC Tourist Trophy, Silverstone - Drivers: Johnson/Bowe Durif Red (1991) Product Code: A88813 - RRP: $199.50 including GST Product Code: B182706A - RRP: $199.50 including GST Forms part of the Biante Dick Johnson Collection (ALLOCATION EXHAUSTED) (ALLOCATION EXHAUSTED)

1200

1993 Australian Touring Car Champion - Driver: Glenn Seton Product Code: BNC0001 - RRP: $199.50 including GST

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